Monday, September 17, 2007

Mosaic Class Day 1

Well, the main thing of interest around here is that I've just started a mosaic class. I've always been fascinated by mosaics and found a great place to take a class. There's this elderly gentleman that has a studio right near St. Mary Major's. He's done work all over the world and specializes in restoring old mosaics here in Rome. I go to his studio twice a week for 3 hours each time. Today was my first class, which I enjoyed very much. I'm working on a project that's teaching me how to cut various types of stone and giving me lots of curves to work on. Here's the hammer and wedge I use to cut the stone. You hold the piece of stone on the wedge and hit it with the hammer to break it, and continue to break it until you have a piece the correct size.


In this picture you can see the project I'm working on, a twisted rope design. You nail a frame onto a piece of playwood and fill the frame with clay. Then you trace your design on paper and lay it on top of the clay. As you work on each color you cut the paper with an Xacto knife and push the stones or tesserae into the clay. The clay holds them in place until you're ready to grout the finished work.


This is what I completed after my first three hours. When I left, I sprayed the clay with water to keep it moist, and sprayed the frame with water to keep it from contracting and distorting the clay. Then I wrapped everything in wet newspaper and saran wrap, where it'll wait until Thursday when I return.

5 comments:

DelGrosso said...

This is really great, Anthony! I am glad you are taking this class. I cannot wait to see how things progress.

Barbaranne said...

Too cool Anthony! Did Kate tell you about the mosaic she made at the end of last school year?! She was so over it by the time she finished, but it's gorgeous. A sunset over the ocean with the beach in the foreground; made from broken glass with a few shell on the beach... Quite the Florida sort of mosaic.

Yours on the other hand looks so Italian- fitting! Enjoy the process as well as the result.

Mrs. K.

Anonymous said...

That's cool, Anthony.
Can't wait to see how it turns out.
Say hi to Phili for me.

Ginger Cakes said...

Oooohhh... pretty!

You did a good job, Antonio!!! Don't forget to show the folks at home the finished product!

Anonymous said...

Anthony,

I've been trying to get in touch with you, but with no success. I'm hoping your family's invitation for a visit to Rome still stands. Please let me know you rec'd this message. Thanks!

Susan Galleo
sgalleo313@yahoo.com