Smalti, Millefiori and Glass Fusion Workshop
Smalti, Millefiori and Glass Fusion Workshop
AIMS OF COURSE:
This course aims to provide an opportunity for those who are new to smalti millefiori and / or glass fusions. The experienced participants will expand on those existing skills and develop your personal style and creativity.
As a unique feature, Martin can pre-make bespoke fusions especially for the course participants. The participant emails Martin the design plus dimensions a few weeks in advance, then Martin can make fusions of fish fins, butterfly wings, etc. This worked very well at the SAMA = Society of American Mosaic Artists annual conference in Chicago in 2011 and proved very popular with members.
Please note: it will NOT be possible for participants to make their own fusions in this workshop. All the glass fusions will be pre-made by Martin and provided on the workshop along with a range of millefiori and Mexican smalti.
WHAT STUDENTS SHOULD ACHIEVE:
During the course you will design and make a mosaic of 12 x 16 inches or 12 x 12 inches in area. Martin will provide these MDF substrates. Participants can work to different and larger dimensions if they wish, but in that case they must bring their own substrates.
TEACHING METHOD:
At the beginning of the day of the course Martin will give a 45 minute PowerPoint slideshow showing how smalti, millefiori and glass fusions are made. Using examples of his own work, martin will demonstrate how these materials can be incorporated into mosaics for great effect.
Participants will then begin working on their mosaics.
Martin will then give individual tuition and by looking at the participant’s designs will suggest how these different materials can be applied to your artwork.
STUDENT PREPARATION FOR COURSE
It would be really useful if you could bring with you two design ideas for your mosaic. Try to make your ideas different from each other, so that we will be able to discuss the various mosaic possibilities, which your designs will suggest to me. Your designs should be between a square foot: 12 x 12 inches (30 x 30 cm), in area up to a maximum of A3: 12 x 16 inches (30 x 40 cm) - if you want to finish your mosaic during the course.
Keep you designs simple and bold – remember that the smalti briquettes average 2cm x 1 cm in size so don’t make your design too fiddly! A quick glance at my website: www.martincheek.co.uk of any of my books will show you what I mean, but please don’t copy my mosaics – you could do that at home!
If you don’t have time to prepare any designs before the course, then try and bring some sort of pictorial reference with you. This could be anything from a book to a greetings card that you like or even a piece of wrapping paper or packaging that may have caught your eye. If you can decide and resolve your design beforehand, this will save you valuable time on the first day. Martin will be happy for you to email your design to him in advance, in order to discuss this with you.
FAQS:
How many hours will we work each day?
Martin will teach from 10 – 4.30 with an hours lunch break.
participants are allowed to work until 6 on the first day (and second day if it is a 3 day course) and arrive at 9 on the second (and third if it is a 3 day course) when they can work unassisted if they wish
Will we be using hammer and hardie or mosaic cutters?
Participants will need to bring their own mosaic cutters or purchase some from the venue. Martin recommend Lepponit wheel nippers or similar for cutting smalti. We will not be using a hammer and hardie..
If we don't finish will we be able to take the needed glass to finish later on our own?
The course fee has an addition $60 added for materials. This consists of 500g of MIXED Italian Orsoni smalti, + 100g of Martin’s fusions + an A3 = 12 x 16 substrate + Wellbond glue.