Mosaics: Developing Your Personal Imagery

This course will provide an in-depth experience with mosaic design and fabrication. Each participant will have the opportunity to create an 8” x 8” mosaic with traditional Mexican glass smalti and an assortment of other ceramic and glass tiles. Students will learn to cut the tiles into a variety of shapes and place them to create movement and pattern in their mosaics.

Mexican smalti tiles are handmade, and they have unusual variations of color and texture. Your instructor, Lisa Houck, has worked with this medium for her public art installations because it is touchable, durable, and groutable, as well as painterly and subtle in its colors and textures. Lisa brings her background as a painter and designer to work with students to develop their compositions and personal imagery in mosaics.

Students may bring photos, books, magazines, and sketches as inspiration for their 8″ x 8″ mosaic designs.