Types of Classes

Basic Mosaic Class
This class will show you the basics of choosing materials to work with, how to cut them, where to get them, what to use as an adhesive and what type of base to put the tessera (pieces of mosaic) on. This class is taught at Silver Circle Gallery, Mystic Art Center or at any private location that can accommodate the number of students who are attending.
Mosaics were originally built of pebbles. This is a very ancient art-form. It is also extremely durable and very practical. This type of work will outlast anyone who builds them properly. There are many methods of building pebble mosaics and that will depend on the site and the climate. I teach from CT to CA and anywhere in between as long as there are enough people and the proper location to hold a class.

Basic Pebble Mosaic- Direct work
This class focuses on working in small molds and dry-laying stone into cement or concrete that is later wet and left to set overnight. See more details below. This is a two day workshop. You will make two pieces and two different designs. Usually held in a studio

Direct and Indirect Pebble Mosaic
The Directi and Indirect Pebble Mosaic class is suitable for everyone- That means those who have never done mosaics or those with some mosaic experience but have never worked on a pebble mosaic. It is suitable for artists and non-artists alike. Ages- 14 to 75, or older. We will spend day one working on indirect pre-cast work and day two will be a direct project. This process is about sorting and fitting the stones against each other and choosing the right size, shape and color. We use pre-formed molds, an assortment of pebbles and stone, concrete- that you will learn to make, a materials resources list, structural grout, sand, demos and hands on work, lots of instruction as well as some lecture over a two day workshop, classes may be indoor but are usually outdoors. Make sure to click on the movie made by a student in the Cape Cod class in the summer of 2009 for a good visual description of this class.

Click here to view the movie.

Advanced Pebble Mosaic Class
Focus is on indirect pre-cast molds and materials as the basic class but is more advanced in that the designs are more complicated, there are size gradations, color gradations, possibly stone carving and the inclusion of other materials. Students will learn to make molds from scratch. Carpentry skills like cutting and measuring, knowledge of power equipment such as saws, drills and grinders is very helpful but the will to learn is almost as good. I will demonstrate several methods of making molds with wood and fiberglass as well as making templates.This class is either a two day or four day intensive workshop. This class is held outdoors most of the time.

Advanced Insitu Pebble Mosaic Class
This is for those who have done some previous pebble mosaic on your own or in another class. We will work on a small scale public project or at a property chosen by the host of the class. This is a very physical class- Sorting stone, moving it around, mixing cement, shoveling stonedust, etc. You will need to be able to lift 30 to 50 pounds for a short duration and this is an outside class, so you need to dress accordingly. We will do a site analysis, review site prep, the process of laying the stone dry or into wet mortar. This class will be 3 or 4 days and is limited to 6 students. This class is only taught once or twice a year.

Architectural Installation
Rhode Island School of Design- This is a very intense and fun and fast paced class. We will discuss the wide array of materials, adhesives, substrates, fabrication and installation methods. Most of the focus will be centered on interior mosaics for kitchen and bath but we will discuss materials and methods that are suitable for exterior projects as well. This class is held once per year.

Schedule of Classes

Jan 2010 – RISD/ CE   Architectural Mosaics Workshop Date(s); 01/27/10 - 01/29/10
Time: 10am-4pm, Sessions: 3 Location: Tillinghast 2010/CW CERAM-0137, Debora Aldo
Description: From ancient Roman palazzos to Byzantine churches, architectural mosaics have adorned the floors, walls and fountains of grand homes and buildings for centuries. This class offers a comprehensive hands-on introduction to creating mosaics for specific sites and surfaces, including home interiors, exteriors and other architectural structures. The process begins with developing imagery and planning the design of the mosaic for a designated site. Both traditional and contemporary techniques of making mosaics using stone, glass, ceramic, found objects, broken china, metal and other recycled materials -- by themselves or in combination -- are explored. Students use simple tools to cut the materials into small cubes known as tessera, which are then assembled into the design. While students work in small format to gain technical experience, the logistics of working on a much larger scale are discussed, including possible on-site installation in your own home.
Tuition [Non Credit]: $285.00, Lab Fee: $40.00 Course total: 325.00.
You must register for this class through RISD  http://www.risd.edu/workshops.cfm
For all pebble mosaic classes there is a short  MOVIE that will give you a general visual picture of the process that is covered in these workshops. Each class is slightly different but the basic techniques are covered each time.

FEBRUARY, 2010   Ciel Gallery, Charlotte NC-
Pre-Cast Pebble Mosaics Workshop Date(s); 02/13/10 - 02/14/10
Time: 9am-4pm, Sessions: 2 Location:  Ciel Gallery, 1519 Camden Road, Charlotte, NC  28203
This two-day intensive with Connecticut artist Deb Aldo will focus on the indirect method of creating cast slab architectural pebble and stone installations for garden paths, walkways, or floors. Tools, templates, pebble size/color /shape, cement mixing, forms, technique, fitting, flipping and cleaning will be covered, as well as a shorter lesson on direct application methods. Class will meet from 9-4 both days, lunch is served to you onsite. This class will be held indoors, dress for success here means skip the style and wear clothing that can get messy. Cement doesn’t come out.
For more information on Deb and her work, please visit www.pietreduredesign.com. Includes materials but you may bring some favorites as well.
Tuition: $315.00  You must register for this class at   http://www.cielcharlotte.com/workshops.htm

APRIL  2010   Rockport, MA- Studio Stratton
Pre-Cast Pebble Mosaics Workshop  Date(s); 04/10/10 - 04/11/10
Time: 10am-4pm, Sessions: 2  Space is limited, please register early
Location: Rockport. Direx to studio /lodging info to be mailed upon registration/deposit.
This two-day workshop will focus on the indirect method of creating cast slabs that are suitable for exterior ( or interior) installations for garden paths, patios and vertical surfaces. You will be provided with a pebble “buffet” and a kit that will contain- tools, mold, templates, drawing materials and much more. I will show you how to choose the pebbles you use: Sorting is done on the basis of size, shape and color. The templates will focus on creating a piece that will show you how to master color gradations, size gradations and fitting of stone. There will be some lecture but mostly hands on work. You will be in a studio; Dress in sloppy clothing, cement doesn’t come off. There will be books on hand for reference as well.  For more information on Deb and her work, please visit www.pietreduredesign.com. Includes materials but you may bring some favorites as well. No experience necessary.
Tuition: $285.00  You must register for this class with me at deb@pietreduredesign.com or Carol Cataldo at pomcat5454@aol.com

MAY 2010   Santa Barbara, CA  B. Gallery Studio
Advanced  Insitu Pebble Mosaic Workshop  Date(s); TBA sometime first two weeks of May
Time: 9:30am-4pm, Sessions: 5  Space is limited to 8 students
Location: Santa Barbara, CA. Direx to studio /lodging info to be mailed upon registration/deposit.
If you are taking this class you will need to have done some previous pebble mosaic work with me or on your own, or with another instructor. In this class you will learn how to work in two very different techniques: In-situ which is working directly in the ground after it has been properly prepared and backfilled with stonedust and setting mortar for placing pebbles. The second type of work is a direct pre-cast slab made from a new technique that I have just developed: Pebbles are set directly into dry cement that we will wet and cure in several steps. In addition to hands on there will be some presentation from that explains in more detail how to prep the ground, what work in progress should look like. This will be held both outdoors and in a studio. Dress messy, bring your muscles, all materials are included, lunch and drinks are included as well. You will also receive handouts as well as a take-home package that will enable you to continue to make pebble mosaics. You will go home with one project and the knowledge of how to work insitu.
Tuition is $650 per person. You will need to register with me at deb@pietreduredesign.com

MAY 2010   Los Angelos, CA   Guest Artist at Piece by Piece Mosaics
Leaf Castings and other substrates for mosaics Date(s); May 10
Time: 1pm-4pm, Sessions:  
We will be playing in the mud for this one! DO dress for success: Cement doesn’t come out. Skip the style and wear clothing that can get messy. We will be making leaf castings from the local trees and we will also make a mesh and cement substrate in the shape of your choice. For more information on Deb and her work, please visit www.pietreduredesign.com. Includes materials but you may bring some favorites as well. You will receive handouts, kit and take home a pre-cast slab.
Tuition: $300.00  You must register for this class via email deb@pietreduredesign.com or  contact Dawn Mendelson of Piece by Piece  at dawnmendelson@earthlink.net.

MAY 2010   Long Beach , CA   Guest Artist at Second City Council Gallery or DayBreak Mosaics
Insitu Mosaic of pre-cast slabs Date(s); May 11 or 12, date tba
Time: 9pm-4pm, Sessions:  1
This will be a short version of the class in Santa Barbara. We will be working in a small scale format on creating direct precast slabs that we will then place in the ground. We will also be working on creating a piece for you to take home with you. So you will learn how to make a pebble mosaic AND how to install it.  For more information on Deb and her work, please visit www.pietreduredesign.com. Includes materials but you may bring some favorites as well. You will receive handouts, kit and take home a pre-cast slab.
Tuition: $125.00 You must register for this class via email deb@pietreduredesign.com or  contact Dawn Mendelson of Day Break Mosaics  at dawnmendelson@earthlink.net.

JUNE- AUGUST  2010- Pietre Dure Design Studio, CT
Private lessons or  small groups only at my studio or yours, contact me for more information. I have an insitu project that you can learn on, small pre-cast projects and other casting techniques. See other class descriptions for more information.

JULY 2010   Cape Cod, MA- At the Studio of Lynn Moor
Pre-Cast Pebble Mosaics Workshop  Date(s); 07/10/10 - 07/11/10
Time: 9 am-4pm, Sessions: 2  Location: Cape Cod. Direx to studio /lodging info to be mailed upon registration/deposit.  This two-day workshop will focus on the indirect method of creating cast slabs that are suitable for exterior ( or interior) installations for garden paths, patios and vertical surfaces. You will be provided with a pebble “buffet” and a kit that will contain- tools, mold, templates, drawing materials and much more. We will cover some design basics, cement mixing, pouring, keying, fitting, flipping and cleaning will be covered. The templates I use will focus on creating a piece that will show you how to master color gradations, size gradations and fitting of stone. There will be some lecture but mostly hands on work. You will be in outdoors; Dress in sloppy clothing, cement doesn’t come off, bring rain gear, boots are better than sandles. Hand-outs, mold making- kit, lunch, drinks and all materials provided.  For more information on Deb and her work, please visit www.pietreduredesign.com. Includes materials but you may bring some favorites as well. No experience necessary.
Tuition: $285.00  You must register for this class with me at deb@pietreduredesign.com or Lynn Moor at MosaicSmalti.com.

Events:

Silver Circle Gallery in Putnam has all sorts of stuff going- Exhibits, classes, workshops, community events- check them out at:  silvercirclestudio.com

75 Main Street, Putnam CT, 06260, 860.928.2900

Hours: Wed. - Thurs. 11-5pm, Fri. 11-8pm, Sat. 11 - 5pm, Sunday 12- 5pm. CLOSED MON - TUES.
Email: info@silvercirclestudio.com

Check the Silver Circle Website for mosaic classes that I teach there on an ongoing monthly basis. There are many other classes for every level from Professional Artist to Beginners who have never taken a class. Silver Circle supports your creativity on every level.