Sugar Skull Mosaics with David Jarvinen
Celebrating Diversity of Materials for Dia de los Muertos!
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Have you ever wondered what a sugar skull was, or how the Day of the Dead is celebrated? Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) is a holiday celebrated throughout Mexico as a way to remember friends and family that have passed away. It is seen as a way to support loved ones on their spiritual journey, and viewed as more of a celebration than a sad occasion. It is celebrated around the same time as Halloween (October 31st through November 2nd).
It is not viewed as a day of sadness but rather a day of celebration when their loved ones awaken and celebrate with them.
David Jarvien has brought his creative mosaic talents to Mosaic Arts Online with his version of 2D Sugar Skull Mosaics. In this online course David has included a choice of designs to follow, or you are welcome to choose your own by searching for Sugar Skull drawings on the internet.
Once you have your design, David introduces you to some of his favorite materials. He uses colorful unglazed porcelain and glass tiles for demonstrating the best way to cut the tesserae in real time. He will show you the best shapes that translate into the different parts of the image. One of the most brilliant parts of David’s process is when he uses the glass of a picture frame as his substrate. Once you have completed your 2D Sugar Skull it will be framed and instantly ready for interior display!
This project is so achievable and gratifying for any level. Once you have learned these skills and techniques from David, you will be able to create any type of Sugar Skull you can imagine.
This course comes with a PDF with the suggested tools, materials, designs, and resources.
Your Instructor
I came to the mosaic industry through ceramic tile contracting and a couple of clay artists. Our business was remodeling kitchens and baths with ceramic and glass tile, and doing tile jobs most other contractors wouldn’t. This led to a reputation for being creative.
During this time, I met those couple of clay artists that asked me to assist with their school and public mural installations they had created. It was great fun and I volunteered to help. Then, after a year or two of volunteering, I landed a paying gig to cover for one of the artist installers, as they needed to go out of town. That was the beginning. Circa 1998.
From this beginning, I worked to incorporate mosaics into my contracting business and there was a market! It wasn’t huge, but it was there—I worked to make mosaics mainstream through our business and have had some happy customers as a result.
Most of my work was architectural in nature. Then the clay artist who had instructed classes, for which I assisted—was moving out of state, so I approached the host venues and inquired to see if I could take over for her. They were happy to give me a try. That was the beginning of my instruction career. Circa 2004.
I continued to expand my collaborations and as of 2017 I am continuing to instruct, learn and create mosaics!
Course Curriculum
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StartIntro and Personal Interview with Tami and David (3:13)
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StartPDF for Download. Suggested Tools, Materials, Design, and Resources.
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StartIntro to Materials and Tools (1:27)
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StartChoose and trace your pattern (3:23)
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StartInsert pattern into frame (3:33)
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StartTools and demo for cutting porcelain tile (7:08)
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StartTools and demo for cutting glass tiles (4:19)
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StartStart to mosaic sugar skull (5:37)
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StartCreating the flowers (7:57)
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StartShaping the glass leaves (5:35)
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StartSkull outline and eye details (6:59)
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StartRed details and white crazy paving (8:38)
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StartVertical glass tile background (9:13)
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StartFilling in the facial features (5:19)
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StartHow to prep and mix the grout (2:18)
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StartDavid.Skull_16grout (2:38)
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StartBuff mosaic and wrap up (6:46)