Creating Abstract Mosaics Inspired by Nature
Learn how to create abstract mosaic art, inspired by images from nature.
So you want to get creative with your mosaic making?
This course will give you the knowledge and skills to confidently create your own unique piece of mosaic art.
You will be guided through a well defined process, taking things one step at a time so you don't feel overwhelmed.
You'll learn how to develop ideas and inspirations into successful designs, so you can create mosaic art to feel proud of.
Sources of Inspiration
Sometimes it can be hard to know where to start, so you'll take your inspiration from a library of nature photographs. From moss covered trees to lichen covered rocks, these images will feature different textures and colours to get your creative juices flowing.
You'll be shown how to extract the key elements from the image and use them to create designs to base your mosaic on.
Make the most of your materials
Mosaic materials will bring your design to life. You'll experiment with combinations of materials to develop a palette to use for your final mosaic.
You'll explore how to use the properties of your materials to create interesting textures and surfaces, as well as how to create contrast or harmony between elements.
Watch live demonstrations
Each teaching session features a live demonstration, putting everything that has been taught into practice. So you learn not only what to do, but how to do it.
You'll observe the full process, from developing the design and choosing the materials, to putting it all together, as well as learning what to do if things aren't going to plan.
Learn through doing
The best way to learn is through practice. So as well as watching presentations and demonstrations, you will be given practical exercises to enhance your learning.
To ensure you are comfortable with the techniques and understand the course content, there will also be two 'clinic' sessions. One held part way through the course and the other at the end. At these sessions you can put into practice what you have been learning, ask questions, get feedback on your work and see what others are making.
The course includes the following elements
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Six live sessions, held via zoom.
Four of these sessions will cover the course content.
Two of these sessions will provide live student support.
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Written handouts to download and keep.
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Membership of a private community group to share work and ask questions.
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Training videos on basics such as preparing substrates and using tile adhesive.
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Access to recordings of the live sessions for six months
What kind of mosaic will I make?
You will create your own unique design, based on the image you choose for inspiration. Below you can see some examples of mosaics made by students who have taken this class.
FAQ
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When will the class be held?
Tuesdays at 7pm (UK time). Each class will finish by 9pm.
Teaching sessions will be held on 25th October, 1st November, 15th November and 22nd November.
Clinic sessions will be held on 8th November and 29th November.
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Is this course suitable for complete beginners?
The course is designed for those with some mosaic experience. However, many of the basics are covered in the training videos, and support is provided via the community group and the clinics. If you are unsure whether this course is right for you, get in touch via email to discuss further.
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Do I need to provide my own tools and materials?
Yes. A suggested materials list will be provided at the start of the course.
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What if I can't make the live sessions?
All live sessions will be recorded and made available to students within 24 hours. You will have access to these recordings for a minimum of 6 months following the end of the course to give you a chance to catch up.
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How much does the class cost?
The course fee is £195.
Your Instructor
Rachel Davies
Rachel is a professional mosaic artist who specialises in using slate, stone and glass in her artwork. Her work focuses on creating highly textured surfaces and designs that have an organic feel to them.
Email
She is a highly sought after instructor and is experienced in teaching both in-person and online. Her relaxed and encouraging manner makes her popular with her students. She is passionate about mosaic art and generously shares her in-depth knowledge to support her students achieve the best results that they can.
What Students Say About This Course
A Game-Changer
Rachel's "Abstracts Inspired by Nature" course was a real "game-changer" for me in developing my skills in designing and creating mosaic art. I look at natural elements a bit differently now - nature's patterns, designs, and materials strike me with inspiration of how they might look in a mosaic. Rachel's creative use of technology really makes you feel like you're in the room with her as she provides expert instruction and demonstrations.
The set up of the course to include both instruction and "clinic" days is a great way to not only learn from Rachel but to also interact with other students and see how they interpret the concepts. I enthusiastically recommend this course if you're aspiring to take your mosaic making to a new level!!!
I loved being able to watch Rachel work
I always enjoy Rachel's classes. What I particularly loved about this class was being able to watch Rachel work on a piece from start to finish and see how she makes all the micro-decisions that go into creating a mosaic. It was like being in her head, and watching her hands at the same time.
Rachel is a very generous, thorough, and caring teacher, taking time to help each student with questions during the clinics. If you are like me and take a lot of nature photos that you think would be great inspiration for a mosaic, take this class!
Very Helpful and Inspiring
Rachel presented the course very well, with a lot of attention to detail in both the planning of the mosaic and the actual making. I was unable to do the live stream due to the time difference but was able to watch the recording the next day.
I loved every aspect of the course and particularly found watching Rachel create her mosaic very helpful and inspiring! Rachel opened my eyes to using different organic materials and I really like the abstract nature of mosaic making. I would recommend this course to anyone who likes the abstract form of mosaic.
Enormously Helpful
Rachel’s class was enormously helpful to me. I enjoyed the balance she struck among time spent on presenting didactic material; demonstrating how she approaches design, material selection and placement of tesserae, and providing feedback on my work as it evolved.
I especially appreciated Rachel’s willingness to share her thought processes and decision-making as she works, including how she wrestles with if, when and how to address her “mistakes”. I am looking forward to taking another or her online classes.