Tag Archives: Cultural Travel

Italy Tour + Ravenna Festival with Kismet Mosaic

21 Mar

Mosaic Inspiration: A Tour in Italy during International Festival of Contemporary Mosaics with Mini-Workshop
Kismet Mosaic
October 3 – 10, 2017
4400 €

Italy with Kismet MosaicJoin us as we take a tour of the rich mosaic history of Italy that culminates in Ravenna during the International Festival of Contemporary Mosaics. This tour is geared towards travelers who want to ‘see’ great works of mosaic art versus many days of workshops. We will also visit factories that make some of the finest mosaic glass. If you are new to mosaic art or want to find inspiration, then this is your trip.

The tour starts in Milan to see the wonderful mosaics in two of its main churches.  The journey moves next to Venice, where the gold of mosaics is reflected in the lagoon.
Italy with Kismet MosaicA short tour of Effetre Murano is planned to see their amazing Millefiori. (Bring an empty suitcase for products you want to buy.) We also visit Fornace Orsoni, one of the finest smalti factories in Italy. Moving on the Adriatic Coast, we will visit Friuli Venezia Giulia where mosaics have been preserved dating back to the 4th-11th centuries. A tour of Spilimbergo mosaic art school is planned. Finally, we go to Ravenna, the capital of mosaics where we will participate in the International Festival. A workshop will be planned in Ravenna based on the traveler’s desires. If you want to extend your end date, then take a workshop in Ravenna for extended days. If you can only spend the 8 days on this tour, then take a partial day workshop in Ravenna.

Italy with Kismet MosaicThe tour is curated by Silvia Togni, who was born in Ravenna and worked many years in a mosaic arts factory. Mosaic is her passion and she specializes in thematic itineraries. This specific trip has been designed for a limited number of travelers (about 10) to keep it small and personal, and thus the higher price.

Itinerary:

  • Milan
  • Venice
  • Murano
  • Spilimbergo School
  • Ravenna
  • International Festival of Contemporary Mosaics

Italy with Kismet MosaicHighlights:

  • Four star hotels
  • All breakfasts, lunches and dinners are included
  • All tour admissions are included
  • Transportation and transfers all included
  • Full–time service of a professional tour leader
  • All tips for guides and drivers included

$500 deposit to hold a spot

Contact carrie@kismetmosaic.com for detailed information.

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Spring in Todos Santos with Santa Barbara School of Mosaic Art

28 Dec

Spring in Todos Santos, Mexico
with Santa Barbara School of Mosaic Art
April 2 – 8, 2017 OR
April 9 -15, 2017
$1,699.00, Double Occupancy

Imagine creating art with spectacular ocean views to inspire you, beautiful gardens and pools to relax you, and a personal chef to prepare gourmet meals to sustain you. This is just the beginning of the Todos Santos mosaic art retreat.

Todos Santos with Santa Barbara School of Mosaic Art

Todos Santos with Santa Barbara School of Mosaic ArtYou’ll spend one full week creating mosaic art in one of the most creative and peaceful settings on the Baja Peninsula, the pueblo magico of Todos Santos. Accommodations for this retreat will be at the beautiful boutique hotel, Los Colibris Casitas. Los Colibris has 8 wonderfully inviting casitas, each with comfortable beds, great bathrooms and private patios from which you can enjoy the amazing scenery and ocean views. The infinity pool and hot tub are great for star gazing and observing the humpback and grey whales that are often visitors at certain times of year.

These workshops are created with the beginner in mind.  We just ask that you come with a creative spirit and fun positive energy!

At this retreat students will learn how to create a mosaic with Mexican smalti, the vibrant and wonderful glass tiles from Cuernavaca Mexico.  Participants will learn how to create a design or abstract.  We’ll then move on to deciding color choices, how to lay out the design, proper cutting techniques and proper adhesion.

Todos Santos is an artist colony on the Tropic of Cancer, just one hour north of Cabo San Lucas, but an entire world away. Nestled next to 70 miles of pristine, undeveloped beach, Todos Santos is famous for the remarkable quality of its light, which drew the first American artists from Taos in the 1980s. Since then, artists of all stripes and nationalities have populated the town, which is a charming reflection of their passions with wonderful restaurants, art galleries, and shops. The people of Todos Santos are warm and welcoming, and love sharing the pleasures of their hometown with visitors. The beaches of nearby Pescadero and Cerritos are added bonuses.

Retreat Price:  $1,699.00 (based on double occupancy).

Included:

  • Airport transfer on arrival and departure (within time frames)Todos Santos with Santa Barbara School of Mosaic Art
  • 6 nights lodging at Los Colibris
  • Sunday evening welcome dinner and reception
  • 5 full breakfasts & 5 lunches  by local Chef Iker
  • Last night cooking class and dinner with Chef Iker
  • Refreshing agua fresca throughout the work day
  • Evening transportation into town
  • Partial materials for mosaic piece

Instruction: 5 days from 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM.  More work time will be available if desired.

Todos Santos with Santa Barbara School of Mosaic ArtYou’ll have plenty of free time to explore Todos Santos and its surrounding areas. Popular activities include hiking, beach walks, whale watching, gallery strolls, and shopping. There will also be excursion options that can be booked through Todos Santos Eco Adventures if you choose to extend your stay. Massage and yoga are offered at Los Colibris (Los Colibris’ yoga deck sits at the highest point of the property on the tropic of cancer, and has one of the most amazing views of the Pacific). Room selections will be made in order of full payments received. Here are a few websites to check out: Los Colibris Hotel, Todos Santos Eco Adventures, Todos Santos Eco Adventures Facebook, and Santa Barbara School of Mosaic Art.

For More Information or to Register: Read more here. Email Tami here or call 805.703.4291.

About Tami:

Mosaics in MexicoI’m a professional mosaic artist and teacher. I’ve been creating art all my life, and mosaic art for almost 20 years. In 2009 I started the Santa Barbara School of Mosaic Art based on my love for mosaic art and desire to share my passion with other creative people.

I’ve vacationed in Todos Santos several times in the past four years and have stayed at Los Colibris each trip.  I love the rustic and quaint feeling of Todos Santos, and Los Colibris is the perfect location for the accommodations and creating a wonderful environment for this mosaic retreat.

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Create Your Own Mosaic Workshop in Mexico with Carol Shelkin

9 Oct

Create Your Own Mosaic Workshop in Mexico with Carol Shelkin
February 5 – 11, 2017
February 12 – 18, 2017   FULL
Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
$1850 per person, Double Occupancy

This workshop encourages you to experience and use stained glass, tempered glass, smalti, tile, air-dry clay or any material of your choosing to create a realistic or abstract design. All levels are welcome, from Beginner to Advanced students.

Carol Shelkin WorkshopSome Options Include:
Option 1: Mosaic in a painterly fashion and understanding realism in mosaic art with stained glass or tiles.
Option 2: Tempered Glass: Creating an abstract design with the layering technique using mementos and other embellishments like: clay pieces, jewelry, stained glass foil papers, glitter etc.
Option 3: Working with Clay tiles in Mosaic: Work with NEW and exciting air-dry clay to create tiles for embedding in your mosaic design.
Option 4: BRING WHAT YOU WANT!

There will be lessons on shading, color, balance and understanding how to apply these materials and techniques to any mosaic style.

Hacienda MosaicoMosaic is unique to all students and my goal is to help each student ONE-TO-ONE and in an optional collaborative environment develop and find their own techniques, styles and voice. There will be professional artist tricks taught. Other subjects will include: composition, presenting artwork to gallery owners, exhibitions, building a resume, pricing, shipping, framing – or not framing, photographing your mosaic art and much more. During this week: bring questions! We will have time for lots of one-to-one instruction. No questions will go unanswered!

Whether you want to try something new, jump start your creative side, or take your work to the next level, it will be a most inspiring week full of art in the tropics!

All participants will be contacted by Carol in advance to be sure you have a list of supplies.

The beach is within walking distance along with two cafes one block away for mini snacks, dinner options and my favorite: fresh fruit smoothies!

Carol Shelkin WorkshopPlease Bring:
  • Any materials, substrates & tools to work with
  • Sturdy bag to transport mosaic home
  • One of each: pen, pencil, colored pencil (blue, red or green) and 10 toothpicks
  • 2 regular Sharpie markers (black, regular & fine point)
  • Safety Glasses
  • Smart phone or camera – used as a tool
  • Push tool: toothpicks
  • Small tabletop lamp, such as an Ott Lamp

Summary:

  • Retreat Price: $1,850.00 (based on double occupancy).
  • Lodging: 6 nights & 7 days
  • Mosaic Art Instruction: 5 days (unless you come for TWO WEEKS, then 10 DAYS!)
  • Unlimited Open Studio: 24/7
  • Two Optional trips to Sayulita & Art Walk Downtown Puerto Vallarta
  • Meals Included by the Hacienda’s Personal chef: Sunday evening Welcome Carol Shelkin WorkshopReception, 6 full breakfasts & 5 lunches (more like dinner) served poolside in a tropical setting and a Saturday departure breakfast
  • Students must bring their own tools and Supplies. Carol will contact you for a helpful material list, and packing instructions will be provided after registration.
  • Free time: Anytime!

About the Instructor: Carol Shelkin, with studios just outside of Philadelphia, is a Carol Shelkin Workshopprofessional artist with over 25 years teaching experience. She attended PA Academy of the Fine Arts, USA, and Scuola Nazionale del Mosaico Restauro in Ravenna, Italy. She has shown her work both nationally and internationally in juried shows and galleries with her mosaic artwork  found in public installations and private collections. She has been invited to be a Presenter and Instructor at the Mosaic Association of Australia and New Zealand (MAANZ) Summit, the Society of American Mosaic Artists’ yearly conference, and also offers workshops in Costa Rica, Canada, Spain, Morocco, Australia, Italy, Mexico and throughout the USA. Carol is a founding member and President of the Mosaic Society of Philadelphia, a member of the Society of American Mosaic Artists and a juried member of the Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen.

Visit Carol’s website here. Contact Carol here.

TO REGISTER:

Contact Sam at Hacienda Mosaico. A $500 deposit is required for registration. More about Hacienda Mosaico here.

Trip insurance is strongly advised.

Travel Insurance 101: How to Protect Your Vacation
This “plain language” tutorial will explain travel insurance so you can
easily find the right plan.

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Irish at Heart Artisan Tour and Workshop

17 Aug

Irish at Heart Artisan Tour and Workshop
with Jean Cauthen, Laura McRae-Hitchcock, and Pam Goode
Painting, Mosaic, Creative Writing
May 19 – 28, 2017
$2600, Double Occupancy; $3100, Single Occupancy

I will arise and go now, and go to Innisfree,
And a small cabin build there, of clay and wattles made;
Nine bean rows will I have there, a hive for the honey bee,
And live alone in the bee loud glade.  ~ William Butler Yeats

Join us for a tour along the wondrously wild Atlantic coast of Ireland as we visit the artisans inspired by this land of rugged natural beauty. We’ll also offer a wide range of classes in painting, mosaic, plein air work, and creative writing, as well as demos by local artists.

Our base will be Listowel in County Kerry, only eight miles from the sea and a thriving town filled with Irish charm, fabulous locally grown food, theatre, art, traditional pubs, scones to die for, parks and a lush riverwalk, castle ruins, and easy access to all parts of a country you can drive across in five hours.

Days will be spent in your choice of a variety of classes, plein air painting sessions, open studio, lecture/demos, and artist visits. Evenings will include a gourmet Irish cooking class, local music, local theatre, pub theatre featuring local writers (and insanely good Guinness), and local cuisine.

Excursions begin with the Cliffs of Moher, a half-day visit to one of the Aran Islands, and a ferry ride for a close-up and personal view of the cliffs and bird life from the water. A mid-week excursion will take us to the atmospheric Dingle Peninsula, with incredible coastline views from Slea Head Drive and visits to several of the local artisans who create here. Along the way we’ll have stops for painting and/or photography and shelling.

Accommodations

Ireland TravelGroup accommodations will be at Listowel Arms Hotel, Town Square. The hotel features double and single rooms with private bath, town or river views, restaurant, bar, sitting areas, and a delightful terrace on the river. The Arms is located one block from our studio space at Olive Stack Gallery; additionally some classes may be held at the hotel. One night may be at the Cliffs on Ballybunion Beach. Lodging for our Ballyvaughan overnight will be at a hotel similar to the Arms.

Workshop Space

In addition to plein air painting in numerous locations around town and beyond, mosaic workshops and Open Studio will be held in the bright and spacious studio at Olive Stack Gallery. Other locations may include the Listowel Arms and personal artist studios. Transportation will be provided if necessary.

Workshop Options by Jean, Laura and Pam

All registrants will be able to participant in any and all workshops of their choosing, time permitting, regardless of medium or instructor. Workshops are still being added, but selections will include:

  • Plein Air Painting (Multiple Options)
  • Studio Painting
  • Building a Pochade Box for Plein Air Painting
  • Photograph Manipulation for Painting or Mosaic
  • Working with Color
  • Mosaic Landscapes
  • Mosaic Techniques
  • Encaustic Demonstration by Olive Stack
  • Painting Demonstration by Jim Dunne
  • Cooking Class
  • Creative/Travel Writing for Journals
  • Quick Sketch
  • Travel Watercolor Journaling
  • Pebble/Sea Glass Jewelry
  • Open Studio

NOTE: Local participants are welcome to register for classes a la carte. Please contact Laura to be added to the mailing list when the schedule is finalized.

Tentative Schedule, Subject to Change

  • Painting in IrelandThursday, May 18: Depart for Ireland, Shannon Airport (SNN)
  • Friday, May 19: Morning Shannon Arrival, group airport pickup at Noon, departure for Cliffs of Moher and overnight in Ballyvaughan
  • Saturday, May 20: Ferry to and morning on Aran Islands, ferry beneath Cliffs of Moher, transfer to Listowel, hotel check-in and dinner (included)
  • Sunday, May 21: Morning and Afternoon workshops of your choice, painting demo and talk by Jim Dunne, local painter and muralist, walking tour of Listowel with local historian, cooking class for half the group, others dinner at Listowel Arms (included)
  • Monday, May 22: Morning and Afternoon workshops or plein air painting, Encaustic demo and talk by Olive Stack, local artist, cooking class for half the group, others dinner at Listowel Arms (included)
  • Tuesday, May 23: Early Departure for Dingle Peninsula, tour, visit artisans, paint, photography, return to Listowel, dinner Listowel Arms (included)
  • Wednesday, May 24: Morning and Afternoon workshops or plein air painting, local discovery excursions, BBQ with Olive Stack (included)
  • Thursday, May 25: Morning and Afternoon workshops or plein air painting, local discovery excursions, dinner on your own, optional event at St. John’s Theatre
  • Friday, May 26: Morning workshop or plein air painting, exhibition set-up, Gallery Exhibition and Reception for group, 6-9:00 Club with locals, Pub Theatre
  • Saturday, May 27: Open Studio and interactive exercises,  farewell lunch catered by Lizzie’s Little Kitchen (included), mid-afternoon departure for Shannon, tour of local ruins and local lore with Damian, dinner on your own, Park Inn Hotel (one-minute walk from Shannon Airport Check-In) (included)
  • Sunday, May 28: Return Flights

Cost: $2600 Per Person, Double Occupancy; $3100 Per Person, Single Occupancy. DISCOUNTS: Payments by check or cash may deduct $75 from the final payment. $100 Discount for those not participating in any classes. $100 Discount for repeat students of Jean Cauthen, Laura McRae-Hitchcock, or Pam Goode. Maximum allowed discount is $175 from total price. Discounts do not apply to local à la carte students.

Included

  • Airport Transfer Both Ways on Dates Shown Only
  • 9 Nights Lodging
  • 4 Dinners, 1 Lunch, 9 Breakfasts
  • All Excursions, Transportation, Admissions Listed
  • All Artist Demos Listed

Not Included

  • Airfare
  • Meals Not Listed Above
  • Alcohol
  • Personal Purchases or Excursions
  • Trip Insurance (Recommended)

What They Say

“I would follow you anywhere.” California. “It was truly one of the top adventures of my life.” Michigan. “This trip has been so far beyond anything I expected.” Anon. “Everything was simply wonderful!  From the perfect location, size and comfort of our apartment to the transportation, to your generous spirits. But I most appreciated the pace of the trip as I never felt rushed or pushed and the free time gave me space to explore alone.  All of my needs were met beyond my expectations. I have already recommended you to someone and will gladly do so over and over again.” Montana

To register or for more information, email Pam. The combined information/fine print/registration form includes payment information, travel insurance suggestions, deadlines, etc. Information on flights, accommodations, and a full list of workshops will be emailed to participants. Registrations will be accepted with 50% payment.

Affiliations: This workshop is part of the Ciel Abroad program at Ciel Gallery, and is also affilitated with Olive Stack Gallery in Listowel, County Kerry.

About the Instructors

Ireland Art WorkshopJean Cauthen grew up in Naples, Italy, New Orleans and the Carolinas, completing her education with an MFA  (Painting and Drawing) at James Madison University in Virginia. Her art career has led her to Moscow, Russia as a set designer, and she regularly returns to Italy (sometimes with students). When not working plein air, she creates large scale paintings in her studio near Charlotte, NC. “My concentration is simple. No matter the subject, my focus is color against color. Shape with shape. Mark to mark. From this, and with care, expression and meaning can emerge.” www.jeancauthen.com

Ireland Art WorkshopLaura McRae-Hitchcock has been painting for over 30 years. She is a partner artist and teacher with Ciel Gallery and recent Artist in Residence at Olive Stack Gallery in Listowel, Ireland. Additionally, she is a 2016 participant in the nationally celebrated ArtPop program and grant recipient from the Arts and Science Council. “I try to get to the heart of the matter….my heart, that is. I’ve given up trying to be perfect, and instead I focus on finding that space where my heart speaks with paint. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t, but wow, what a ride it is!”   www.lauramcraehitchcock.com

Ireland Art WorkshopPam Goode is a mosaic artist, writer, founding partner at Ciel Gallery, and founder of Mosaic Art Retreats. An avid traveler, Pam is most inspired by being in unfamiliar surrounds where every sight, every thought, is new. “I see everything differently — feel everything differently — and the ability to communicate my own transformation though art thrills me.” A lifelong writer, Pam has been creating mosaics for sixteen years, working with a wide variety of materials. “My goal is to bring a sense of joy, wonder, or peace to viewers. I need to create a mosaic that sings, that resonates, that helps you remember who you are and where you want to go with vibrating clarity.” www.pamelagoodemosaics.com

 

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MORE Flora and Fauna in Costa Rica, January 2017!

6 May

Flora + Fauna in Costa Rica with Carol Shelkin and Pam Goode
January 7 – 15, 2017
San Ramon Area, Costa Rica
$1960 per person, Double Occupancy; $2360 Single Occupancy

Costa Rica Art Retreat


“There’s really only one way to venture into the rainforest in search of the life that teems there, and that is to still your body and mind and wait. Once you  give up the searching and simply watch for tiny flutters, everything around you is brilliantly alive” ~Pam Goode, 2016

Is it any wonder we can’t stay away? Please join Carol and Pam for our third retreat in the rainforest wilds of Costa Rica.

Costa Rica Art Retreat“The trip from airport to bliss is one of my favorite parts, no matter the route. Arriving late, I miss seeing shafts of light strain through sugarcane fronds along the Pan Am highway, so tall that there is only green and sky and blacktop as far as you can see. As a consolation gift, the dark hangs purple in swaths across the skies like aprons bulging with plums.

Yellow lights twinkle across the valleys with a decidedly un-citified lack of regimentation, taking on the look of teenagers strolling idly with no set agenda, lanterns in hand.

The night deepens and the empty winding road is steeper now. The living guard rails watch as we pass, while streams topped by one-lane bridges make their dash toward the Pacific. It is an unaccustomed bliss. These days, how often do I wander through the night? I drink it in.” ~ Pam Goode 2016

Costa Rica Art RetreatOur 2017 retreat will combine a five day mosaic realism workshop on the flora and fauna of Costa Rica led by Carol Shelkin with onsite organic farm and rainforest tours and an adventure or two (think water safaris, hot springs, butterfly gardens, lava hikes). Accommodations will be at glorious Finca Luna Nueva (New Moon Farm), a sustainable rainforest ecolodge and certified organic biodynamic farm with single or double lodge and cabin accommodations Costa Rica Mosaic Art Retreats(triples and quads also available), fabulous organic food grown and prepared onsite, panoramic open-air workspace with 24-hour accessibility, wifi, ionized pool, jacuzzi, and spa. Optional activities at an extra cost include guided Arenal Volcano Lava Hike, Butterfly Garden or Cloud Forest Tours, Zipline Canopy Tour, Rafting, or Hanging Bridge Canopy Tour.

Costa Rica Art Retreat“I wake to brilliant sunlight and a cacophony of birds at 6:15, a time of day I rarely see. The purple-flowering hedge that greets our front door is a-whirr with the ever ready wings of hummingbirds, and there’s a 28″ iguana lolling in the crook of a tree 10 feet beyond me. It’s a good morning, cool and bright, and coffee, tea, juice, organic eggs, rice and beans, and an array of tropical fruits await us.” Pam Goode, 2016

Costa Rica Art RetreatINCLUDED

  • Transfer from Juan Santamaria Airport in San Jose to the Lodge and Return Transfer
  • Eight Nights Accommodation (rooms will be assigned in the order received)
  • Seven Breakfasts, Seven Lunches, Seven Dinners when at Lodge
  • 5-Day Mosaic Workshop and Open Studio Time
  • Access to the Secondary Rainforest and Primary Rainforest
  • One Guided Farm Tour
  • One Guided Rainforest Tour
  • One River Safari with Transportation

Costa Rica Art Retreat


NOT INCLUDED

  • Airfare To and From Costa Rica
  • Optional Tours and Activities
  • Transportation for Optional Tours or Local Transportation (Arrangements Provided)
  • Offsite Meals
  • Trip Insurance (Recommended)
  • Gratuities
  • Departure Tax of $29
  • Alcohol, If Available

 

NEED TO KNOW

  • Retreat has a minimum of 6  and a maximum of 10. Please reserve early, but don’t make flight reservations until notified that we’ve met the minimum.
  • Participants will bring their own materials; details to follow. Packing Tips here.
  • Photos from our 2013 Retreat are here.

GOOD TO KNOW

  • Costa Rica Art RetreatTemperatures  for January average High 73, Low 59, with .4″ of Rain
  • Central Standard Time
  • Latitude: 10° North of the equator, with equal hours of light and darkness
  • Currency: US dollars are accepted pretty much everywhere, including tips
  • Electricity: 110, with standard US plugs
  • Fast Facts: Literacy rate 96.3%; Military abolished in 1948
  • Costa Rica is among the countries with the highest amount of protected land in the world; 25% of the nation is dedicated to park systems, reserves, or natural wildlife areas
  • Bridging the northern and southern most points of the two American contents, Costa Rica is the meeting point for a variety of cultures and a density of plant and animal species said to be unlike any other country in the world
  • Approximately 850 bird species, 9000 plant species, 34,000 insect species, 205 mammalian species, 220 reptilian species, and 160 amphibian species

ABOUT THE LEADERSCarol Shelkin Workshops

  • Read more about Carol Shelkin here. Contact Carol here.
  • Read more about Pam Goode here. Contact Pam here.

ABOUT THE ACCOMMODATIONS

  • Read more about Finca Luna Nueva here.

TO REGISTER

Contact Pam here for a reservation form.

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African Bead Mosaics in Capetown, South Africa

29 Apr

African Bead Mosaics in Capetown, South Africa
with Karla Duterloo
October 23 – 29, 2016
€1600 per person

Come and enjoy a mosaic holiday in Cape Town — a combination of a week full of mosaic and some sightseeing in one of the most beautiful cities of the world.

Mosaic Course:

Karla Duterloo Mosaic WorkshopDuring the course we’ll make a mosaic disk incorporating beaded African elements.

No mosaic experience is required. The designs are abstract and non-figurative. We’ll work on a bamboo wooden disk, on which you can work with various mosaic materials from the African Continent. We’ll incorporate traditional beadwork from Africa, handmade glass fusions, glass beads and various mosaic tiles. This will be a unique experience working with so many special different elements. And of course lots of colour!

Karla Duterloo Mosaic WorkshopI’ll show you how to find inspiration for your design, as well as your colour-palette for the mosaic. I will also show you lots of examples of how to develop a design and incorporate beadwork, as well as showing some of my own mosaics disks and necessary guidelines.

I’ll teach you all there is to know about cutting and laying of the tiles if you are a beginner, the grouting process and much more. I will provide handouts and make pictures of the process which we can later discuss.

I will provide the disks and all basic mosaic materials, but glass fusions and beadwork will be on offer to purchase from me or during our excursion to the market.

 

Accommodations:

Karla Duterloo Mosaic WorkshopYou’ll stay at the Lodge in the Atlantic Beach Golf Estate, featuring beautiful rooms, continental breakfast included, with a view over the golf course and 50 meters from the Golf Clubhouse which includes a restaurant. The Lodge is very close to the studio.

The estate is about a ten minute walk from a stunning beach and some great restaurants; after a hard days work you can enjoy sundowners at the beach and fine dining in these restaurants.

Karla Duterloo Mosaic WorkshopIncluded in the course are two and a half days of excursions: A Stellenbosch Winelands tour, a Cape Peninsula scenic tour, and a Greenmarket/Waterfront tour. In the Cape Peninsula scenic tour we visit some of the most stunning places in and around Cape Town, while on the Stelllenbosch Winelands tour we’ll see (and taste) beautiful wine farms around the Stellenbosch, South Africa’s second oldest city. On the Greenmarket and Waterfront half-a-day tour, you can buy additional local beadwork to personalize your mosaic artwork even more.

During the course we’ll offer coffee/tea and biscuits at the break, and a very nice lunch for all course-participants.

We promise a creative week with lots of entertainment!

There is a beautiful 18-hole golf course at the Estate — the only golf course in the world where the springboks are freely roaming while you play. There is also a leisure centre, pool, driving range, gym, two floodlit tennis courts, and a 5 km walking/running track.

A shopping centre is located just outside the Estate. The beach and nearby restaurants are located at 10 minutes walking distance.

Fine Print:

The course price is 1600 Euro per participant.

To run the mosaic course we need a minimum of 5 participants. To guarantee optimal personal attention we only allow a maximum of 6 participants.

Please do not book the ticket to Cape Town before I have confirmed the course is up and running ( Mid-July).

Included:

  • 6 nights accommodation at the Atlantic Beach Golf Estate Lodge including breakfast
  • Welcome drinks and tapas on Sunday afternoon (Oct. 23) at 4:00
  • 2,5 half days mosaic course including all basic materials and the disk
  • Lunches on workdays and 2,5 day excursions for all mosaic course participants
  • Transport to and from nearby restaurants for evening dinners

Not Included:

  • Airfare tickets to and from Cape Town
  • Transport from and to Cape Town International Airport to the Atlantic Beach Lodge can be pre-arranged but at your own cost
  • Dinners in the evening
  • Beverages and lunches on excursion days

 

More About Karla:

Karla Duterloo Mosaic WorkshopMy name is Karla Duterloo. I am a Dutch award-winning mosaic artist and have been making mosaic on all kind of surfaces: bathroom floors, garden sculptures, functional and decorative mosaics, 2D and 3D mosaics.

I work with all sorts of different materials, which gives my work a unique design and colour application. My Trophy Heads and 20 by 20 boards have been sold in more than 15 different countries around the world.

Exhibitions of my work have taken place in various countries: e.g UK, Europe and South Africa. Very recently my work has been chosen for the Western Cape Handmade Collection and exhibited at the Design Indaba 2013 in Cape Town.

I am the author of a Dutch Arts and Crafts book Wereldhandvaardigheid, and my mosaic work is featured in several books: Mastering Mosaics, The Mosaic Yearbook, Mosaic Madness, and the Art Platform NY High Volume (Dec 2015). This year I won the Certificate of Excellence Arts Craft and Design Awards  2015. Mosaic projects for charity are also part of my activities and I have initiated very successful projects in London (2010), Nepal (2011), and Cape Town (2013).

I studied Arts and Crafts in the Netherlands, attended over the years several Mosaic Master Courses in Italy, and have been teaching in the UK, Switzerland and South Africa to students of all levels. My classes are creative and inspiring. The purpose is to bring out the artist in you in a relaxed and enjoyable atmosphere.

Above all we have lots of fun and special moments. You’ll leave the course with new skills, ideas, and inspiration, and with lots of newfound or fired-up passion for this beautiful Art.

What They Say:

Karla Duterloo Mosaic Workshop“Inspiring, enthusiastic, great fun, skilled teacher, unforgettable holiday/mosaic course, great combination in experiencing Cape Town and learning mosaic skills. Love to come back!” ( Netherlands 2015)

“I loved the art holiday and thought it was very well-organized and planned. The mosaic art classes took place in a relaxed atmosphere and Karla is a dedicated instructor. She is able to transfer her passion for colours to her students. The trips to art galleries in Stellenbosch, a local craft market, and a South African design fair in Cape Town also helped me get into the colour/art mood. I went home with a pretty work of art and a desire to come back to South Africa.” ( Switzerland 2014)

“I have to sincerely thank both you and Luis for taking such good care of us. I had not expected to be pampered the way we were! From the pick up at the airport until departure, we were never abandoned to our own devices, but accompanied, and fed (!!!), and given plenty of explanations about everything we were experiencing and seeing, which was plenty!” ( Italy 2014)

To Register or for More Information:

Please email Karla.

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Celebration of Color in Provence

24 Apr

Celebration of Color: Workshop in Provence, France
Art and Inspiration in the South of France with Laurel True and Valerie Nicoladze
June 25 – July 2, 2016
$2150 Double Occupancy

Mosaic Workshop Provence

Immerse yourself in a week-long experience that will leave you inspired and creatively invigorated for the rest of the year …

Enjoy the lavender in bloom, farm to table food, wine tasting, exploration of local markets and exhibits, and time to create in an inspiring studio environment.

Join professional mosaic artists and educators Laurel True and Valerie Nicoladzé at Valérie’s Esprit Mosaïque Studio in Avignon, France, to explore and celebrate creativity through mosaic art.

Laurel and Valérie are teaming up for the fourth year in a row to offer a very special, specifically curated and inspiring trip that will combine hands-on studio time, insider sightseeing , experiential learning, and amazing food…and wine…and cheese…and shopping in Provincial villages…and more.

Esprit Mosaïque Studio is full of joyful color and provides a welcoming place to learn, create and spend time in community with other mosaic enthusiasts.

Participants will leave Provence feeling like family, having shared food, wine, stories and community creation.

Laurel and Valérie will share their experience with students in a relaxed studio setting, offering lessons focusing on various techniques including unique precision cutting and setting techniques for glass and ceramic, use of French mosaic tools and materials and tips and tricks they have mastered over their combined 40 years of creating mosaics. Each student will work according to their experience level with one-on-one guidance. No mosaic experience necessary. Students of all levels are welcome!

Students will be inspired by the huge array of beautiful materials at Esprit Mosaique Studio. There are shelves and shelves full of colorful and exotic materials from around the world for students to use in a personal project to take home.

Students will have the opportunity to contribute to the creation of a group project one afternoon – a mosaic mural that will be installed outside the studio.

Mosaics studio sessions are scheduled in the mornings and afternoons, with some optional evening sessions, leaving plenty of time to create.

In addition to enjoying time in the studio, participants will have the chance to eat delicious meals together, stay in a quaint Provincial hotel, tour Avignon and nearby markets including St. Remy and Les Baux de Provence (medieval village with an incredible view and violet gelato), visit a breathtaking subterranean exhibit at Les Carrieres des Lumieres, and enjoy an educational wine tasting and Provincial backyard BBQ at the home of Valerie and her family.

The workshop experience will end with a picnic in a lavender field on the final afternoon and a visit to the Village of Sault, where village shops offer all things lavender.

The beauty of the lavender in bloom is indescribable and will stay with you well after you return home!

Cost for Trip

$ 2350 in single room /8 nights ( 8 rooms available)
$ 2150 in double occupancy /8 nights ( 2 rooms available – 4 spots)

Investment Includes:
Mosaic workshop instruction
Accommodations for 8 nights
Breakfast and lunches Monday night BBQ at Valerie’s
Transportation from train station or Avignon airport and to and from workshop
All touristic visits to markets and exhibits
Wine tastings

Not Included:
Flight
Dinners (except BBQ)
Personal expenses

Valerie and Laurel are bi-lingual and workshop and activities will be in English and French.

To register for this workshop, please e-mail Valérie Nicoladzé at: espritmosaique@free.fr

Questions? Contact Valerie (above) or Laurel at laurel@TrueMosaics.com

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Gaudi, Dali and Picasso: Barcelona and Costa Brava with Pam Goode and Carol Shelkin

25 Feb

Gaudi, Dali and Picasso:
Barcelona and Costa Brava with Pam Goode and Carol Shelkin
September 9 – 17, 2016
$2850 Double Occupancy
$3350 Single Occupancy (Limited)

Well Hello Dali and Gaudi Y’all! Get ready to Pic A So So So FABULOUS fall excursion to the heart of Barcelona’s art scene and the wild Mediterranean coast. Join Carol Shelkin and Pam Goode for a blissful eight days in Barcelona getting up close and personal with Gaudi, Picasso, Dali, some local tapas, a little cava, a little Costa Brava, and the coolest dragon you’re likely to see.

We’ll fill our days visiting the iconic mosaic sites of uber-cool and laid-back Barcelona, including crowd-fave Park Guell, the mind-blowingly unlikely Sagrada Familia, and the world’s largest Art Nouveau site. We’ll explore tiny streets, gothic marvels, trendy eateries, and sip lattes in courtyards surrounded by a town that boasts remnants from 5500 BC. And we’ll get cooking! Our guided tour through the famous boqueria will be filled with tips on how to select the wiggliest squid for your paella followed by a hands-on cooking class featuring Catalan favorites.

We’ll also spend a day meeting Dali, touring his Alice-in-Wonderland home, and getting deliciously disoriented on the tiny white-washed lanes of Cadaques, then wandering the foresty paths along Spain’s Wild Coast.

We’ll stay on one of the prettiest streets in town in apartments with plenty of space to stretch out, store your yogurt, and sip tea on the balcony. Optional excursions run the gamut from a funicular into the mountains to visit Benedictine monks and a ferris wheel with a view of the entire city, surrounding mountains, and Mediterranean beyond.

Dates

Thursday, September 8: US Departure

Friday, September 9: Barcelona Arrival

Saturday, September 17: Barcelona Departure

Accommodations

We’ll have 1 – 2 lovely, light-filled, large apartments with two twin beds per room, kitchen, large dining table, living room, balcony, elevator, and multiple bathrooms. Easy walking distance to all amenities (grocery, ATM, restaurants, cafes, pastries and gelato) in the heart of Barcelona. Two metro stations within 2 -3 blocks.

Barcelona Art RetreatCost Includes

  • 8 Nights Double Accommodation
  • Airport Transfer Both Ways
  • City Map
  • Tour of Gaudi Sites Park Guell, Casa Mila, Casa Batllo, Sagrada Familia
  • Picasso Museum
  • Tour of Palau de la Musica and Hopital Sant Pau
  • Market Tour and Spanish Cooking Class
  • Day Exploring the Costa Brava, including Dali’s House

Not Included

  • Airfare
  • Meals
  • Tips
  • Personal Expenses
  • Optional Excursions

About the Leaders

Carol Shelkin and Pam Goode are professional mosaic artists, instructors, and insatiable travelers. Read more about Carol here and Pam here.

Why We’re Different

  • We don’t do canned tours. We’re artists too, so we know what you’re here to see, and we make sure that’s what you get.
  • We don’t do big groups. No giant buses, no Tour sign on a stick so you can find us in the crowd, no formula meals at giant personality-free restaurants that can seat groups of 50.
  • We don’t do tourist hotels. All accommodations are well-researched and specifically chosen to give you the experience of living in a city rather than being run through it on a conveyor belt.
  • Our goal is to present an experience of traveling with friends. We present a well-researched framework and invite you to enjoy it in your own style at your own pace.

Recommendations

  • “I went on this trip 2 years ago. It was the best trip of my life. Carol and Pam were amazing hosts and planned the most amazing sight seeing, food eating, money spending, mosaic making, museum seeing and bed sleeping I’ve ever had. You should go!”  ~from Beth

Learn More about Barcelona here.

To Register

To register or for more information, please email Pam. Deposit of $1500 is due with registration. Full payment is due by August 1.

 

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Happy Feet Travel Tips: 10 Things You Probably Won’t Pack

3 Sep

Travel Packing TipsI’ve been saving this post from the helpful folks at Airfare Watchdog for JUST the right moment. Since I’m off to Paris and Provence with 13 lovelies in less than a month, today’s the day! Of course I couldn’t help adding a few notes of my own. Get ready for Fall Travel!

 

10 Things You Should Pack (But Probably Won’t)

by Christine Sarkis

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Mexico! Clay Forms for Abstract Mosaic with Carol Shelkin

8 Jul

Clay Forms in Abstract Mosaic Design with Carol Shelkin
January 31 – February 6, 2016
Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
$1800 per person, Double Occupancy

Carol Shelkin WorkshopsIn this NEW weeklong workshop, students will be motivated to create unique clay stamp impressions, small tiles and textures in earthenware clay and Apoxie Sculpt that will be incorporated into their mosaic during the week in Mexico. Spend your first evening with clay and learn how to make original clay pieces that can be transformed into mosaic designs. Carol, with over 25 years of experience as a potter, will lead you through various carving and stamping techniques to make your unique miniature ceramic tiles and forms. Underglazing and firing techniques will be used which can give the surface more visual depth and character.

Carol Shelkin WorkshopsThis informative class covers clay techniques, proper adhesives when using a variety of materials, substrates, design/layout and artist techniques. Explore with both traditional and contemporary methods. Students are encouraged to experiment with color and texture to discover the possibilities of clay merged in their mosaic for indoor display. No questions will go unanswered!

Clay and underglaze will be supplied, and tiles will be fired and returned during the week to incorporate into a mosaic. A list of supplies will be given after registration. No art or mosaic experience necessary.

Mosaic Art by Dawn Mendelson
Mosaic by Bonnie Fittzgerald

ITINERARY: (Subject to change)
Carol Shelkin WorkshopsSunday, January 31: Arrival, Welcome, Creation of tiles and forms
Monday, February 1: Creation of tiles with a variety of clays
Tuesday, February 2: We’ll continue to design our mosaic and develop the composition
Wednesday, February 3: This will be a good day to explore the area, take a shopping trip, visit Sayulita or just go to the beach!
Thursday, February 4: Continue working on tiles and painting with acrylic glazing and other brush techniques
Friday, February 5: Our mosaics will have all the components to finally come together. Tiles and earthenware forms will be out of the kiln and we’ll paint the last of the clay pieces that haven’t been glazed
Saturday, February 6: Departure

ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR: Carol Shelkin, with studios just outside of Philadelphia, is a professional artist with over 25 years teaching experience. She Carol Shelkin Workshopsattended PA Academy of the Fine Arts, USA, and Scuola Nazionale del Mosaico Restauro in Ravenna, Italy. She has shown her work both nationally and internationally in juried shows and galleries with her mosaic artwork  found in public installations and private collections. She has been invited to be a Presenter and Instructor at the Mosaic Association of Australia and New Zealand (MAANZ) Summit, the Society of American Mosaic Artists’ yearly conference, and also offers workshops in Costa Rica, Canada, Spain, Morocco, Australia, Italy, Mexico and throughout the USA. Carol is a founding member and President of the Mosaic Society of Philadelphia, a member of the Society of American Mosaic Artists and a juried member of the Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen.

“Every year I go back to the Hacienda it feels more like my home away from home – full of art, inspiration and friends. January 2016 will be my sixth weeklong workshop! Sam has created a beautiful and relaxing retreat location — I never want to leave! This workshop is intended to prod you out of your artistic comfort zones with the security of our small, fun and sweet gathering of friends for the week. Let’s have fun!”  ~ Carol

Visit Carol’s website here. Contact Carol here.

NEED TO KNOW:
Limit: 12 students
Retreat & Workshop Price: $1,800.00

INCLUDED:
6 Nights Lodging (based on double occupancy)
5 Days or Nights Workshop Instruction
24/7 Open Studio Time
Breakfast and Lunch Daily served poolside in a tropical, poolside setting
Welcome Reception on Sunday
Departure Breakfast on Saturday

NOT INCLUDED:
Dinners
Optional add-on excursions
Airfare
Travel Insurance (Recommended)

TO REGISTER:

Contact: Sam. More about Hacienda Mosaico here.

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