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Mosaic Workshop with Martin Cheek April 20–21, 2013
All levels welcome — a few spots still open.
Meet the Maestro of Mosaics and let him guide you through your own creations!
“Skinny Cat” Mosaic by Martin Cheek
“Armadillo” Mosaic by Martin Cheek
“Slippers!” Mosaic by Martin Cheek
We are very excited to have internationally renowned mosaic artist Martin Cheek (UK) bring his talent and wry British wit to Sweet Berry Farm to teach a course in April 2013.
This course aims to provide an opportunity for those who are new to the wonderful craft of mosaic-making to learn the basic skills, and for those who are experienced to further develop their personal style and creativity.
Participants will design and work on a mosaic 12″ × 12″ or 12″ × 16″ using a combination of traditional glass smalti, vitreous glass, and millefiore. Martin will also demonstrate how he incorporates glass fusions into his work.
This course includes a combination of informative and entertaining lectures, including the history and manufacture of smalti and millefiore, Roman mosaic techniques, Martin’s fusing techniques, and the creative process. He will give demonstrations and individual help to ensure you go home fully inspired and equipped to continue to make mosaics at home.
In addition, Martin aims to make the students think about the character and personality of the subject they are creating. We will explore topics such as these: What is your mosaic about? And I don’t mean…a bird or a fish. WHAT is it about that particular bird or fish that you are trying to say? What effect do you want your mosaic to have upon the viewer? What emotional responses are you trying to achieve?
“Yellow Fish” Mosaic by Martin Cheek
“Croquet Player” Mosaic by Martin Cheek
When: Saturday & Sunday, April 20–21, 2013 Time: 10am–4:30pm each day Where: The Barn at Sweet Berry Farm, 915 Mitchell’s Lane, Middletown, Rhode Island02842 Cost: $355 Includes: Priceless instruction by the Mosaic Maestro, substrate (12″ × 12″ or 12″× 16″), glue, 20 oz. smalti, 20 oz. vitreous glass tile (enough to cover substrate), 2 oz. millefiore to tickle your fancy, coffee, tea, scones, and a lovely Sweet Berry Farm lunch. Not included: Additional materials that you may want in order to customize your mosaic, and Martin’s glass fusions, which will be available for purchase during the workshop. Sign up: E-mail Michelle Eckhart: SweetBerryFarm@gmail.com. $100 deposit is required to hold your space. You may send a check made out to “Sweet Berry Farm” to us at Sweet Berry Farm, 19 Third Beach Road, Middletown, RI 02842. Credit card payment can also be arranged. Please note: Participants are welcome to continue working on their mosaics unattended until 6:30pm on Saturday and Sunday, and may start at 8:30am on Sunday.
Martin Cheek has written six best-selling books on mosaics. He has been making mosaics professionally for 30 years, since graduating in graphic design from Exeter College of Art and Design in England in 1981. He made award-winning films as a student, and subsequently worked on several puppet animation projects including The Wind in the Willows, Paddington Bear, Noddy in Toyland, and Portland Bill. He then set up his own production company, Cheeky Films Ltd. For many years Martin was a part-time lecturer at the Royal College of Art. He is a former art critic for the (UK) Daily Express and now works full time as a professional mosaic artist. Martin is regularly commissioned by both private and corporate clients as well as by museums, and his work appears in leading national magazines and newspapers as well as on television.
Martin Cheek
Martin has tutored workshops in the UK, USA, Turkey, France, Holland, Greece, Italy, South Africa, Nepal, Australia, and New Zealand. His weekend courses in the UK and abroad continue to be popular with students from all over the world keen to learn the art of making mosaics—over 2000 people have now attended Martin’s courses. In April 2008 Martin was keynote speaker at the international conference of SAMA—The Society of American Mosaic Artists—held in Miami, Florida. In 2011 he was keynote speaker at the international conference of MAANZ—The Mosaic Association of Australia and New Zealand, held in the Barossa Valley near Adelaide, Australia.
Mosaic Course
“Gecko” Mosaic by Martin Cheek
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. Your designs should be either 12″ × 12″ or 12″× 16″. Keep your designs simple and bold—the smalti briquettes average 5⁄8″×3⁄8″ in size, so don’t make your design too fiddly!
You will need rotary wheel nippers, which are easily purchased online from most of the larger mosaic supply companies. Michelle has a limited number of nippers that she is willing to lend, but please specify if you need her to reserve them for you.It’s a good idea to wear an apron or old clothes.
Martin’s handmade glass fusions will be available for purchase. Glass fusions are usually sold as jewelry for about eight times the price that Martin charges. His price is $30 per 100g (3.5 oz.). They are not cheap, nor should they be: they are works of art!
You can see many more examples of Martin’s work and fusions on his website and his Facebook page. Martin has also added a website listing his complete course schedule for 2012–2013, and a Facebook page for each of the courses on his last US tour in 2012.
