Spring and Summer 2012 Class Schedule
Here is a current listing of the classes I am offering in New Orleans, Oakland, San Diego and Seattle. Classes are listed by date and all descriptions are linked to host website.
NEW ORLEANS
May 5, 2012
Saturday 10 - 4
Introduction to Glass Smalti Mosaics
New Orleans School of Art and Craft
To register and for more information:
Mosaic artist Laurel True will introduce
students to this wonderful material dating back to the Byzantine Era. Beginners
and continuing mosaic students will enjoy learning about this beautiful glass
material that is surprisingly accessible.
Smalti is a beautiful, rich and
reflective material made from poured glass. This exciting course will introduce
students to the history of this exquisite glass material that has been used
since the Byzantine Era and its uses in today's mosaic world.
Class will begin with a digital
presentation showing how smalti is made in small batches by artisans today in
Europe and beyond. Instructor will go on to introduce students to the unique
light catching and reflecting qualities of smalti and how this material can be
combined with other mosaic materials for exciting and rich effects.
Class will cover basic design, layout
and visual understanding of a smalti piece as well as both ancient and
contemporary cutting techniques. Each student will learn how to work with the
hammer and hardie to cut smalti, as well as gain an understanding of how to use
modern tools with this material with as little waste as possible.
Students will learn how to set smalti
directly into a tinted mortar bed using
Italian smalti to create a 6” x 6”
mosaic wall hanging to take home. Smalti starter pack and custom-made framed
substrate provided.
Level: Any
Class price $135
Materials: $45
_________________________
OAKLAND
July 14-15
Saturday and Sunday 10am – 4pm
Urban Mosaics
Institute of Mosaic Art
To register and for more information:
In this new
class, instructor Laurel True will discuss and present conceptual approaches to
creating mosaics in and inspired by the urban landscape including
mosaic graffiti,
urban land art, renegade and spontaneous projects.
Class will
include a digital presentation showcasing urban mosaics, materials and artists
using these alternative methods internationally.
Students
will be introduced to and encouraged to experiment with recycled, mixed media
and alternative materials and will work on a series of projects including
small, portable mesh or tape- backed pieces that we will put up in the urban
landscape. Class will also create a piece of urban land art using mosaic
techniques and various media as a group, which will be left in the environment.
Level: Any
Class price $220
Materials: $25
_________________________
SAN DIEGO
July 20, 2012
Friday 1 – 5 pm
Mosaic Technique and Practical Applications
Lecture/ Demo/ Q & A with Laurel True
Hosted by:
Norma Yuskos Studio,
Encinitas, CA
To register
for this class, please contact Laurel True:
info@truemosaics.com
Level: Any
Class price $100
How to create beautiful and lasting mosaic projects almost
anywhere - both indoors and outdoors.
This is a great technical class for students who want to
gain a deeper insight into best practices for different types of mosaic applications
on a variety of surfaces and in a variety of environments.
Class will cover the basics of exterior and garden
applications, basic architectural applications and use of non- traditional
surfaces and materials for mosaic.
Students will learn how to select the proper substrate for
their project and how to properly prepare these surfaces to receive mosaic, as
well as presenting and explaining the uses of a variety of essential adhesives.
Special focus will be given to mixing and using thin-set.
Lecture and demo will also include a presentation and
discussion of different types of tile and other tesserae and their uses and
limitations, methods of setting, fitting tricks and working both on and off
site in direct, double direct and indirect methods including the use of
fiberglass mesh and tile tape.
Instructor will demonstrate proper tool use for cutting
glass, tile, stone and other materials, including specialty cuts made by hand
including carving and shaping techniques.
Finally, class will cover grouting techniques for any size
project. Instructor will discuss when to grout and when it’s ok not to grout
and the use of tinted thin-set as a setting bad for ungrouted work.
This class is great for the beginner and is also appropriate
for the student who has already experimented with mosaics and would like to
expand their knowledge to include exterior, garden or permanent installations
and focus on best practices for all facets of mosaic creation.
Min 8/ Max 12
July 21-22
Saturday and Sunday 9am - 5pm
Community Mosaic Mural Making – Facilitating and Creating
Community-Based Projects
Hands-on workshop led by Laurel True
Studio of Norma Yuskos , Encinitas,
CA
To register
for this class, please contact Laurel True:
info@truemosaics.com
This weekend
intensive workshop lead by community and public artist Laurel True will focus
on methodology and techniques for approaching community-based mosaic
projects. Students will get a chance to experience group mosaic- making
processes through the actual creation of a mosaic mural.
Students
will come away from this information-packed workshop with the knowledge, skills
and confidence to lead and facilitate successful, permanent projects that
engage and inspire community.
Workshop
will begin with a presentation of successful project models and
lecture will include sample pedagogy for including and training community
members in the creation of public art. Instructor will cover various approaches
to community outreach, design development, sourcing locations and materials and
recruiting project participants.
Saturday
and Sunday morning will be devoted to lecture and demonstration and the
afternoons to practice, which will include hands on training in the creation of
a mosaic mural that will be donated to a local non-profit, school or business
Lecture
will include step-by-step instructions with complementary images
describing multiple approaches to project coordination, management and creation
with a focus on creating permanent artworks specific to a host communities’
needs, desires and location.
Instructor
will present several mosaic-making techniques that can be employed with groups
with any level of training. Specific teacher/ facilitator training will focus
on best practices for technical construction methods so that outdoor, public
projects are durable, safe and long lasting. Technical resources will be
included in class binder.
Additional
topics covered will include:
· Defining project goals and objectives
· Project planning, funding and budget
creation
· Project and time management techniques for
any scale project
· Working in and outside of the classroom
· Professional development and
entrepreneurial training for participants
This
class will be of particular benefit to mosaic artists and public artists who
would like to add a community component to their work, teachers, community
organizers and anyone interested in community development and entrepreneurial
training through the arts.
Level:
Some mosaic
experience is recommended
Class fee: $395
Materials: $45
Registered students will be provided
with tool list
_________________________
SEATTLE
July 27-28
Friday 6- 8:30pm and
Saturday 10 - 3
Introduction to Smalti Mosaics
Seattle Mosaic Arts
To register and for more information:
Mosaic artist Laurel True will introduce
students to this wonderful material dating back to the Byzantine Era. Beginners
and continuing mosaic students will enjoy learning about this beautiful glass
material that is surprisingly accessible .
Smalti is a beautiful, rich and
reflective material made from poured glass. This exciting course will introduce
students to the history of this exquisite glass material that has been used
since the Byzantine Era and its uses in today's mosaic world.
Class will begin Friday evening with a
digital presentation showing how smalti is made in small batches by artisans
today in Europe and beyond. Instructor will go on to introduce students to the unique
light catching and reflecting qualities of smalti and how this material can be
combined with other mosaic materials for exciting and rich effects.
Class will cover basic design, layout
and visual understanding of a smalti piece as well as both ancient and
contemporary cutting techniques. Each student will learn how to work with the
hammer and hardie to cut smalti, as well as gain an understanding of how to use
modern tools with this material with as little waste as possible.
On Saturday, students will set smalti
directly into a mortar bed for their project and will receive information on
how to approach future projects. Class will finish with a digital presentation
of contemporary smalti projects, both as fine art pieces and as integrated into
architectural settings.
Students will use Italian smalti to
create an 8 x 8 mosaic wall hanging to take home. Smalti starter pack and
custom-made framed substrate provided.
Level: Any
Class fee: $265
Materials: Included
_________________________
SEATTLE
July 29th
Sunday 10-4 pm
Introduction Glass Fusing for Mosaics – One- Day Class
Seattle Mosaic Arts
To register and for more information:
Glass fusing is an exciting
technique to add to ones repertoire of mosaic and glass skills and, fused
pieces look wonderful in a mosaic.
In this exciting and fun one-day
class. instructor Laurel True will present the basics of glass fusing
to create individual tesserae and art pieces up to 3". Lecture and
presentation will include information on fusing history, types of kilns used
for fusing, glass characteristics and limitations and more. Students will be
amazed at what glass can do!
A range of fusible glass materials will be presented, such
as compatible sheet glass, frits and powders, glass rods, confetti and
stringers and their effects in completed pieces shown through the presentation
of lots of actual fused examples.
Students will learn both basic and trickier glass cutting
techniques to get started with or further expand their cutting skills with a
myriad of glass tools, including scoring tools, breakers, strip cutters,
grinders and lens (circle) cutters.
Instructor will present examples of many different effects
students can achieve combining different types, colors and qualities of fusible
glass, inclusions such as metal, mica and gold and silver leaf and other
exciting techniques. Rigging and hanging mechanisms for decorations and small
plaques will be demonstrated.
Lots of great materials will be available including clear
and opaque glass in tons of colors, stringers, confetti, frit, rods, mille and
dichroic glass. Students wil be able to experiment with many different
techniques and come away with a treasure trove of fused pieces for future
mosaic projects or to use in an of themselves.
* Pick up of fused pieces within one week of class. Out-of-town
students can arrange to have their pieces shipped.
Level: Any
Class fee: $150
Materials: Included
_________________________
OAKLAND
August 3, 2012
Friday, 1- 4 pm
The Business of Mosaics - Mini Seminar
Institute of Mosaic Art
To register and for more information:
Join mosaic
artist and entrepreneur Laurel True for this informative seminar, which will go
beyond the basics of understanding how to launch, grow and sustain a successful
mosaic business.
We will focus
on business aspects of commissioned work, architectural application and public
art.
Topics covered in lecture will include: identifying business and
creative goals, establishing a market identity, building an effective resume
and portfolio, presenting work accurately and effectively, client relations,
interfacing with other design professionals, effectively dealing with the
business aspects of architectural
commissioned work and public projects.
There will be a specific focus on creating project budgets,
proposals and design and production contracts. Course materials will include
templates for contracts, as well as worksheets for project pricing, ordering
materials and calculating business expenses, overhead and profit.
This session would particularly benefit those who are considering
going after or starting to receive commissioned projects and or public art.
Level: This is a professional development
seminar and students should have a working knowledge of mosaic making in order
to successfully contextualize the information offered.
Class fee: $125
Materials: $25
_________________________
OAKLAND
August 4 - 5, 2012
Saturday
10am – 4pm, Sunday 10am – 1pm
Architectural Applications for Mosaic – Floors, Walls and More
Institute of Mosaic Art
To register and for more information:
Instructor Laurel True has almost 20 years experience in
the field of mosaics and has completed hundreds of permanent installations in homes,
businesses, hotels, schools, parks and more across the United States.
This is a lecture and demonstration format course that focuses on
wall and floor applications as well as other permanent installations.
Class will begin with a digital presentation of instructor's
architectural work including floors, walls, back splashes, fireplace surrounds,
floor and pavement insets, large scale mosaic murals and other site specific
work in residential and commercial spaces. Using a mock-up of a kitchen
backsplash and an example of a mosaic floor installation, students are taken
through the steps required to complete a successful and durable mosaic
application.
Class will cover issues involving choosing the proper substrate,
dealing with existing substrates, prepping surfaces, work styles and preparing
the area to do a project, correct setting materials, choosing the right type of
tile or other tesserae, designing for an architectural application, transfer
techniques, methods of setting, including use of fiberglass mesh and other face
and back mounted off - site construction methods, mixing thin-set and concrete
based fixatives, grouting, caulking and finishing a permanent application.
Special focus will be given to dealing with architectural issues
such as thresholds, trims, pipes, plumbing, fixtures and appliances,
baseboards, expansion joints, sub flooring and more. Students should expect to
take notes and will receive handouts with technical and resource information.
This is an important technical class for those who want to
experiment with more permanent mosaic applications and do them right! Students
will see the process of creating a permanent mosaic installation with some
hands-on opportunity. (Students do not make an individual project in this
class).
*Please note: This is not a setting class. It is expected that
students will be able to combine this information with basic setting and mosaic
skills they already have.
Level: Intermediate, students should have
taken an introductory mosaic class
Class fee: $225
Materials: Included
_________________________