Mosaic Workshop - Tucson
What do you do in the winters? For us on the Vineyard it’s a time to slow down, get some good reading done, take those long walks on the trails and lots of self care. For me that also includes some good travel and trying to learn something new. I’m not an artist my any stretch of the imagination but I do have a very strong creative gene that needs to be exercised weekly if not daily. As many people know, I have been making jewelry for years, painting furniture and making resin art. This year I have been really looking forward to taking an abstract mosaic workshop in Tucson, AZ lead by Susan Wechsler (www.mosaicsbysusan.com). So I headed out to Tucson this week for 5 days of gem shopping and mosaic wheel creating!
Susan makes these AMAZING mixed media circles called “Spiritual Medicine Wheels”
She uses creates a palette by using a combination of gems, crystals, beads and treasures!
Day 1 we met at the Tucson Gem Show to pick out Fabulous materials for our projects.
Day 2: getting comfortable in the studio, Maggie Mae’s, and picking out my palette.
Susan & I creating!
I pre-sent my wooden substrate, epoxy putty and some crystals and gems that I had. Added that to what I bought at the gem show and started on my palette.
My wheel has 3 levels to it so I started by laying everything out in quadrants…guided by colors and shapes. Susan kept reminding us that it often happens that we don’t end up with what we had in mind. Just to start by telling our “Story” and then see where it leads. Boy - was she right!
We even got to visit the “smalti” studio/store a couple blocks away to cut some smalti and buy some tiles.
Day 3 - I’m starting to fall in love with my choice of muted colors and understanding how the gems and crystals can all play together…cascading down the wheel - emanating from the focal point cluster of larger crystals.
