Upcomimg Class

Boulder, Colorado August 9-10, 2014 

__________________________________________________________________________________ Quantity 1 Student $275.00 USD 2 Students $550.00 USD 3 Students $825.00 USD ______________________________________________________________________________ Summary: This will be a two day mosaic intensive where the student will create a 12" x 12" custom framed mosaic art piece while learning the whole mosaic process from start to finish.  The class is limited to 4-5 students. No previous mosaic or drawing experience needed as Kasia will guide the students through the process and provide special flower templates for the projects.  All the designs are created by Kasia with the intention to teach the use of repetitive shapes to create a successful mosaic while practicing cutting glass into curvy shapes - an essential skill in the kind of art Kasia creates.  The designs are well suited for a beginner allowing him or her to complete the project during class time though each one can also be utilized by an intermediate student  who chooses to put more detail into the design or to add their own flair.     Cost: $275 The price of the class covers all materials, use of all tools, additional templates to take home, an 11 page colorful pdf summarizing everything covered in class as well as lunch and refreshments during both days.   When:  August 9-10, 2014 (Sat 10am - 5pm with 1 hr lunch break and lunch provided, Sun 10am - 5pm with a 1 hr lunch break and lunch provided)   Where: Kasia Mosaics Art Studio located at 6231 Fourmile Canyon Drive, Boulder, CO   Please email Kasia with any questions: kpolkowska@gmail.com

New Landscape

Untitled (title to be determined), stained glass mosaic (framed), 24" x 48", 2014 by Kasia Polkowska

Available for Sale: http://kasiamosaicsstore.blogspot.com/

Several weeks ago in early spring, while driving on US 36 here between Lyons and Boulder, I was confronted with the most magical and serene view - I couldn't get it out of my head ... right away I knew that it was meant to be my next mosaic.  Actually I had to put my other very exciting project on hold because I needed to create this one so badly =-)

The drive on that road is really beautiful with the rolling foothills and our famous Boulder Mountains on display for all the cyclists and drivers to enjoy. The leaves on the trees were newly blossomed and everything was covered in an afternoon haze. The mountains and the sky almost became one as they created a peaceful backdrop for this lovely scene. It seemed kinda cloudy yet the sun was shining brightly underneath the thin layer of clouds. Right away my mind began to race as this mosaic began to come to life in my head during that lovely drive.

 Some of the progress before the sky ...

With the sky =)

Sectioned off for gluing.

 Grouting.

New Flower Designs for Upcoming Workshops

I designed the flowers below for the Stained Glass Mosaic Flower Workshops I am teaching. To see a list of all of my upcoming classes and to sign up Click Here.

 

Aqua Dhalia, stained glass mosaic, 11"x11" (12"x12" framed), 2014 

 Here you can see the progression of the arrangement of the hand cut glass petals that make up the flower.

 

Tangerine Sunflower, stained glass mosaic, 11"x11" (12"x12" framed), 2014

First you can see the mosaic after it was glued, followed by a grouting shot shot and a close up of the finished piece.

Purple Water Lily, stained glass mosaic, 11"x11" (12"x12" framed), 2014

Here you can see all the petals cut and arranged, followed a shot of the glued mosaic before grouting and framing.

Orange/Yellow Lotus Flower, stained glass mosaic, 11"x11" (12"x12" framed), 2014

Here you can see the progress on the background, followed by a grouting shot which shows a piece of the custom made frame which all the flowers get.

Aqua Lotus with Yellow Center, stained glass mosaic, 11"x11" (12"x12" framed), 2014 

Here you can see all the petals cut and arranged, followed by a size comparison and a shot before grouting.

Purple Spiral

Purple Spiral, stained glass mosaic, 18" x 18" (19" x 19" framed), 2014 available for sale

 The beginning ...

 Progress and size comparison.

 The color dilemma!

 

Grouting!

Pink Dahlia

Pink Dahlia, stained glass mosaic, 17.5" x 17.5" (19" x 19" framed), 2014    
Available for Sale: http://kasiamosaicsstore.blogspot.com/ 

Cutting and Arranging Process:  All the glass in the mosaic is hand cut by me.

Grouting Process

Flower Series Continued ...

Blue Dahlia, stained glass mosaic, 11"x11" (12"x12" framed), 2014
Available for Sale via the Kasia Mosaics Store

 Some of the process ...

Yellow Daffodil, stained glass mosaic, 11"x11" (12"x12" framed), 2014
Available for Sale via the Kasia Mosaics Store

  Some of the process ...

Red Sunflower, stained glass mosaic, 11"x11" (12"x12" framed), 2014
Available for Sale via the Kasia Mosaics Store

  Some of the process ...

Lavender Lotus Flower, stained glass mosaic, 11"x11" (12"x12" framed), 2014
Available for Sale via the Kasia Mosaics Store

  Some of the process ...

Tangerine Gerbera Daisy, stained glass mosaic, 11"x11" (12"x12" framed), 2014
Available for Sale via the Kasia Mosaics Store

 Some of the process ...

Mosaic Flower Workshop

Longmont, Colorado February 2014 

Mosaic Flower Workshop at The Firehouse Art Center in Longmont, CO (Feb.28 - March 2). This will be a three day class where the students will have a choice of a few flower templates which I'm creating especially for the class. No previous mosaic experience or drawing skills needed - I will guide everyone from start to finish and the students will all take home a beautiful and professionally framed flower (frames will be custom made by my partner Kyle).  

 

 

Note: My Lotus Flowers are only used for promotional purposes, the templates I will provide will be similar but the students will not be making that exact flower as its part of my ongoing series.

Purple and Blue Lotus Flower Set

Blue Lotus Flower on Purple, stained glass mosaic, 22" x 22" (23" x 23" framed), 2014    $950   
available for sale: http://kasiamosaicsstore.blogspot.com/

Purple and Blue Combination Lotus Flower, stained glass mosaic, 22" x 22" (23" x 23" framed), 2014    $950  
available for sale: http://kasiamosaicsstore.blogspot.com/

Purple Lotus Flower on Blue, stained glass mosaic, 22" x 22" (23" x 23" framed), 2014    $950   
available for sale: http://kasiamosaicsstore.blogspot.com/

Glass selection.

 

Hand-cutting all the glass petals.

The three flowers coming along.  Deciding on the colors for the centers as well as for the backgrounds.

Hand cutting all the glass circles with my steal flat head tile nippers

Ready to glue!

 Grouting!

 

The Dallas Divide

The Dallas Divide, stained glass mosaic, 16" x 48", 2014   available for sale

In September 2013, Kyle and I were planning a trip to the San Juan Mountains here in Colorado.  Due to the epic flood, being displaced from home for nearly six weeks and all that comes with natural disaster, we had to cancel our plans ... This mosaic is my way of visiting the mountains I dreamed of seeing this fall but couldn't.  Below are a few process shot of the making of "The Dallas Divide".

The beginning ... spontaneously working on a very rough sketch.

The aspens are done; some are created with larger shapes of glass while others are made with individual little, aspen leaf shapes. Now onto the pines, then the mountains and the sky!

Here is a good size comparison of the little, hand carved aspen leaves next to my hand.

Here is one of three sections of pines I added to the composition.  All the little trees are created with the three hand tools seen in the bottom right of the photo. 

Here you can see one of my freehand cut mountains created with the same three tools I used to create all the other shapes in my mosaic.  I carefully scored and carved my Rocky Mountains while hoping that my beautiful glass wouldn't CRACK! My initial plan was to make them of many, many little rocks I'd cut out by hand to depict the very, rocky peaks we have here in Colorado.  Anyone who's climbed some of the big mountains here, knows exactly what I'm talking about - it is pretty mind blowing to experience in person!  But the beauty of the glass I chose for this project altered my plans.  I decided to show the overall impression that all those rocks make together to create the illusion of one solid mountain rather than focusing on the many, many parts that make a whole.   

Here I am using the other half sheet of this awesome glass to start the process of creating the mountains on the left side.

 The blue Colorado sky is coming alive!

 Before sectioning off the taped mosaic for gluing.

Here I am holding up one of the sections before gluing it down.  The the glass tesserae are held together on the face with clear tape - that's why I can hold them up this way =)

 Last but not least, actually my favorite part, is the grouting.  Here I am grouting my mosaics in a sanded charcoal grout.