Master maestro Verdiano Marzi comes to to teach for the first time in the US for an exclusive 5 day workshop. In this course, students will create a mosaic after reviewing and refining those designs and plans with Mr Marzi. Special attention will be  given to the sensitive use of varied andamento, texture,  and the importance of light and color to augment the impact of each design. Students will have the opportunity  to explore concepts of contrasting size, special shapes of tesserae using both traditional and cutting-endge andmenti. Mr. Marzi will give a presentation of his graceful and vibrant works and discuss his own process. The materials explored will consist mainly of natural stone, so participants who anticipate the need for a significant palette of smalti are encouraged to bring their own. This class is recommended for intermediate to advanced students. Class size is limited to 15. Cost is $750 plus a $50 material fee. SOLD OUT- Wait list only

We are pleased to welcome British mosaic artist and author Martin Cheek to CMS for  a 3-day workshop  that is suitable for  both”beginners and Improvers”. Mr. Cheek will teach cutting, shaping techniques and classical layout techniques of the tesserae.  Old master techniques of andamento, opus regulatum, vermiculatum, musivum etc. will be discussed and demonstrated. Students will  get to experiment with these techniques while completing their own mosaic design. This class will take participants through the mosaic creative process-one step at a time, way beyond the naive concept of “crazy paving” and “coloring in” with broken tiles. Included in the workshop will be an hour long slide show of  Mr. Cheeks’s own work and  he will demonstrate how  various mosaic  materials can affect your finished piece. Please bring at least two design ideas,  photos and other glass or mixed media material that you wish to discuss with Martin that will aid in designing your piece.  The size will be equivalent to a 12″x12″ square surface. Cost  is $400 plus $60 materials fee.

Sonia King returns to CMS to offer  students an elevated sense of what mosaics are all about.  This workshop will challenge participants to think about their work in a new way so they may take it to the next level. The class will focus on sharpening skills and learning new techniques.  Technically there will be extensive inquiry into cutting skills, using varied materials, laying techniques and broadening skills and knowledge.  Participants work on projects of their own choosing with lots of individual attention, dealing with issues specific to their own work. Specific topics will include (but not limited to) cutting ergonomics, adhesives, substrates, framing and hanging as well as wide variety of materials and tools, etc.  Participants can expect to leave the workshop with a great deal of meaty knowledge that will be of use long after the class ends. Some prior mosaic experience is recommended.

In the body of a mosaic, texture is not only the skin, but also a reflection of the emotions and of the soul of the artist who creates it. In this 5-day workshop, we will study the concept of the word texture as it applies to mosaic. We will look at examples as well as at connections and parallels with other media, and we’ll explore ways to achieve different textures.The goal of this 5 day workshop is to demonstrate how, using a single technique, it is possible to create many different textural effects just by manipulating the tesserae.  Participants will complete one mosaic each day, creating different textures which reflect a variety of thoughts, sensations, and emotions. The materials, either traditional or modern, will be cut using the hammer and hardie, and will be applied on thinset directly into a prepared frames. This workshop is aimed at those students who are familiar both with the direct method on thinset and the hammer and hardie who would like to improve their skills and increase their artistic vocabulary. Cost includes $50 materials fee and use of all tools.

This course is an intended to be an exploration of the possibilities of both Italian and Mexican glass smalti.
Students will be introduced to all facets and applications of the marvelous and luminous material. Students will learn about mosaic design, composition, color, specific tools and cutting techniques, applications and adhesives. This intensive workshop is for absolute beginners as well as experienced mosaic artists who have not experimented with this material. Students will be asked to take notes and participate in the class critique the last day of class. Class includes $50 materials fee and use of tools. Cost includes $50 materials fee and use of all tools.

Imagine being free from the grout and the flatness of 2D surface. The completion of your mosaic doesn’t need to end when the last empty spot on the board is filled. You can keep on working on your mosaic by introducing multiple layers of tesserae. This is the technique where andamento gains a new level of freedom. You will learn a multi-layered brush-stroke technique that uses small boat-shaped stained glass pieces. This technique is compared to painting in glass- you will learn to direct and control the flow of your pieces, stack them up to form rhythmic textures,  and use layering to achieve the shading effects. Price includes $50 materials fee and use of all tools.