Mosaic & Found Object Assemblage: Fun Faces
About Instructor
This is the Smithsonian Online Streaming Autumn class offering. These classes fill quickly. As soon as we have a sense of the date class will be available for sale we will announce in a newsletter, make sure you are receiving our emails.
What happens when traditional and non-traditional mosaic materials are brought together to create an offbeat, amusing portrait? Find out in this class that combines mosaic and assemblage along with instruction in design and composition techniques. Work with a mix of unconventional items including recycled materials of unexpected origin, natural found objects, dish shards in pique assiette style, glass, tile, rusty bits, pebbles, and more.
Each session includes lecture, demonstration, and time to work on your piece. Learn how to work with materials in combination with appropriate adhesives and substrates, pick up useful cutting tricks, review design principles, and create effective backgrounds to best support your funny face portrait.
Students provide all materials, see supply list below for details, and detailed list published on Smithsonian Studio Arts website, the supply list is downloadable from there.
At first class we will review materials, substrates, adhesives and embark on a new creative adventure. There will be cutting demonstration, materials review and design lecture, but only prep work that first evening so if you do not have all of your supplies do not fret! All of your questions and concerns about materials and supplies will be answered during the first class. We will have hands on work during class sessions 2 – 4. The need for grout will be determined case by case.
Recommend you work an area in the one square foot range, does not matter if square or rectangle. Helpful to have your substrate for first class and some materials and cutting tools.
Students provide:
- Appropriate substrate (prepared MDF, Wediboard or HardieBacker Board) * NOTE: we will be using a few different adhesives, including thin-set mortar, if you are using MDF instructor will demonstrate proper preparation during class
- Thin-set mortar. Either powder form or Home Depot’s “Simple set”. *
- Clear Silicone adhesive (Home Depot/Lowes) ***
- 4 oz Apoxie Sculpt and solvent ****
- Weldbond
- Tile Nippers
- LePonnit Wheel nippers if you have glass materials
- Small spatulas to spread adhesives
- Tweezers, bamboo sticks (for picking)
- Paper Towels
- Safety Glasses
- Mosaic Materials: shells, pebbles, recycled stuff odd metal and rusty buts, tile, ceramic, smalti, broken dishes.
- Grout –recommend you WAIT to purchase until after 1st class
Photo: :Cabaret Singers” by Chris Porter, china, shells, beads, broken jewelry, stained glass, a grand piano key for the Mike stand and a piece of a mike cord.