Mosaics - Brushstrokes Studio and Gallery for Fired Arts

Mosaics

We now offer mosaic projects in our Paint-Your-Own-Pottery section if you would to do a quickie project. Prices depend on the size of the project. We also offer 3-week and 6-week courses providing instruction in the authentic techniques of classical mosaics.
Click here to go directly to our Mosaic Courses.
We take great pride in offering our mosaic courses in what we refer to as the REAL mosaic art form. Our instruction follows the authentic, old master techniques as seen in European antiquities. Our courses are listed below, but first, a little history...

The oldest known form of mosaic goes back some 4,000 years ago with the use of clay cones pushed pointed-end first into a wet mud plaster background to strengthen and decorate walls of temples in ancient Babylon.

Roman Mosaics
By the eighth century BC, pebble pavements were created throughout the Roman Empire using colored stones to produce patterns, although these tended to be unstructured decoration.
In the fourth century BC, it was Greek artists brought to Rome who raised the pebble technique to an art form by using smaller pebbles to create defined geometric patterns and detailed scenes of gods, people and animals.

By 200 BC, this brought about the transition from pebbles to specially cut pieces of stone or marble called tesserae. This gave greater control over the material being used enabling the creation of more colorful and detailed work.
And the expansion of the Roman Empire took mosaics into other cultures.

Byzantine Mosaics.
With the rise of the Byzantine Empire, dominating the world from the 4th-14th centuries and centered in Byzantium (now Istanbul, Turkey), mosaics took on a new complexity that became respected as an art form.
The Byzantines made intricate and well-defined patterns with scenes of people and animals, including religious scenes and portraits of emperors and empresses. Whereas Roman mosaics were mostly used as floors, the Byzantines specialized in covering walls and ceilings. Byzantine mosaics is considered the pinnacle of mosaic art form.

By the 5th century, mosaics took on different characteristics. These included Eastern influences in style and the use of special glass tessarae called smalti, manufactured in northern Italy. These were made from thick sheets of colored glass and contain tiny air bubbles. They are sometimes backed with reflective silver or gold leaf. The smalti were ungrouted, allowing light to reflect and refract within the glass. Also, they were set at slight angles to the wall, so that they caught light in different ways. The gold tessarae sparkle as the viewer moves around within the building.
Roman images were absorbed into the typical Christian themes of the Byzantine mosaics, although some work is decorative and some incorporates portraits of emperors and empresses.

Mosaic Courses

Byzantine & Roman Classical Mosaics • $200

Sundays, July 10-August 14 2:00-4:00pm / Includes class materials

Skill Level: Beginner & Continuing

Description:
This class is intended for beginning students who want to learn the process of creating a mosaic, and for continuing students who want to learn authentic Roman and Byzantine mosaic techniques. Students will work with stone marble to break their own tiles and will learn to create their own concreate base, cutting, adhesion, tile layout, color theory and grouting.

Notes:
Class fee includes tile and materials used in class. Students may want to bring a pair of gloves to wear for the handling of sharp edges. Each student MUST have their own set of basic tools which may be purchased at the studio at a student discount.
A $100.00 non-refundable deposit required at time of registration. The balance will be payable when the class begins.

Call the studio at 817-731-9249 to register.

Smalti Mosaics • $250

No classes scheduled at this time. Stand by.

Skill Level: Advanced

Description:
Smalti is a thick opaque glass developed in the 4th century and used in European antiquities since the time of Constantine. This class was developed for students who want to learn the classical mosaic technique of using Smalti glass and also for students who want to learn the process of creating a mosaic. Students will work with the thick Smalti glass to cut their own tiles and will learn to create their own concreate base, cutting, adhesion, tile layout, color theory and grouting.

Notes:
Class fee includes tile and materials used in class. Students may want to bring a pair of gloves to wear for the handling of sharp edges. Each student MUST have their own set of basic tools which may be purchased at the studio at a student discount.
A $100.00 non-refundable deposit required at time of registration. The balance will be payable when the class begins.

Call the studio at 817-731-9249 to register.

Dragonfly Mosaic • $100

Wednesdays, June 29 - July 13 6:00-8:00pm / Includes class materials

Skill Level: Beginner

Description:
This decorative panel combines traditional vitreous mosaic tiles and semi-transparent stained glass, whose streaky quality suggests the delicate shimmer of dragonflies’ wings as they hover over water. You will learn how to cut and work with stained glass and vitreous tile, as well as grouting your finished project.

Notes:
Class fee includes tile and materials used in class. Students may want to bring a pair of gloves to wear for the handling of sharp edges. Each student MUST have their own set of basic tools which may be purchased at the studio at a student discount.
A $50.00 non-refundable deposit required at time of registration. The balance will be payable when the class begins.

Call the studio at 817-731-9249 to register.

Pebble Mosaics • $100

Wednesdays, July 27 - August 10 6:00-8:00pm / Includes class materials

Skill Level: Beginner

Description:
Learn the most ancient form of mosaics, the use of pebbles in various shapes and colors, to create decorative or pictorial patterns. You will utilize the concepts of design, texture and rhythm while arranging the pebbles, and also how to create your own concrete base, adhesion, and grouting. You can also participate in the installation of an outdoor pebble mosaic to learn how to do this in your own landscape.

Notes:
Class fee includes tile and materials used in class. Students may want to bring a pair of gloves to wear for the handling of sharp edges. Each student MUST have their own set of basic tools which may be purchased at the studio at a student discount.
A $50.00 non-refundable deposit required at time of registration. The balance will be payable when the class begins.

Call the studio at 817-731-9249 to register.

BRUSHSTROKES Studio & Gallery
4400 W. Vickery Blvd. • Fort Worth, Texas 76107
817-731-9249

STORE HOURS:
WednesdaySaturday: 11am 5:30pm
Sunday: 1pm 5:30pm
Closed Monday & Tuesday

Payment is expected at time of services rendered. Refunds are given only for unused products returned within 48 hours.
Classes require a non-refundable deposit in order to hold your place. See individual classes for amount of deposit.





Mosaics We now offer mosaic projects in our Paint-Your-Own-Pottery section if you would to do a quickie project. Prices depend on the size of the project. We also offer 3-week and 6-week courses providing instruction in the authentic techniques of classical mosaics. Click here to go directly to our Mosaic Courses. We take great pride in offering our mosaic courses in what we refer to as the REAL mosaic art form. Our instruction follows the authentic, old master techniques as seen in European antiquities. Our courses are listed below, but first, a little history...
The oldest known form of mosaic goes back some 4,000 years ago with the use of clay cones pushed pointed-end first into a wet mud plaster background to strengthen and decorate walls of temples in ancient Babylon. Roman Mosaics By the eighth century BC, pebble pavements were created throughout the Roman Empire using colored stones to produce patterns, although these tended to be unstructured decoration. In the fourth century BC, it was Greek artists brought to Rome who raised the pebble technique to an art form by using smaller pebbles to create defined geometric patterns and detailed scenes of gods, people and animals.

		By 200 BC, this brought about the transition from pebbles to specially cut pieces of stone or marble called tesserae. This gave greater control over the material being used enabling the creation of more colorful and detailed work. And the expansion of the Roman Empire took mosaics into other cultures.

Byzantine Mosaics. With the rise of the Byzantine Empire, dominating the world from the 4th-14th centuries and centered in Byzantium (now Istanbul, Turkey), mosaics took on a new complexity that became respected as an art form. The Byzantines made intricate and well-defined patterns with scenes of people and animals, including religious scenes and portraits of emperors and empresses. Whereas Roman mosaics were mostly used as floors, the Byzantines specialized in covering walls and ceilings. Byzantine mosaics is considered the pinnacle of mosaic art form.

		By the 5th century, mosaics took on different characteristics. These included Eastern influences in style and the use of special glass tessarae called smalti, manufactured in northern Italy. These were made from thick sheets of colored glass and contain tiny air bubbles. They are sometimes backed with reflective silver or gold leaf. The smalti were ungrouted, allowing light to reflect and refract within the glass. Also, they were set at slight angles to the wall, so that they caught light in different ways. The gold tessarae sparkle as the viewer moves around within the building. Roman images were absorbed into the typical Christian themes of the Byzantine mosaics, although some work is decorative and some incorporates portraits of emperors and empresses.
Mosaic Courses
	Byzantine & Roman Classical Mosaics • $200 Sundays, July 10-August 14 2:00-4:00pm / Includes class materials Skill Level: Beginner & Continuing Description: This class is intended for beginning students who want to learn the process of creating a mosaic, and for continuing students who want to learn authentic Roman and Byzantine mosaic techniques. Students will work with stone marble to break their own tiles and will learn to create their own concreate base, cutting, adhesion, tile layout, color theory and grouting. Notes: Class fee includes tile and materials used in class. Students may want to bring a pair of gloves to wear for the handling of sharp edges. Each student MUST have their own set of basic tools which may be purchased at the studio at a student discount. A $100.00 non-refundable deposit required at time of registration. The balance will be payable when the class begins. Call the studio at 817-731-9249 to register.

	Smalti Mosaics • $250 No classes scheduled at this time. Stand by. Skill Level: Advanced Description: Smalti is a thick opaque glass developed in the 4th century and used in European antiquities since the time of Constantine. This class was developed for students who want to learn the classical mosaic technique of using Smalti glass and also for students who want to learn the process of creating a mosaic. Students will work with the thick Smalti glass to cut their own tiles and will learn to create their own concreate base, cutting, adhesion, tile layout, color theory and grouting. Notes: Class fee includes tile and materials used in class. Students may want to bring a pair of gloves to wear for the handling of sharp edges. Each student MUST have their own set of basic tools which may be purchased at the studio at a student discount. A $100.00 non-refundable deposit required at time of registration. The balance will be payable when the class begins. Call the studio at 817-731-9249 to register.

	Dragonfly Mosaic • $100 Wednesdays, June 29 - July 13 6:00-8:00pm / Includes class materials Skill Level: Beginner Description: This decorative panel combines traditional vitreous mosaic tiles and semi-transparent stained glass, whose streaky quality suggests the delicate shimmer of dragonflies’ wings as they hover over water. You will learn how to cut and work with stained glass and vitreous tile, as well as grouting your finished project. Notes: Class fee includes tile and materials used in class. Students may want to bring a pair of gloves to wear for the handling of sharp edges. Each student MUST have their own set of basic tools which may be purchased at the studio at a student discount. A $50.00 non-refundable deposit required at time of registration. The balance will be payable when the class begins. Call the studio at 817-731-9249 to register.



	Pebble Mosaics • $100 Wednesdays, July 27 - August 10 6:00-8:00pm / Includes class materials Skill Level: Beginner Description: Learn the most ancient form of mosaics, the use of pebbles in various shapes and colors, to create decorative or pictorial patterns. You will utilize the concepts of design, texture and rhythm while arranging the pebbles, and also how to create your own concrete base, adhesion, and grouting. You can also participate in the installation of an outdoor pebble mosaic to learn how to do this in your own landscape. Notes: Class fee includes tile and materials used in class. Students may want to bring a pair of gloves to wear for the handling of sharp edges. Each student MUST have their own set of basic tools which may be purchased at the studio at a student discount. A $50.00 non-refundable deposit required at time of registration. The balance will be payable when the class begins. Call the studio at 817-731-9249 to register.