The Art of Trompe-l'oeil - Painting and Mosaic Making with Carol Shelkin

Before Carol Shelkin ever discovered the magic of mosaics, painting was her first love. Over time, she found a way to merge these two worlds — to paint with glass and create works that make people stop and wonder: Where does the stained glass end, and the painting begin?

Now, she is sharing her signature technique with you in this step-by-step online course, designed to help you master the art of illusion and bring a painter’s touch to your mosaic work.

What You’ll Learn

In this course, you’ll discover how to combine glass and paint to create stunning Trompe-l’œil effects — even if you’ve never painted before.

What is covered in this course:
🎨 The Art of Trompe-l’œil

• A quick and fascinating look at the centuries-old painting technique and how it translates beautifully into mixed-media mosaic.

🖼️ Design & Preparation

• How to choose the right image for this style — from simple compositions to more complex designs.
• Framing and mapping out your mosaic area with confidence.
• Tips for transferring your design onto your substrate with precision.

🧩 Glass Selection & Placement

• Choosing a glass palette that complements your painted areas.
• Refining and adhering glass pieces to create strong foundations for illusion.

🖌️ Painting the Illusion

• Step-by-step acrylic techniques to seamlessly blend paint into your mosaic.
• How to use highlights, shadows, and edges to “trick the eye.”
• Methods for achieving depth, realism, and movement in your final piece.

Why This Course Is Different

This course isn’t about learning to paint or mosaic separately — it’s about learning how to make them work together.

By the end, you’ll be able to:
✅ Confidently combine stained glass and paint for professional-looking results.
✅ Master Carol's techniques and make your work stand out from traditional mosaics.
✅ Add realism, emotion, and depth to your art — without complicated tools or materials.
✅ Create a piece that when someone sees it, they wonder, “How did you do that?”

What’s Included

• Comprehensive PowerPoint presentation and video lessons with detailed demonstrations.
• PDF materials list with Carol’s favorite tools and resources.
• Lifetime access to revisit techniques anytime.
• Guidance and encouragement from one of the most beloved mosaic artists and instructors in the field.

If you’ve ever wanted to add a painter’s eye to your mosaic work — or simply try something new that stretches your creativity — this is the perfect course for you.