Fusions masterclass description

7 Day Mosaic Masterclass:
Glass Fusions & Ceramic Elements
at Martin’s studio at Flint House in Broadstairs, Kent, UK

Mosaic Masterclass at Flint House, Broadstairs 2012

Dates: June 4th -10th 2012
August 20 - 26th 2012

Course fee: £525.00
A non refundable deposit of £150.00 secures your place.

Schedule:

Day 1: Martin will give a lecture on mosaic incorporating the use of clay elements. We will then roll out clay and make our own clay elements. This is optional – you can choose not to do this and concentrate on your mosaic work if you wish.

In the afternoon we will make glass fusions using smalti roti and millefiori. These are placed on tiles in a tile rack and then fired overnight. Meanwhile we will place our clay elements on top of the kiln to dry out.

Day 2: While the kiln is cooling down we will continue work on our mosaics. By the afternoon we will be able to take our fusions out of the kiln. The clay elements will then be bisque fired overnight.

Day 3: While the kiln is cooling down we will continue work on our mosaics. By the afternoon we will be able to take our clay elements from the kiln – they are now ceramic. In the afternoon we will paint them with ‘paint your own pottery’ glazes. The ceramic elements will then be glazed fired overnight.

Day 4: We will go to London where Martin will conduct a tour of some of London’s finest mosaics. These will consist of: Westminster Cathedral (Victorian to the present day), The National Gallery (1950’s Boris Anrep), Tottenham Court Road (Eduardo Paolozzi 1980’s) and Leytonstone (Alfred Hitchcock Mosaics 1990’s.)
London is 1 hr 45 minutes by train. We will catch the 10.03 arriving at 11.48.
Click here to see the itinerary in full

Day 5: We will continue working on our mosaics, incorporating the finished clay elements if desired.

Day 6: We will continue working on our mosaics.

Day 7: We will continue working on our mosaics. If finished they can be grouted. In any case Martin will demonstrate grouting techniques.

This course aims to… provide an opportunity for those who have previously made some mosaics and therefore have some experience in mosaic making. It aims to expand on those existing skills and develop your personal style and creativity. The course will instruct further in direct and indirect mosaic techniques, using a variety of materials including glass and ceramic tesserae. Grouting techniques will also be covered.

What’s special about this course… Martin’s studio in Broadstairs, one of the prettiest coastal villages in Kent, is a mosaic artist’s dream, and for 7 days you can access it all! Imagine masses of Italian and Mexican smalti to use within your mosaics, one clay, one clay fusion and one enameling kilns to experiment with (or, if this is too overwhelming a wide selection of ready-made glass fusions); along with personal tuition and guidance from someone who has worked in the mosaic field for over 20 years. is that Martin is going to run it from his own studio in Broadstairs on the Kentish coast in the UK. We will be making and firing ceramic elements and smalti glass fusions which you can incorporate into your mosaic work – just like Martin does! See the Schedule below. You can see many examples of this technique on Martin’s website: www.martincheek.co.uk
Also by special request Martin is breaking up the week with a one day mosaic tour of London. Included in the course fee is a splendid luncheon with wine cooked each day by Martin’s wife Margaret. Refreshments are available throughout the day.

Getting There: Trains leave from London Victoria every 30 minutes and take 1hr 40mins to get to Broadstairs. The destination of the train is Ramsgate. Broadstairs is the stop before Ramsgate.

Accommodation. Bed and Breakfast starts at around £30.00 (Approx 35 Euros / $50.00 depending on the current exchange rate) per night. Martin can help you find accommodation.
Click here to go to the accommodation list.

Additional Costs: materials ranging from £10 per kg for unglazed ceramic tiles to - £35 per kg.for Venetiam smalti

It is for… Those with some experience of making mosaics

During the course… You will design and make 2 mosaics approx. 30 x 30 cm in area, or one mosaic approx. 30 x 60 in area. Martin will cover numerous techniques to help you understand further about mosaic design.

By the end of the course… a combination of lectures on Roman techniques, demonstrations and individual help will ensure that students will go home fully inspired and equipped to go and tackle larger projects such as patios, tables and murals.

After the course… Many previous participants have gone on to become professional mosaicists whilst others have taken it on as a serious hobby.

Please bring… work clothes – preferably an apron, an idea for your mosaic: i.e.: some sort of reference material, sunglasses, a notebook / sketchbook, a digital camera (if available) and a pair of binoculars (if you have any!)

Additional Costs…materials – ranging from £6 per kg – £34 per kg.
Accommodation. Bed and Breakfast starts at around £25 per night. Martin can help you find accommodation if you wish or you can visit the Flint House art courses website: www.flinthouseart.com where a list of hotels and B&Bs are listed.

The tutor…Martin Cheek graduated in graphic design from Exeter College of Art & Design in 1981. Having made award winning films as a student, he 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 wads a part time lecturer at the Royal College of Art. He is a former art critic for the 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. His work also appears in leading National magazines and newspapers as well as on television. 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 mosaic. Over 1200 people have now attended Martin’s courses.

You can read a review of this course written by Iris Meuller who was a course participant in 2008, by clicking HERE

You can read a review of this course written by Laurie Gilson who was a course participant in 2010, by clicking HERE

You can view Martin’s work by visiting his website:
www.martincheek.co.uk