1 day courses in mosaics, glass-on-glass and new: Ad fusions! Community projects please inquire.
Mosaic workshops
1 day workshops in 2010:
Sep 18, Oct 9, Oct 30 & Nov 20
Summer School in Denmark July 31 to Aug 7 2010
For course descriptions, please see below
1 day workshops
All courses run on Saturdays from 10.20 am to 5.20 pm with a break for a lovely lunch (10.20 am as the first boat is here 10.14 am).
The venue for the workshops is Arendse’s private studio and web shop in Surrey Quays, London, which always carries an extensive stock and range of numerous mosaic materials. For the classes you are also always welcome to bring your own materials.
As the studio is really rather small numbers are limited to 5 course participant per course. This does on the other hand ensure lots of individual attention. Making mosaics in a detailed thorough way is very time consuming but also a very rewarding process that will result in an end product giving you lasting pleasure. In other words: the courses are not as much about what you finish on the day but more importantly what you learn, which will equip you to continue making mosaics on your own, long after you have finished this course.
Arendse has taught mosaic classes over the past 5 years. For two years she was the teaching assistant of mosaic artist Martin Cheek, helping out on courses in the UK, Italy, Greece, Australia and New Zealand. She has taught summer school at Missenden Abbey in Buckinghamshire and for three years she has run weekly classes from her previous location in Ramsgate, Kent. For client testimonial please see on the bottom of this page.
This term Arendse runs three kinds of courses: Beginners, Glass on Glass and a new class: Ad fusions! On any course there is room for personal tuition; also in what is not scheduled. Arendse is always happy to look at your portfolio or help and guide you with any other project that you want to take on or has got stuck with.
BASIC MOSAIC TECHNIQUE COURSE
For beginners
This course is an inspiring introduction for those who are new to mosaics. Without too much effort or too great a financial investment you get to try out mosaic making hands on in order to see if you like it and to decide whether it is the craft for you. The course is also for people who need inspiration or just an excuse to take a day out and sit down and have some mosaics done.
During this one day workshop, mosaicist Arendse will introduce you to various materials, adhesives, bases and tools; go through cutting and grouting techniques and basically guide you through the creation of your first mosaic. She provides a range of tried and tested designs for you, so that you can concentrate on choosing the colours, the cutting and the laying techniques.
This 1 day taster should enable you to take on more complicated projects on your own and gently lead you into the fascinating, colourful world of mosaics.
As something new the finished pieces from this course (by beginners only) can be filed for Topps Tiles nationwide competition where you can win £100.
Price: £80.00 including lunch but excluding materials.
Material costs start from about £5-10 for a mosaic of 20 x 20 cm in area, depending on your choice of material.
Date: Saturday Oct 30, 10.20 am - 5.20 pm.
GLASS ON GLASS COURSE
For people new to working glass on glass
You may or may not have experience with mosaic making already. What this workshop focuses on is mixing the techniques of mosaic with the wonderful translucent quality of stained glass. You will thus be able to decorate lampshades, vases, storm lights and panels allowing the light to shine through your piece without having to deal with all the difficult and poisonous leading of traditional stained glass. During this one day workshop, mosaicist Arendse will introduce you to the various materials, adhesives, bases and tools; go through cutting and grouting techniques and in doing so, guide you through your first glass on glass mosaic(s). Arendse provides a range of glass bases and designs to choose from. Depending on the size of the glass base and the difficulty of your pattern or design, you may be able to finish more than one piece during this workshop.
As something new the finished pieces from this course (by beginners only) can be filed for Topps Tiles nationwide competition where you can win £100.
Price: £80.00 including lunch but excluding materials.
Material costs will start at about £15.00 for a square glass lamp, 10 cm wide and 20 cm high, depending on your choice of material.
Date: Saturday Oct 9, 10.20 am - 5.20 pm.
ADD FUSIONS!
For people with mosaic experience
You are familiar with the basics of mosaic making and want to create your own unique fused glass pieces to go into your mosaics. To get an idea of what is meant, please have a look at the fusions in Arendse’s different seahorses.
You not be making any mosaics on this workshop unless you really want to. After going through some basics about fusing glass and sorting your design you will be preparing your fusions working with stained glass, glass pens, wire, foil, rods and frits after your choice. It is terrible that you will have to WAIT to see the result but you have to. Arendse will fire the pieces and send them off to you within the week after the course and then you can start mosaicing...
Price: £80.00 including lunch but excluding materials.
Dichroic glass, the really shimmery stuff used in the various seahorses, is very expensive, but you don’t have to use dichro, there are several cheaper options and you should get a long way with say £15.00.
Dates: Saturday Sep 18 & Nov 20 10.20 am - 5.20 pm.
Please book by sending a cheque through with you contact details and the date of the course you wish to participate on. If a course needs to be canceled it is so much easier admin wise with the cheques. Please note, that when the courses are filling up there is a slight risk that the course you want may already be taken. Please forgive any inconvenience this may cause.
For directions to 322 Rope Street, SE16 7TY, please go to the bottom of the Contact page.
1 week Summer School 2010 - in Denmark!
Arendse has scheduled mosaic summer school in Denmark from July 31 to Aug 7 2010 in Funen in a, hold on: vegetarian and smoke and alcohol free course venue, just for your information. We will take inspiration for our mosaics from Danish ancient and mordern culture and art. The course starts in Copenhagen where we will visit Tivoli Gardens, The National Museum and Christiansbog Castle that houses Queen Margrethe II’s sensational modern and very mosaicy tapestries by Bjørn Nørgaard (1990). Mid course we will take a break from the making of mosaics and go and see the mosaic work of a Danish artist, Carl Henning Pedersen (1987), in Ribe Cathedral... For more, please click here!
Feed back from Arendse’s previous weekly classes
”Loved every minute, very inspired by everything around. I think I’ve learnt a lot. Arendse is a great teacher and very creative... Love Nikki”
“...the work I´ve achieved so far has been through your great teaching. Many thanks. Love Mandy”
“Thank you for all your charm, tact and excellent advice... You have reawakened my love of glass - I’ll show you my fusings soon... Much love Flavia”
“...Not only have you inspired me; both my girls have loved mosaic and have learnt more about art than at school... Love Nicky”
“Thank you so much for all your advice, encouragement and enthusiasm. It has been such fun making mosaics with you - and inspiring!... Love Bronwen”
“...When I arrived as a complete beginner and rather unorthodox at times, you were always encouraging and so helpful... Love Carol”
Thanks to everyone in the photos. You look great!

















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