Mind the Gap: Space as a Mosaic Design Element with Kelley Knickerbocker

Have you ever wondered what would happen if you did not fill your entire substrate with tesserae? Does that seem foreign to you? If leaving space on your substrate is something you would like to learn on your mosaic art journey we have the course for you!

In this online course, Kelley Knickerbocker introduces her signature methods for using space as a design element. When mosaic is the functional skin on walls and floors, full-coverage density is mandatory. But in fine art mosaic we can leave spaces for contrasting effect without compromising structural integrity.

But why design open spaces into mosaic? Well, sometimes it's a purely practical consideration of time or budget. But it’s an aesthetic consideration as well. It's precisely because mosaic is so dense that incorporating space can be so visually effective. Dense areas appear denser, and the void space(s) deeper, calmer. Like juxtaposing two complementary colors: they enhance one another like no other combination can.

There are many approaches to incorporating open space into mosaic. In this online course Kelley covers six more uses for open space and shows you how to mix, match, and combine them. In this course Kelley demonstrates in real time how to build an ungrouted mosaic start to finish (in materials of your choice) setting directly into thinset mortar, that incorporates three or four different uses of space. As you build you'll be learning how open spaces can strengthen a design and allow you to work larger (and faster!); how to apply and manipulate mortar with a steel spatula, set your tesserae around open areas, and finish off the surface of open areas of mortar to keep them consistent and create a clean and fabulous effect.

This is a great course for anyone starting out in mosaic art or has more experience. There is a PDF with suggested tools, materials, and resources to get started.