NOVEMBER 2016 RAVENNA'S TECHNIQUES CLASS
RAVENNA TECHNIQUES CLASS 5 days (two direct methods)
Instructor: Arianna Gallo
Timetable: Nov 21-25 9:00 to 13:00 and 14:00 to 18:00
Cost: € 660 The price includes instruction 8h a day, all materials, use of tools, the mosaics you have created, all taxes, insurance, and a certificate attesting to successful completion of the course.
You can pay the first day of the workshop, by cash or credit card.
To book please contact : info@kokomosaico.com
This course is suitable for both beginners and intermediates
WHAT STUDENTS WILL LEARN:
The workshop's focus is the two direct techniques most commonly used in Ravenna: 1) Double reverse method, also known as direct method on a temporary bed of lime mortar 2) Direct method onto cement (adhesive for tiles, MAPEI product)
We will make two mosaics, one for each technique: one approximately 12x16 inches, the other one approximately10x14 inches (30x40 cm and 25x35 cm). The first one will be a reproduction of a detail of a floor mosaic from the Roman period, using marble and stone. The second one will be a reproduction of a detail of a Byzantine wall mosaic from Ravenna, using glass. In both cases, we have plenty of pictures and cartoons of details for you to choose from. Keeping your design simple and choosing the smaller size mosaic substrate will help you to finish your mosaic by the workshop’s end.
First we will learn how to cut marble and stone into tesserae using the traditional tools: hammer and hardie. For the second technique we will learn how to cut Venetian smalti with a special hammer. We then follow the various steps to completion of the mosaics.
Materials, substrates and all necessary tools are provided.
STUDENT PREPARATION FOR WORKSHOP
If you'd like to bring your own cartoon, please send an e-mail to: info@kokomosaico.com and attach your pictures in advance, in order to discuss this with you by e-mail. If you choose to do so, please begin your inquiries at LEAST 30 days prior to the class. If you can decide on your design beforehand, this will save you valuable time on the first day.
If you don’t have time to prepare any designs before the course, then try and bring several pictorial references with you. This could be anything from a book to a greeting card that you like, a picture from the web, etc.
Please do your research and consider that a good drawing / illustration / picture is much easier to work from than a low resolution or out-of-focus picture.
REMEMBER: Keeping your design simple and choosing the smaller size mosaic substrate will help you to finish your mosaic by the workshop’s end.
SCHEDULE
Mon Nov 21
Lecture#1: Presentation of the workshop. Focus on the double reverse technique with slideshow.
Selection of the pavement detail to recreate in mosaic. Tracing the image with a special water-soluble pen. Selection of the marble and stone, according to the detail you've chosen.
Cutting lesson: how to use the martellina and tagliolo and how to cut the stone and marble into the right shapes and right dimensions for your detail. Preparation of the temporary support and filling it with lime putty. Imprint the traced design onto the surface of the moist lime by laying the tracing paper on top of it. Execution of the mosaic.
Tue Nov 22
Work on the mosaic all day.
Wed Nov 23
Application of the water-soluble glue on the surface of the mosaic.
Lecture #2: Presentation of the direct technique onto cement with slideshow. Selection of the detail for the second mosaic. Tracing the image with a special water-soluble pen. Selection of the Venetian smalti and the gold according to the detail you've chosen. Cutting lesson: how to use martellina and tagliolo and how to cut the pieces of smalti and gold into the right shapes and right dimensions for your detail. Preparation of the support and the frame (mesh, wood, honeycomb and so on, we'll decide together). Imprint the traced design onto the surface of the initial moist section of cement by laying the tracing paper on top of it. The tracing is imprinted onto sections of suitable size for a day's work (about 3h for each section). Execution of the first section of the second mosaic.
Thu Nov 24
Removal of the lime from the interstices and the backs of every single tesserae of the first mosaic. Preparation of the permanent support and cement for the new setting bed. (We will have to wait about 10 hours for the cement to dry.) Lecture #3: the various types of floor mosaics in the ancient Roman world. How many opus do you know? Execution of the second section of the second mosaic.
Fri Nov 25
Removal of the glue from the surface of the first mosaic. Smoothing of the surface with a diamond sponge. Grouting. Execution of the third section of the second mosaic.Finishing touches on both mosaics, awarding the certificates, group photo and farewell appetizer.
Looking forward to seeing you in November,
Warm wishes,
Arianna Gallo
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