ONLINE MOSAIC COURSES

Explore our sequential and layered online mosaic courses for mosaic students of all levels which have been developed by mosaic artist and qualified educator Caitlin Hepworth.

This foundational level introduces five distinct approaches to creating mosaic patterns that are frequently seen in classical mosaic.

Importantly, these approaches encompass essential principles that form the basis for nearly all styles of mosaic, from classical to contemporary.

In practice, classical mosaic patterns are seldom used in isolation; instead, they are typically combined across different areas of a design to produce a range of compositional effects.

To support this, students first explore the foundational elements of each pattern separately, allowing for a deeper understanding. They are then carefully integrated into more complex designs.

Andamento is a powerful communicative tool in mosaic and a key element of mosaic design, where andamento alone often conveys the subject of a mosaic.

Positioned as an “Andamento Boot Camp,” this level presents structured methods to infuse mosaics with greater dynamism, movement, volume, energy, and expression, all without relying on colour to convey meaning.

Building on the foundations of the classical techniques introduced in Level 1, the course advances towards contemporary mosaic andamento in a sequential manner, presenting technical challenges suitable for all levels of experience.

Many students come to mosaic with a strong sense of colour, but without a structured approach, colour can create havoc in mosaic designs.

To address this, Level 3: Colour Theory Immersion introduces colour theory principles systematically, equipping students with the skills to identify, understand, and apply colour theory in their work. Having this understanding directly assists students to enhance and problem solve colour within their mosaic practice.

In this level, students learn to understand colour as a three-dimensional concept through the Munsell Colour System. They then engage in practical exercises focused on Value, Hue, and Chroma, and learn to successfully combine colour and andamento in their work.

LEVEL 3, UNIT 1 & 2 OUT NOW 

This level extends the skills acquired in Levels 1, 2 and 3.

Level 2 emphasised dynamic andamento, teaching students to create dynamism, movement, volume, energy, and expression in mosaic without relying on colour.

Building on this foundation, Level 3 introduced colour theory through the Munsell Colour System, focusing on hue, value, and chroma.

From here, Level 4 integrates these ideas through more advanced investigations, combining colour theory with dynamic andamento in more in-depth, stand-alone studies in which students refine their palette building and begin to incorporate larger tesserae and mixed media into their work.

Level 4 also deepens the exploration of andamento through the examination of value, where value and volume form the basis of andamento planning.

Level 5 is a thematic class for intermediate students who have completed Andamento Level 3 or equivalent study.

At this stage, by exploring various genres in visual art, students deepen their understanding of the relationships between mosaic art and the broader art world.

Building on skills developed in earlier levels, they apply andamento and colour theory to explore multiple ways of interpreting, mediating, and composing imagery in larger, more complex compositions.

To support this process, the level draws on relevant visual art and mosaic theory related to each genre.

In addition, students engage in both theoretical research and practical exercises using a range of materials and techniques across selected genres, including Still Life, Landscape, and Water.

With many students drawn to abstraction in mosaic, this level provides context and meaning to its evolution as an artistic approach.

Each unit examines how selected Modernist artists distanced themselves from traditional systems and forged avant-garde paths grounded in independent practice and experimentation.

This shift required artists to abandon representation and reject prescribed narratives. By understanding these historical shifts, students deepen their appreciation of abstraction beyond pattern building and enrich their artistic perspective.

Although the Modernist movement has passed, its underlying philosophies and techniques continue to resonate in contemporary practice.

At this stage, Level 6 is less technically demanding than Levels 4 and 5. However, it introduces greater conceptual complexity as students develop their own abstract responses, connecting subject matter with art theory.

Ultimately, this level empowers students to apply these approaches to their chosen themes, strengthening and extending their mosaic practice.

The figure is a time-honoured subject in visual arts and mosaic practice. For millennia, artists have narrated, explained, enlightened, educated, and indoctrinated audiences through visual references to the body.

In particular, the face, and even more so portraiture, is a challenging subject that relies not only on highly developed mosaic techniques but also on a strong understanding of anatomy.

As this is such an expansive genre, Figures, Faces, Features moves across Greco-Roman, Byzantine, and Contemporary approaches through the exploration of the elements required to render gesture, expression, anatomy, and likeness in mosaic.

In this level, students learn to think differently about Sculptural Mosaic, where both the development of form and the application of mosaic must be considered equally.

In practice, many mosaicists have well-developed skills in the creative and technical aspects of mosaic. However, many lack technical knowledge in mosaic sculpture, where the form and the tesserae must energetically connect and work together to convey the artist’s intention.

To address this, in Focus on Form, students learn strategies to plan, develop, evaluate, and construct sculptural forms specifically for mosaic.

Successful mosaic artworks integrate three separate but co-dependent elements.

Firstly, technical and material competence, addressed thoroughly in Levels 1–8.
Secondly, conceptual strength and meaning, defined by a considered purpose, intention, or idea to communicate. This is developed in Level 9.
Finally, the artist’s own style or voice, a refined visual language and collection of techniques that evolves over time and remains unique to the artist.

Together, Levels 9 and 10 move into the realm of artistic practice, guiding students to create a body of work that communicates concepts in ways unique to them.

These examples demonstrate larger scale works that have been developed  from an initial concept.

Firstly, in Level 9 we explore concept development, research, experimentation, and the refinement of ideas that lead and feed the body of work.

At this point, having technical and material competence alone makes you a sound mosaicist. As a result, you can create well-crafted pieces that demonstrate your skill. However, what happens when you want to go further? Once you have learnt to speak with mosaic, what are you going to say?

Ultimately, it is time to start developing concepts.

Level 9  is currently delivered live in studio to advanced students and will be offerred online in 2027.

Level 10 is a mentoring program which supports students to implement the independent planning, preparation, and research undertaken in Level 9 through the realisation of a larger work or series of works.

At this stage, the level requires a high degree of commitment from students and runs as a hybrid course with both self-directed and live online components.

In practice, this includes online modules, independent studio work, and live online mentoring sessions. Importantly, interaction between students plays a key role in supporting the challenges of creating more ambitious pieces.