Class Description

This assemblage course covers several techniques using found objects from the coastline such as small pieces of driftwood, sea shells, especially the broken bits. Combined with paper, encaustic wax medium, sand and any other selected materials used to add interest to the design. Although not truly a mosaic course, many of the same techniques are used and it becomes an introduction to mosaic, collage and encaustic medium along with the other skills used to complete this project.

What you will learn:

• How to prepare a substrate

• How to apply the hanging hardware

• Items to be collected and used including broken shells and dried seaweeds 

• How to press and dry certain seaweeds

• How to slice, cut and reduce the size of materials as needed (such as scallop shells)

• What adhesives are suitable

• Introduction to encaustic medium and how to fuse using  a heat gun or flame torch

• Working with background collage of printed tissue paper

• How to print on tissue paper

• Applying pigments and powder as accents

• How to apply a shellac burn for a watery effect

What to bring:

Any sea shells you have collected, but don’t worry if you do not have any as we have loads in the studio you can choose from.