Mixed Media Mosaic Animals with Katherine England
Wait! Don't throw away that old junk drawer of stuff!
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Welcome to the world of Mixed Media Mosaic Animals, where creativity knows no bounds! In this course, led by the inspiring Katherine England, you’ll learn how to mix traditional mosaic techniques with an array of eclectic materials to bring your favorite animal to life—no need to limit yourself to pets! Here, mixed media mosaic art is exactly what it sounds like: combining unique elements to create something wholly original.
In this course, Katherine encourages you to let go of creative constraints and dive into a world of endless possibilities. Using materials like found objects, old jewelry, beads, seashells, sea spines, and more, you’ll explore how these unexpected pieces can add depth, color, and texture to your mixed-media animal mosaic. Whether you’re experienced in mosaics or trying it out for the first time, Katherine’s guidance will help you transform your junk drawer of everyday items into a beautiful, layered work of art.
In this course, Katherine creates an egret bird from start to finish. You are welcome to follow along with her and create your own egret, or choose from a variety of other animals we have provided, or use your own image.
What You’ll Learn:
- Selecting Your Animal and Prepping the Base: Choosing the best image and preparing your substrate.
- Choosing Your Materials: Tips for selecting mixed-media elements that add personality and flair.
- Katherine’s favorite tools: Techniques for cutting different materials, including Mexican smalti and other unique elements.
- Adhesives and Tints: Katherine’s go-to adhesives and techniques for adhesion and adding pigments.
- Composition and Placement: Arranging materials that give your piece balance and visual interest.
- Shading and Highlights: Simple tricks to create depth and dimension in your design.
- Background Painting: Techniques for painting the backdrop to enhance your animal’s appearance.
Throughout this course, you’ll learn to mix and layer a variety of materials, exploring new ways to combine textures and colors. But most importantly, you’ll have fun. Katherine’s lighthearted approach encourages you to take risks, embrace the unexpected, and celebrate the creative process.
By the end, you’ll have a one-of-a-kind mixed media mosaic animal, along with the confidence to break a few rules and push your creative limits.
Katherine has included a list of her favorite tools, materials, resources, and downloadable images to help you get started on this incredibly creative and fun mosaic art experience.
Your Instructor
Katherine England
is a prolific visual artist who also teaches in schools, in her studio, and at art retreats nationwide. In addition to creating and promoting public works of art, Katherine has taught and has been an activist for art education in the public school system for nearly twenty years.
Her favorite medium right now is glass and she loves breaking, nipping, melting, and coaxing it into playful patterns and whimsical figures. Her largest mosaic piece is 40' by 8' but she also enjoys playing with tinier pieces.
A variety of people and institutions seek out Katherine to create unique commissioned pieces for their offices, stores, and places of employment, and her work can be seen in both private and public collections throughout the United States.
Course Curriculum
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StartIntro and personal interview with Katherine and Tami (7:43)
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StartPDF for download. Suggested Materials, Tools, and Resources. Link to order liquid tints
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StartCourse overview (13:46)
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StartImage overview (5:40)
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StartImage options
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StartTools overview (1:56)
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StartMaterials tour (6:19)
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StartPrep substrate & create proportionate image (5:02)
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StartFinding the best placement for the composition~adhering image to substrate (4:05)
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StartSeal image to substrate (3:37)
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StartKatherine's adhesive options (8:05)
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StartAuditioning materials for the beak (3:50)
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StartCommitting to the beak and eye (7:35)
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StartAuditioning materials for the head and body of the Egret (10:21)
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StartCreate shading on the head (2:33)
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StartBead detail and white forehead tesserae (10:04)
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StartCreating a layered feather effect (6:30)
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StartHow to cut the squares into feather shapes (5:22)
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StartLaying the feather shapes to create a curve (3:25)
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StartAdding bead detail and more feathers (5:21)
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StartAdding final pieces to the mixed-media mosaic (3:34)
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StartKatherine's technique for painting the background (6:37)
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StartKatherine's paints the final choice on the background (10:07)
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StartAdd the final feathery sea spines (2:52)
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StartReview and wrap up (1:41)