Tag Archives: Mosaic Workshops

Portraits in Serbia with Andjelka Radojevik, June 2013

17 Jan

Mosaic Retreat: SerbiaDetails; Portraiture
with Andjelka Radojevik
June 1 – 9, 2013
June 15 – 27, 3013
€ 2100 – 2700

Andjelka Radojevik WorkshopsJoin Serbian artist Andjelka Radojevik for one of two upcoming workshops in the Balkans and Belgrade, Serbia. Workshops are designed to combine studio instruction with an introduction to Andjelka’s beautiful homeland —  safe, fabulous food, and widely English-speaking.

“I teach the indirect method, and offer strong direction to enable you to make your best mosaic ever. At the same time, I would like to make it a relaxing and joyful workshop, full of memorable moments. I’ll respect if you would like to have more privacy and more free time. I’ll be available for you 24 hours daily not only as a teacher, but as a friend too!”

Details, June 1 – 9, will focus on lips, an eye, or a small bird

Portraiture, June 15 – 27, will include a full facial image.

Andjelka Rodovejik Workshop“I will assist you in choosing a drawing. The mosaic materials I prefer for this class are natural stone and ceramics. We will use smalti for small details; however, students are welcome to bring their own smalti or gold should they wish to use more. Workshops begin at 9:00 am and end at 5:30 PM. Coffee and lunch breaks are provided. The agenda is not fixed on excursion days.

If a student cannot finish their mosaic on time, they will receive all the necessary material and instruction to finish their mosaic at home.

The workshops will consist of practical and theoretical elements with plenty of examples. The number of students is 1 – 6 max. Friends and family are welcomed. Please, contact me for more details.”

Andjelka Radojevik WorkshopPrices:

Details Workshop, June 1 – 9, 2013
€2100
Surcharge for a Companion: 900 Euro
€500  Deposit is Required upon Registration. Balance is Due upon Arrival.

Portrait Workshop, June 15 – 27, 2013
€2700
Surcharge for a Companion: 1200 Euro
€500  Deposit is Required upon Registration. Balance is Due upon Arrival.

Rate includes:

  • All necessary mosaic material: natural stone, ceramics and smalti for details, nippers, hammer, incus, tweezers.
  • Transfers from/to the airport.
  • Accommodation in Vrnjacka Spa (central Serbia, the most beautiful spa in the Balkans, with an average temperature of 28°C (82°F) during summer season). Accommodation will be provided in Villa Mignon Hotel, plus two nights in Belgrade.
  • Three meals per day and non alcoholic drinks.
  • Belgrade sightseeing (the World’s largest Orthodox Christian church – Saint Sava’s Temple; Kalemegdan fortress; Saint Paraskeva mosaic church; Prince Michael Street, etc).
  • Visit to mausoleum of the Serbian Royal Dynasty – Oplenac, representing one of the largest mosaic surfaces in the World (38.000 sq ft).
  • Visits to the most beautiful Serbian restaurants.

Rate Does Not Include:

  • Air Fare
  • Spa Treatments
  • Telephone Costs
  • Gold Smalti (arrangements can be made at an additional cost)
  • Car Rental
  • Tips
  • Alcoholic Drinks
  • Visa Expenses (Please, determine in advance if you will need a visa; if so, I can help)
  • Travel Insurance

Andjelka Radojevik Workshop

Additional Information:

Learn more about Andjelka and Serbian hospitality here or here.

Fore more information or to register, contact Andjelka here.

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Exploring Mosaics in Glass Retreat, September 2013

9 Jan

Exploring Mosaics in Glass
with Bonnie Fitzgerald
September 6 – 9, 2013
$345 + Your Choice Lodging / Meal Plan

Mosaic Workshop Bonnie FitzgeraldJoin Maverick Mosaics’ founder Bonnie Fitzgerald for a 4-day mosaic retreat at Pennsylvania’s only residential craft school, Touchstone Center for Crafts. At Touchstone, nature and creative energy combine to produce a unique synergy and students learn in an atmosphere of friendship and camaraderie.

Exploring Mosaics in Glass is a comprehensive class offering a strong foundation for constructing decorative art mosaics. Students will be introduced to several types of glass materials applicable to mosaics. Day one begins with an overview of contemporary glass mosaics and their role in both the decorative and fine art world. We will then cover design principles, terminology and technical considerations. We will dedicate a portion of Saturday to design work, including composition and color theory. Students will then solidify their design and create their mosaic cartoon. Students are encouraged to create original designs; however, the instructor will have optional patterns available for those who feel more comfortable creating from an existing design. Our last day will be spent on grouting and finishing techniques, friendly critique and Q & A.

Materials offered will include stained glass, vitreous tiles, art glass tiles, millefiori, fused glass and glass gems. Instructor will provide an ample amount and variety of materials for you to complete your project. Students are welcome to bring supplemental materials that they may wish to incorporate into their design, and a suggested materials list will be sent out 2 weeks in advance.

Saturday and Sunday will be full studio days allowing for plenty of time for fun and creativity, with time allotted to enjoy our beautiful surroundings with walks and fresh air!

This workshop is suited for anyone new to mosaics or folks wishing to take their work to a new level. Students can expect a great deal of personal instruction and guidance.

Suggested projects include a 16’ X 20” mirror surround or a home décor piece measuring approximately 1 square foot. Students must provide their substrate (instructor will provide resources in advance). You may work on any 2-dimensional project. A separate supply fee of $45 will be payable to the instructor. Fee includes tool loan, ample selection of tesserae, adhesive and grout.

Mosaic Workshops Bonnie FitzgeraldTo view Bonnie’s portfolio with many glass mosaic examples please visit Bonnie Fitzgerald Art.

Touchstone Center is located in the Pennsylvania’s Laurel Highlands, 60 miles southeast of Pittsburgh, PA. They offer full room and board in residence halls or cabins. Click here to visit the Touchstone Center website for more information.

Workshop and lodging reservations will be handled through Touchstone beginning February 2013. Students are strongly encouraged to pre-register directly with Bonnie.

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Sourcing Local Stone Retreat: May, August 2013

14 Nov

Note: May Retreat is 3/4 Full!

Mosaic Retreat: Pennsylvania
What Lies Beneath Our Feet:
Sourcing and Working with Local Stone
with Rachel Sager
May 17 – 20, 2013
August 18 – 23, 2013

Rachel Sager Mosaic Art RetreatsJoin award-winning and internationally exhibited mosaic artist, Rachel Sager Lynch, in her journey into the magic of sourcing local Southwestern Pennsylvania stone and turning it into elegant tesserae, the building blocks of mosaic. This 5 day intensive will cover building a sturdy substrate, mixing and applying high-quality thin-set mortar, cutting with hammer and hardie, the classic tool of the Italian mosaic maestros, learning the nuances of andamento, the flow and pathways of mosaic. The field trip part of the workshop will include Rachel’s singular process of hunting and gathering for her material. This will be a challenging but also contemplative workshop and students will learn valuable cutting skills along with mosaic philosophy. You will leave with a 12” x 12” mosaic but more importantly you will take home specific knowledge of an ancient medium translated into a contemporary format.

Rachel Sager Mosaic Art RetreatsMaterials: Students are asked to bring work clothes, good walking shoes for field trips, an apron, safety glasses, and a stone hammer and hardie if possible. If you are serious about learning to work with stone, you are highly encouraged to invest in the hammer for this class. If not, you will have to share with others. Contact Rachel for information on where to purchase hammer and hardie. Logs to set the hardie into will be ready for you when you arrive. Students are also invited to bring some stone from their own native areas for identification and experimenting.

Details:

Extended Weekend Workshop: May 17-20, 2013
Friday: 7:00 – 9:00 PM, Orientation
Saturday: 9:00 – 5:00, Programming
Sunday: 9:00 – 5:00, Programming
Monday: 9:00 – 2:00, Programming

Weeklong Workshop: August 18-23, 2013
Sunday: 7:00 – 9:00 PM, Orientation
Monday: 9:00 – 5:00, Programming
Tuesday: 9:00 – 5:00, Programming
Wednesday: 9:00 – 5:00, Programming
Thursday: 9:00 – 5:00, Programming
Friday: 9:00 – 5:00, Programming and Clean-Up
Saturday: 10:00 AM Check-Out

Lodging and Meals: Touchstone Center offers full room and board in residence halls or cabins. More information is available here.
Cost: May Workshop Fee will be $300 + $100 Materials Fee + Your Choice Lodging/Meal Plan
August Workshop Fee will be $500 + $100 Materials Fee + Your Choice Lodging/Meal Plan
Registration: Official registration and lodging selections will be available soon through Touchstone; however, students are strongly encouraged to pre-register directly with Rachel.

Rachel Sager Mosaic Art RetreatsMore About Rachel: Rachel Sager Lynch, a Fayette County native, works on the cutting edge of the contemporary mosaic fine art movement. Her work has been represented in cities throughout the U.S. and internationally and has been awarded multiple Bests of Show in juried exhibitions. Her Marcellus Shale Series stands as a true Pittsburgh success story and her work is collected with passion by private clients and corporations all over the world. Her time spent studying with Italian maestros has shaped her mosaic philosophy and she brings these classical techniques home to her native Southwestern PA with its sandstone, limestone, slate and coal seams.

Registration or More Information here.

Rachel Sager’s Website is here.

Touchstone Center’s website is here.

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Mosaic Intensive with Sonia King: Paros, Greece, 2013

6 Nov

*WAIT LIST ONLY

Mosaic Intensive: Greece
Working in White on the Greek Island of Paros
with Sonia King
June 17 – 21, 2013
$2375

Mosaic Art Retreats GreeceJoin Sonia for an intensive five-day mosaic workshop on the sun-drenched island of Paros in Greece.  Paros is famous for the beautiful white marble that the ancient Greeks carved into statues like the Venus de Milo. We’ll take our inspiration from this amazing material and work all in whites, tone on tone. This will be a rare opportunity to enhance your mosaic skills in an inspiring and stimulating environment.

Sonia King Intensive GreeceCreating mosaic in a monochrome palette emphasizes the focus on cutting, laying style, reflectivity, scale and texture. Limiting possible decisions to the primary principles of mosaic offers learning opportunities that color can mask. Technically, there will be extensive inquiry into cutting techniques, methods of laying and broadening your skill set. The class specifically covers working with texture, scale, andamento and spacing; achieving effects through varied cutting and laying styles and/or mixed materials, working direct. There will be discussions about design, the complexity of working with more than one material, reflectivity and more. Most importantly, you’ll leave the workshop with an elevated sense of what mosaic is about, a new way of thinking about your work and the knowledge to enable you to push to the next level. Prior mosaic experience is recommended. Some white materials will be supplied. (A list of the supplied materials will be sent in advance so class participants can bring additional materials, or even additional colors, if they wish.)

Mosaic Art Retreats GreeceThere will be an optional side trip on one day, by ferry, to the island of Delos to see ancient mosaics.  Participants may choose to come along or to remain in the studio working.  The atmosphere will be relaxed and there will be ample time for swimming and sunning on the beach steps away from our hotel.

Mosaic Art Retreats GreeceThe course fee includes:
* Get-acquainted dinner on the evening before the workshop begins, June 16
* Individual instruction/coaching by Sonia, structured to meet each participant’s experience level and goals.
* Group discussions on the art of mosaic, cutting techniques, ergonomics, technical issues, the business of art, critical thinking and problem-solving strategies for design/implementation and more.
* Substrate, adhesive, marble and the use of a hammer/hardie. Bring your own hand tools. Participants may also want to bring additional materials to work with, such as glass, unglazed ceramic, smalti, beads, found objects, etc. More info on recommended tools and materials will be supplied.
* Optional day trip to visit ancient mosaics on the island of Delos with lunch and shopping opportunities on Mykonos
* Closing night dinner party, June 21

Not included:
* Transportation (airfares, ferries, taxis, etc.)
* Meals (other than breakfast at the hotel and the get-acquainted and closing dinners)
* Optional side trip to visit the ancient mosaics on island of Delos plus lunch & shopping on Mykonos

Mosaic Art Retreats GreeceSpace is limited so early registration is recommended.  Cost is $2,375 US. Ten participants are required for the class to be held. A deposit of $500 is required on booking and the class fills on a first-come basis. Balance of the fee is due by February 1st, allowing ample time for buying air tickets at the best price.  After February 1st, refunds will be given provided the opening is filled. (There is always a wait list so a refund is likely.) Refunds will be less any money transfer fees. Payment may be made by US $ checks, US $ wire transfer, Western Union or PayPal. (PayPal incurs a small percentage transaction fee)

Direct inquiries to Sonia.
Include contact info (name, address, phone, e-mail). As the workshop approaches, recommended tool information, details about materials and advice about logistics will be sent.

See images from the 2011 workshop on Paros

Click here for a flyer in PDF format for printing

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Learning a New Language? Child’s Play!

19 Oct

Travel Tips

Travel Tips

 

 

 

Happy Feet Travel Tip #1

Itchy feet and brain food are a great combination, and MindSnacks makes child’s play, rather literally, out of learning a new language. Fast and addictive, this fun phone app  from i-tunes is perfect for small chunks of time. Carpool lines, waiting rooms, and take-out time are perfect for quick refreshers or the next short lesson, and the quizzes are 90-second mini-games that appeal to adults and kids alike. With a free entry-level version or a full version at just $4.99, this quick bite feeds you Italian, Spanish, French, Portuguese, German, and Chinese.

MindSnacks won’t make you fluent, but don’t we all need to know where the bagno is, or the difference between homme and femme?

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Faces, Flowers and the Human Form: Mexico 2012

15 Oct

Mosaic Retreat: Mexico
Faces, Flowers & the Human Form in Mosaic
with Carol Shelkin
December 2 – 8, 2012
Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

Mosaic Art retreat Carol ShelkinJoin mosaic artist Carol Shelkin for her second week-long mosaic workshop and retreat in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Faces, Flowers & the Human Form in Mosaic is a unique make-it-your-own workshop only offered during weeklong sessions or weekend intensives.

Faces, Flowers and the Human Form will be held at Hacienda Mosaico, an artist-owned retreat located in a lush walled garden property within the Colonia Versalles. Hacienda Mosaico has been invited to be on the Puerto Vallarta Home Tour. Art abounds! Made-on-site mosaic tables and fused glass tableware serve to enhance your breakfast in this lush garden setting. Palm, mango, guayaba, and banana trees, along with flowering ginger, hibiscus, jasmine, bird of paradise as well as the ever-present bougainvillea create delight for all the senses. Workshop space includes swimming pool and inviting common areas.

Puerto Vallarta  is a tropical environment, and an inspiring place to be creative in the outdoor, setting, available for use 24/7! Join me! ~Carol

Highlights:

  • 6 nights / 7 days lodging at Hacienda Mosaico
  • Daily or evening instruction with Carol Shelkin
  • Sunday welcome reception with cocktails & traditional Mexican appetizers
  • Delicious full breakfasts & hearty lunches served poolside
  • Unlimited open outdoor studio time 24/7
  • Free time to explore Puerto Vallarta
  • Two optional excursions to museums / or sightseeing.
  • Saturday departure brunch
  • Wireless Internet – free!

More information about Carol Shelkin is here.

More information about Hacienda Mosaico is here.

Registration Information is here.

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All About Costa Rica

8 Oct

Mosaic Retreat: Costa Rica
Flora & Fauna
Carol Shelkin and Pam Goode
November 23 – December 1, 2013
$1960

The smallish country of Costa Rica is BIG with heart-thumping nouns: Rainforest; Jungle; Puma; Volcano; Rapids; Blue Morpho; Cloud Forest; Waterfalls; Toucan; Lava, Strangler Fig.

The numbers-story goes like this:

  • 19,700 square miles, ranking 129th in landmass worldwide, and, closer to home, about the size of West Virginia or Denmark.
  • 801 miles of curvy coastline on the Pacific; 132 miles fronting the Caribbean, much of which is inaccessible by car.
  • Elevation ranges from 0 – 12,530 feet above sea level
  • 12 distinct ecosystems
  • Within only .25% of the world’s landmass, Costa Rica hosts 5% of the world’s biodiversity
  • Constitutionally abolished its army in 1949, and is one of the world’s 22 longterm stable democracies
  • In 2012 Costa Rica is scheduled to become the first country on the continent of the Americas to ban recreational hunting
  • In 2007, the government announced an initiative to become the first carbon-neutral country by 2021
  • Literacy rate of 94.9%
  • 11 degrees North of the Equator, with a tropical climate determined by elevation

Impressive? Absolutely! But numbers pale up against the visual stimulation of this land filled with gentle people and wild nature. Below is a little gallery of photos from my trips to Costa Rica over the last 13 years. Click on the first image to flip through paradise in larger format.

Get up close with us in Costa Rica — what better place to capture the splendor of quirky and art-inspiring  flora and fauna?

Read Retreat Description here.

Read about Pam’s Virgin Trip to Costa Rica here.

Contact us here.

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All About Orvieto, Italy

2 Oct
Mosaic Retreat Orvieto, Italy 2013

Orvieto, Italy

There’s something about a hilltop village that makes the heart sing. Maybe it’s the isolation, the close-to-the-clouds-ness, dreams of castle life, or simply the striking beauty of ancient stone structures standing tall against a pristine sky. Whatever chords are being plucked in our hearts, we all want to climb that hill and walk through those cobbled streets. Or maybe it’s just me . . . .

Mosaic Art Retreats Orvieto Italy, 2013

Etruscan Caves, Orvieto

Considered one of the most picturesque villages in Italy, Orvieto is located in luscious Umbria, replete with verdant valleys and minus the touristy overload of Tuscany. Just a bit over an hour from Rome, Orvieto has the history with less of the bustle. Populated since Etruscan times (beginning in Italy around 800 BC), the town sits on a perch of volcanic tufa built over a labyrinth of Etruscan caves, tunnels, and tombs, yielding one of the most dramatic sites in Europe.

Mosaic Art Retreat Orvieto, Italy 20123

Orvieto Lane

With brilliant views over the 2000-year old walls across the surrounding countryside, Orvieto is accessible by funicular (built in 1888 and powered for almost 100 years by tanks of water beneath each car; fully refurbished in 1990). Sited 700 feet above the surrounding areas and boasting a measly 6500 inhabitants, Orvieto is less than a mile long and a half-mile wide, with a pedestrian-only city center. Think morning strolls with cappuccino and the sound of Duomo bells ringing the hour.

Mosaic Art Retreat Orvieto, Italy 2013

Orvieto Vineyards

Orvieto is renowned for the production of dry white wines under the DOC Orvieto and Orvieto Classico, as well as a number of reds sold under the DOC Rosso Orvietano. We’ll be visiting one of the Orvieto Classico vineyards, complete with the original house dating back to 1300. And of course, there WILL be wine tasting!

Mosaic Art Retreat Orvieto Italy 2013 Accommodations

Our Convent B&B with Valley Views

Accommodations for the Mosaic Art Retreat in Orvieto are at the lovely San Lodovico Convent B&B with updated rooms and private baths alongside 14th and 15th century frescoes and lovely gardens. Built along the original city walls, bedroom views span the valley below.

Mosaic Art Retreats, Orvieto Italy 2013

Duomo Column

And speaking of the fabled Duomo, it’s a show-stopper. Commissioned by Pope Urban IV, construction of the 14th century structure lasted almost three centuries, and includes elements of both Romanesque and Gothic design. The facade contains decorative elements of mosaic, stained glass, and sculpture, and creates a breathtaking sight when the sun strikes the golden face. Our time in Orvieto will include a private mosaic tour of the cathedral, considered one of the finest achievements of the Late Middle Ages.

For an overview of the Mosaic Art Retreat in Orvieto, click here.

For a full itinerary, click here.

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