I have shared images of mosaics out in the wild, what I haven’t done is make them myself for quite a while. Well, that drought has ended. While I was in Israel I got an email that the local Stained Glass and Fusing supplies was going to offer a mosaic class.
Now I’m good at mosaics, I need to write a post with images of my work, but I have taught myself from books. Time for a real teacher.
Turns out that when it comes to mosaic design, I probably know more than the teacher, but there is something to be learned in every class. Case in point,
innovative materials. Instead of working directly onto the final object (like a wall, I have done that, worked directly on the wall – ugh!)
We each traced our hand, put this wonderful mesh over it and started cutting the glass. Yes, there were very good tips on how to use the tools. Although, I did get a blister on my thumb.
Using this kind of glass gives much more depth than the little squares one can buy. Yes, I have quite a collection of those squares as well.
Work in progress.
Hand on hand.
Next lesson, we grout. The teacher was blown away, he was working alongside us, and he was just laying out rows of glass. I want the glass to flow, I’ve worked hard on creating that effect. I’ve read many books and watched You-Tube videos. With my art background, I understand shading as well.
And yet, this class has put me back into the mosaic making mode. I’m sure I will learn a lot about the grouting process. No matter how much one knows, going into a class with an open mind is the way to do it. Every teacher has something new for me to learn.
Next week I start on a project that is almost 3 years overdue, making a mosaic out of the broken glass from my son’s wedding. 
This is what I made for my oldest son eleven years ago. The inside of the letters is the broken glass.