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Celebration of Color: Mosaic Workshop in South of France with Laurel True and Valerie Nicoladze

Community Project and Mosaic Workshop in the South of France
with Laurel True and Valerie Nicoladze
June 22 – 30, 2019

and / or

Celebration of Color: Mosaic Workshop in Provence 2019
Art and Inspiration in the South of France with Laurel True and Valerie Nicoladze
July 2 – 10, 2019

* Come with a friend and share a room and you both save $400!

Ready for an awesome MOSAIC RETREAT in the South of France this summer?

Join Laurel True and Valerie Nicoladze at Valerie’s beautiful Esprit Mosaïque Studio near Avignon in the South of France for one of TWO workshops that will leave you inspired for the rest of the year!

Both workshops are appropriate for any level student — NO mosaic or art experience necessary! Students make pieces to take home in both workshops, as well as experience Provence from an insider’s point of view.

Add farm to table food, wine tasting, art field trips, Provincial markets, exhibitions and more, and you’re looking at a fabulous week.

Jump in!

2019 Laurel Provence Collage 1

2019 Provence Group Collage

2019 Laurel Lavender and Projects

More Information for Week 1 is here:

More Information for Week 2 is here:

Tags: Art Travel, Avignon Travel, Esprit Mosaique, International Art Travel, Laurel True, Laurel True Workshop, Mosaic, Mosaic Workshop, Mosaic Workshops Abroad, Mosaic Workshops in Provence, Provence Travel, Valerie Nicoladze

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Categories Art Retreats

Go Wild in Costa Rica with Candace Clough and Pam Goode

25 Mar

Go Wild in Costa Rica with Candace Clough and Pam Goode
January 13 – 20, 2019
$1980 Double, $2380 Single
(Double Your Fun Discount: See Info Below)

Join Candace and Pam for a rollicking jaunt through the Costa Rican jungle to identify favorite flora and fauna and then create your own mixed media art.

Finca Luna Nueva

Rainforest Trail

Flowers Onsite

Studio Visitor

Our retreat will combine a six day mixed media mosaic workshop led by Candace Clough with onsite organic farm and rainforest tours, farm to table organic meals grown, prepared and served onsite, and a lazy water safari to view shore birds and monkeys. 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, panoramic open-air workspace, 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.

Safari Float

Playing with Butterflies

Scented Brugmansia

Open Air Studio

We’ll have a scheduled lesson each day, as well as on-site tours during our first days in Costa Rica, plus twenty-four hour access to the open-air studio overlooking the forest and gardens. During free time, choose to continue art projects, enjoy the grounds and pool, grab an organic smoothie and head for the hammock, schedule an on-site bird watching tour, or make transportation arrangements in the office for any number of local adventure activities.

Coleoptera Wheel by Candace Clough

WORKSHOP

If you’re a follower of Candace’s work, you might have noticed that she never seems to do the same thing twice. She calls herself “tess-curious”, and it’s that spirit of discovering new materials and new ways of using and combining them that keeps her excited about art. Take a close look at the colorful beetles above and you’ll see stained glass, smalti, china, millefiori, beads, formed tile, and eggshell, all uniting seamlessly into a dynamic expression of an everyday bug.

Inspiration will be taken from naturalist-led walks around the property, which includes rainforest, landscaped gardens, herb gardens, and farmland. Materials will be a mix of student and instructor-supplied yummies. Candace will share her process from inspiration to design, material selection, fabrication and completion and will also talk about her experimental work.

Candace Clough, Design to Installation

INCLUDED

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

NOT INCLUDED

Airfare To and From Costa Rica
Optional Tours and Activities
Transportation for Optional Tours or Local Transportation (Arrangements Provided at Lodge)
Offsite Meals
Trip Insurance (Recommended) (More info here)
Gratuities
Alcohol, If Available

Capturing Rainforest Images

Sunlit Flora

Down on the Farm

Candace Clough

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.

GOOD TO KNOW

Temperatures 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 ACCOMMODATIONS

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.

You’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)
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.

You’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:

I’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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Tags: Art Classes Abroad, Art Travel, Cultural Travel, Educational Travel, International Mosaic Workshops, Los Calibris, Mexican Smalti Workshop, Mexico, Mosaic, Mosaic Art, Mosaic Art Retreats, Mosaic Classes, Mosaic Classes Abroad, Mosaic Workshops Abroad, Santa Barbara School of Mosaic Art, Tami Macala, Tami Zweig Macala, Todos Santos, Travel

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Categories Art Retreats, Travel

Mosaic, Yoga, Creative Writing in Bali

5 Sep

Mosaic, Yoga, Creative Writing in Bali, Indonesia
with Christine Kenneally and Cait Scudder
January 6 – 14, 2017
$2450 Per Person Double Occupancy, Before October 1, Singles Available
$250 Discount if You Sign Up with a Friend

Do you long to inhabit your life more fully? Are you ready to transform old stories that keep you small, rearrange the pieces and start living from your most expansive, expressive self? Do you long to embody your divine feminine essence and let your radiance shine? Do you desire connection with sisters that raise your vibration and empower your purpose? Are you ready to receive and be led by the abundant, ever-present flow of life in and around you? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you know it is time. This retreat is for you!

Join us for this 9-day, 8-night journey of a lifetime on the magical island of Bali:

· Yoga, Breath Work & Embodied Movement
· Creative Writing & Expression Exercises to Strengthen Voice & Invoke Transformation
· Daily Lessons in the Ancient Alchemical Art of Mosaic – Return home with several original pieces!
· Traditional Balinese Blessing Ceremony with Local Priest & Priestess
· Mantra, Singing and Chanting for Heart Opening and Chakra Activation
· Sisterhood, Sacred Circle Rituals, Visualization and more!

Included:

Accommodation (double occupancy) with daily housekeeping service
All VEGETARIAN meals at the retreat center, which include breakfasts, lunches, dinners and refreshments
Complimentary drinking water for the duration of the retreat — we offer mountain spring water which is UV filtered
Free WIFI Access (use own laptop)
A complimentary massage at the retreat center spa, and additional spa services available
Airport Transfer from Ubud to the retreat center
Guided Trek to the local Bali Hindu temple in the mountain forest
All materials and tools for making mosaics. We provide a variety of materials (glass, pottery, stone, etc) and the substrates for building the mosaics on as well as adhesive and grout. We provide hand tools for cutting materials. If you would like, you may bring any special objects you would like to incorporate into your mosaics. We will be working in a variety of techniques, both direct and indirect. You will make a series of several small mosaic wall panels, and if you wish, you can make a unique piece of wearable mosaic art — jewelry!

A word about the food:

The retreat center restaurant uses the freshest produce, organically grown when possible. The menu features both Western and Asian cuisine including many Balinese specialties.

They cater for vegetarian/vegan preferences, gluten-free, soy free, lactose intolerance and special diets when required. They introduce as many fresh local products as possible when in season.

Leaders:

Christine Kenneally is a mosaic artist and instructor from Easthampton, MA. She has been teaching the art of mosaics to adults and teens since 2007 and falls in love with the creative process every time she witnesses a student experience it. Her personal mosaic work is inspired by nature and light and of the potential for healing and re-telling a story through bringing together broken pieces.

Cait Scudder, MAT, RYT-500, is a yoga teacher, writer and vitality coach who leads workshops and retreats on creativity, yoga and the art and practice of transformation around the world. She is passionate about creating safe spaces that build community, unleash flow, and inspire a return to the big questions of Who We Are and Why We Are Here. Her joyful leadership empowers others to witness and celebrate the fullness of who they are and courageously expand and express their unique gift to the world from a place rooted in authenticity, cultivated practice and activated joy.

For More Information or To Register, click here.

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Tags: Art Classes Abroad, Art Retreat, Art Tours, Art Travel, Bali, Bali Mosaic, Bali Yoga, Cait Scudder, Christine Kenneally, Mosaic, Mosaic Art Retreat, Mosaic Classes Abroad, Mosaic Workshops Abroad, Writing Workshop, Yoga, Yoga Bali

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Categories Art Retreats, Culture, Travel

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

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

Tags: Cultural Travel, Esprit Mosaique, France Travel, Laurel True, Laurel True Mosaics, Laurel True Workshop, Mosaic, Mosaic Workshops, Mosaic Workshops Abroad, Mosaic Workshops in Provence, Provence, Summer in Provence, True Mosaics, True Mosaics Studio, Valerie Nicoladze

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Categories Art Workshop, Mosaic, Uncategorized

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.

Cost 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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Tags: Art Abroad, Art Travel, Barcelona, Barcelona Mosaics, Carol Shelkin Workshops, Cultural Travel, Dali, Educational Travel, Gaudi, International Art Tours, International Art Travel, International Mosaic Workshops, Mosaic, Mosaic Art Retreats, Mosaic Art Tours, Mosaics Abroad, Pam Goode Workshops, Pamela Goode Mosaics, Picasso, Spanish Cooking Class, Travel

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Categories Art Retreats, Travel

Winter in Todos Santos, Mexico with Santa Barbara School of Mosaic Art

16 Sep

Winter in Todos Santos, Mexico with Santa Barbara School of Mosaic Art
February 3 – 9, 2016 (Wednesday-Tuesday)
$1,699.00 Double Occupancy

Imagine creating mosaic 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.

You will 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. The accommodations for this retreat will be at the beautiful boutique hotel, Los Colibris Casitas. Los Colibris has 6 wonderfully inviting casitas, each with comfortable beds, great clean bathrooms, and private patios to 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 often visit at this time of year.

During this mosaic art retreat each participant will learn the proper techniques for creating a mosaic art mural for vertical surfaces. These techniques will be achievable and repeatable for anyone that would like to create a backsplash, a shower mosaic or any other vertical mosaic on their own. During this retreat participants will work on mosaic designs that will be installed at the property of the retreat. Predetermined designs will be selected before leaving for Todos Santos, and each participant will have an opportunity to work on different parts of each of the designs. The group will go through the whole process, including grouting, so that everyone leaves with a complete hands-on experience to repeat on their own if they choose.

We’ll also enjoy some of the most delicious and healthy Mexican food ever — always created with love by Chef Iker.

Whale tail from our work tables

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)
6 nights lodging at Los Colibris
Evening welcome reception
5 full breakfasts & 5 lunches pool sideby local chef Iker
Refreshing agua fresca throughout the work day
Evening transportation into town
Last evening cooking class and dinner
Instruction: 5 days from 10a-2p. More work time will be available if desired.

You will have plenty of free time to explore Todos Santos and its surrounding areas. Popular activities include a mosaic tour and gallery walk, hiking, beach walks, whale watching and shopping. There will also be excursion options that can be booked through Todos Santos Eco Adventures. Massage and yoga are offered at Los Colibris; the 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.

Accommodations

Learn more about Los Los Colibris here. Room selections will be made in order of full payments received.

Other Links

Todos Santos Eco Adventures
Todos Santos Eco Adventures Facebook
Santa Barbara School of Mosaic Art

To Register

Deposit of $850 (1/2) may be made through PayPal (2.5% more will be added to the total using Paypal) or check. Materials, tool list & instructions on packing will be sent after registration. Payment in full must be completed by November 5, 2015.

Cancellation and refund policy: All cancellations are subject to a 20% handling fee. For reservations canceled less than 90 days before the workshop, 50% is refundable. If canceled less than 60 days before the workshop, 25% is refundable. If canceled less than 45 days before the workshop, fee is non-refundable. Should the retreat be canceled for any reason the entire amount paid will be refunded within fourteen days after the retreat’s cancellation. Instructors have no obligation regarding any additional costs or fees related to the issuance and/or cancellation of airline tickets or other travel reservations. Instructors and Los Colibris accept no liability for any airline cancellation penalty incurred by the purchase of a non-refundable ticket or for canceled flights. Travel Insurance is recommended. All workshop participants should consider purchasing Trip Cancellation, Emergency Medical Evacuation, Baggage, Accident and Medical insurance from a reputable insurance company. Travel Insurance Guide is here.

To register, please email Tami with name and contact info.

Instructor: Tami Macala

I am a professional mosaic artist and teacher. I have 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 wanting share my passion with other creative people.

I have vacationed in Todos Santos several times in the past three 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.

For more information, email Tami here.

Tags: Art, Art Classes Abroad, Art Retreats, Art Travel, Baja Peninsula, International Mosaic Workshops, Learning Adventures, Los Calibris, Mexico, Mosaic, Mosaic Art Retreats, Mosaic Classes, Mosaic Classes Abroad, Mosaic Workshops, Mosaics Abroad, Santa Barbara School of Mosaic Art, Tami Macala, Todos Santos, Travel

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Categories Art Workshop, Travel

Provence with Laurel True and Valerie Nicoladze June 2014

8 Mar

Summer Workshop, Tour, and Outreach
with Valerie Nicoladze and Laurel True
June 21 – 28, 2014
$2600

Immerse yourself in an educational trip and tour 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 Nicoladze at Valerie’s Esprit Mosaique Studio in Avignon, France to explore and celebrate color and creativity through mosaics. Laurel and Valerie are teaming up for the second year in a row to offer a very special, specifically curated and inspiring trip that will combine hands-on studio time, a community project at a local social center, incredible insider sightseeing and experiential learning, and amazing food … and wine … and cheese … and shopping in Provencal villages … and more.

Esprit Mosaique Studio is full of joyful color and provides a welcoming place to learn, create and spend time in community with other mosaic enthusiasts. This is a wonderful opportunity for cross-cultural exchange with French mosaic artists and the North African community served by the Orel Social Center in Avignon. Participants will leave Provence feeling like family — having shared food, wine, stories and creation.

Each instructor will offer lessons focusing on various techniques including fresco cement as a background treatment, demonstration of the uses of stacked and layered substrates, and precision cutting and setting techniques for glass and ceramic. We’ll work with each student according to their experience level; all student levels are welcome.

Esprit Mosaique Studio offers a huge array of beautiful materials for students to use in the creation of their mosaic pieces — drawers and drawers full of colorful and exotic materials from all over the world. Participants will have the opportunity to work with french-made materials that are not often seen or used in the US. Students will enjoy a guided exploration of materials and color through the creation of a piece that they will take home.

One day will include the creation of mosaics elements to be installed at Orel Social Center in Avignon. We’ll combine elements we make with elements made by mosaic students from the social center trained by Valerie, creating a group mosaic project to be installed there. We’ll also spend an evening meeting our co-creators and share a delicious couscous dinner together.

In addition to time in the studio, participants will have the chance to enjoy creative meals together, stay in a cute Provencal hotel, tour Avignon and nearby markets including St. Remy and Les Baux de Provence (in a medieval village with an incredible view AND violet gelato), visit the breathtaking and indescribable exhibition at Les Carrieres des Lumieres, as well as enjoy educational wine tastings and a Provencal backyard BBQ at the home of Valerie and her family.

We’ll end our time together with a picnic in a local lavender field and a visit to the Village of Salut.

Our trip in 2013 was an indescribable experience for everyone. We can’t wait to offer this trip again this summer!

Cost: $2600

Includes: Mosaic workshop instruction, accommodations from June 21-27, breakfast and lunches, Tuesday night family BBQ and Thursday night couscous dinner, transportation from train station or Avignon airport and to and from workshop, and all touristic visits to markets, exhibits and wine tastings. Cost does not include flight, dinners (except Thursday) and personal expenses. Both instructors are bi-lingual and workshop and activities will be in English and French.

To Register for this workshop, please e-mail Valerie Nicoladze at: espritmosaique@free.fr

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

Payment: 50% due at time of registration to hold your space. Payment can be made through Pay Pal. We have only 10 spaces and expect this workshop/tour to fill quickly.

Itinerary 2014

Saturday, June 21: Participants arrive and get settled in Hotel de Atelier.

Sunday, June 22: Studio orientation and intros at Esprit Mosaique Studio. Tour of Avignon. Evening free (get over your jet lag and gear up for a great week ahead!).

Monday, June 23: Project lessons and demonstrations; materials selection and begin first project. Lunch at Restaurant La Strada. Afternoon studio instruction and work time. Evening free.

Tuesday, June 25: Studio work time and instruction. Lunch at Restaurant La Strada. Afternoon studio time. Evening wine tasting at Tavel winery and backyard Provencal BBQ at Valerie’s house.

Wednesday, June 26: Visit Provencal market in village of St Rémy de Provence, with lunch at Villa Glanum Restaurant. Afternoon art exhibit at Carrières des Lumières and In Les Baux de Provence. Evening free.

Thursday, June 27: Studio work time and instruction. Lunch at Restaurant La Strada. Afternoon studio work time and instruction. Evening free.

Friday, June 28: Mosaic studio time to create elements for community project for Orel Social Center. Lunch at Restaurant La Strada. Install mosaic elements at Orel Social Center. Couscous dinner with families involved in social center mosaic project.

Saturday, June 29: To conclude our week together, we’ll take a gorgeous walk in a nearby lavender field and enjoy a Provencal picnic, 9:00 – 2:00. Afternoon: Goodbyes and departure!

Tags: Art Classes Abroad, Art Outreach, Art Travel, Art Workshops, Avignon Travel, Cultural Travel, Esprit Mosaique, Laurel True, Mosaic, Mosaic Art, Mosaic Art Retreats, Mosaic Outreach, Mosaic Workshops in Provence, Provence Travel, Valerie Nicoladze, Volunteer Projects Worldwide

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Categories Mosaic, Travel

Mosaic Artists Take Over Touchstone Retreat Center!

12 Jan

Touchstone, a craft and retreat center in the Laurel Highlands of Western Pennsylvania, has invited a full slate of mosaic artists to teach in 2014.

Instructor: Rachel Sager
May 16–19
Building Stories in Stone: Contemporary Mosaic in a Geologic Medium (Intensive)
All Levels | $300 Plus Selected Housing/Meal Plan
Extended Weekend Workshop

Instructor: Rachel Sager
August 10 – 16, 2014
Building Stories in Stone: Contemporary Mosaic in a Geologic Medium (Immersive)
Instructor: Rachel Sager
All Levels | $500 + Selected Lodging/Meal Plan
Weeklong Workshop

Are you ready for adventures in the creeks, hills, and valleys of Touchstone’s woodland campus? Join award-winning and internationally exhibited mosaic artist, teacher, and speaker, Rachel Sager, in her journey into the magic of sourcing local Southwestern Pennsylvania stone and transforming it into elegant tesserae, the building blocks of mosaic. This extended weekend 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, and 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-inch mosaic, but more important, you will take home specific knowledge of an ancient medium translated into a contemporary format.

Rachel’s bio and class schedule can be found here for the May Intensive, and here for the August Immersive. Learn more about Rachel’s work here. Lodging/Meal Plans here.

May 23–26
Realistic Flower Mosaics
Instructor: Yulia Hanansen
All Levels | $300 + Selected Lodging/Meal Plan
Extended Weekend Workshop

Learn to translate images of flowers into realistic and powerful mosaic statements in this extended weekend workshop. To create flower mosaic, students may work in a traditional mosaic layout or master an exciting and visually effective “brush-stroke” technique that Yulia uses for her own flower portraits. Materials and techniques are discussed in-depth with demonstrations given in groups and individually. Stained glass is used as a primary material for this project with instructions provided on how to cut, shape, and lay out the pieces. Students also explore color and composition in mosaic arts. The workshop concludes with instructions on grouting and a group discussion on the made pieces.

Yulia’s bio and workshop schedule can be found here. Learn more about her work here. Lodging/Meal Plans here.

May 30–June 2
Exterior Mosaics
Instructor: Bonnie Fitzgerald
All Levels | $300 + Selected Lodging/Meal Plan
Extended Weekend Workshop

This workshop covers everything you need to know about creating professional permanent mosaics to withstand moisture and freeze-thaw cycles in exterior environments. Workshop lectures will include important information about selecting appropriate materials, substrates, and fixatives that will endure weather year round. We begin Friday evening with a picture presentation and lecture covering technical considerations and design principles. We will spend a portion of the workshop experimenting with both stained glass and ceramic tiles suitable for exterior use. You will make 2 small experimental/prototype pieces, one in glass and the other in ceramic. These exercises are a valuable experience in cutting and designing. We will then embark on our larger project on Saturday.

Bonnie’s bio and workshop schedule can be found here. Learn more about her work here. Lodging/Meal Plans here.

July 27–August 2
Strata Chroma: Mosaic High (Relief) and Deep (Color)
Kelley Knickerbocker & Erin Pankratz-Smith
All Levels | $500/+ Selected Lodging/Meal Plan
Weeklong Workshop

This workshop is geared to interest and challenge students of all levels of mosaic experience.

You will first learn to build and rig your own durable, lightweight 2D mosaic substrates, incorporating pigmented cement in an adventurous exploration of color merging, layering, and texture. Next you will learn to recognize/create/exploit ideal joins of angle, height, size, and shape of a wide variety of black materials – both natural and manmade – for various visual effects, and then experiment with setting each into colorful cement mortars. Finally, using the strata format as a compositional framework, students will incorporate all they’ve learned into the construction of a small mosaic on their handmade substrates.

Their first collaborative artwork, I’m Pervious, built-in 2013, combined Kelley’s achromatic leanings and stratified-high-relief-materials approach with Erin’s saturated color aesthetic and birthed the idea for their ”Strata Chroma” workshop. 2014’s ”Strata Chroma” workshop marks the beginning of their collaboration as educators.

Kelley and Erin’s bios as well as a schedule for the workshop can be found here. Learn more about Kelley’s work here and Erin’s work here. Lodging/Meal Plans here.

Instructor: Carol Shelkin
September 5–7, 2014
Tempered Glass Mosaics
All Levels | $200 + Selected Lodging/Meal Plan
Weekend Workshop

Learn how to create glittering mosaic art mixing collage with mosaic techniques using “Tempered Glass.” Tempered glass – also known as “Crash Glass” and “Safety Glass” is used to create mosaic art and architectural installations. A presentation showing examples of some of the finest works in Tempered Glass will be shown. You will learn to develop a jewel-like surface for both interior and exterior installations; and you will complete a mosaic using an overlaying technique with metallic papers, tissue, foils, glitter, photos, wordage, and more. You are encouraged to bring a variety of small paper images, photos, embellishments, and/or text to include in your mosaic. This is the perfect medium to permanently incorporate printed imagery!

Carol’s bio and workshop schedule can be found here. Learn more about her work at here. Lodging/Meal Plans here.

Instructor: Cynthia Fisher
September 19 – 21, 2014
Glass Mosaics
All Levels: $200 + Selected Lodging/Meal Plan
Weekend Workshop

Mosaics are a medium one can readily learn at a workshop, and then continue with at home with minimal investment in tools and materials. You will learn about (1) the rich history of mosaics materials, (2) tools and substrates, (3) a variety of methods of mosaic assembly with the major focus on the indirect method, and (4) color and the mosaic palette and how tile shape creates visual texture. Lecture time will be kept to a minimum, and there will be an emphasis on one-on-one guidance, maximizing individual interests.

Cynthia is eager to share her considerable knowledge and experience working in the medium of glass mosaics, from artistic considerations unique to mosaic to architectural installations. Cynthia’s bio and workshop schedule can be found here. Learn more about her work here. Lodging/Meal Plans here.

Tags: Art, Art Classes Abroad, Art Retreats, Art Travel, Bonnie Franklin, Carol Shelkin, Cynthia Fisher, Erin Pankratz-Smith, Kelley Knickerbocker, Mosaic, Mosaic Art Retreats, Mosaic Workshop, Rachel Sager, Touchstone Crafts, Travel, Yulia Hanansen

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Categories Art Retreats, Mosaic

8 Days in the Rainforest

2 Dec

Just back from the Costa Rica Flora and Fauna Workshop, and thought we’d share a few highlights. The week was transformational start to finish, from the eager, supportive and talented group of mosaic artists assembled to the serene and endlessly surprising rainforest and biodynamic farm at Finca Luna Nueva, to the kind and generous Costa Ricans who embraced us and taught us, to the fresh organic food, and the so-not-your-average-day adventures. More fabulous photos by super-lens Susan Walden here. We’ll definitely be back. If you’re interested in the next session, please let us know in the comment section. Pura Vida!

Click on the first photo and scroll through for descriptions.