Abstract Designs for Mosaics

Yulia Hanansen is a second-generation artist. Having mastered many techniques including mosaics, printmaking, drawing, painting, textiles, and more, Yulia has been professionally involved in mosaic making since 2001. Her Mosaic Sphere Studio, LLC was the first mosaic studio/gallery in the state of Michigan to show and represent mosaic artwork. Her studio is currently located in the charming city of Baltimore, Maryland, where Yulia works and lives. Yulia is a recipient of numerous awards for her mosaic and printmaking artwork, including “Best in Show” and “Juror’s Choice” awards at Mosaic Arts International. Yulia’s works have been exhibited in galleries nationwide and internationally. This hands-on "Abstract Mosaics" workshop is a detailed study of abstract art elements and how they apply to the mosaic art. By the end of this course students will gain an understanding on how to make abstract mosaics and how to create their own unique pieces. Yulia will discuss what abstraction is, how the abstract image is created, and how to adopt an abstract idea for a mosaic. Students will work on a series of exercises both on paper and in mosaic. The second part of the workshop will be a hands-on practice, first on paper and then on small substrates, where students will create samples of abstract layouts. Participants will then create a 10”x10” final abstract design created either from a reference or spontaneously. Students will: • learn how to understand 7 basic elements of Abstraction which will be applied to a final project they will make in this class. • learn about Point and how to expand it (philosophically and physically) into geometric shapes. • learn the transition between the Point and a Line and what the two have in-common. • discuss the Shapes and how they interact with Point and Line. • use Color and Tone to create emphasis in the abstract composition. • use Scale, Pattern, and Texture and how they can be applied to a mosaic abstraction. • practice mini-projects designed for this workshop and that will help cement student knowledge of Abstract Mosaic. • learn how to design an abstract composition for a final mosaic practice piece. Provide items include: - 10x10” plywood - 2 or 3 small pieces of plywood for practicing the layouts and making samples - paper, tracing paper, copy paper - thin-set (white and grey), & cups for mixing, popsicle sticks, gloves - handouts - miscellaneous items such as bowls, plates, paper towels, etc. Students will need to provide: - cutting tools: wheeled nipper, hammer & tabletop hardie (if using) - tweezers & palette knife to spread the adhesive - gloves (optional) - Weldbond (optional) - a variety of tesserae (at least 2 different types): stained glass, stone, smalti, ceramic, other interesting tessera to cover about 1.5 sq ft total. This will take about 4.5 lbs of smalti, or 5 lbs of stone. To save time during the workshop, it is better to pre-cut smalti or stone into 1/4” cubes or similar size shapes. Tesserae should be in 2-3 colors. No need to bring the entire palette. - an abstract image for reference - 2B pencil, eraser, ruler