With the holiday season officially here, you may be on the hunt for creative DIY presents to make for friends and family or to treat yourself to. A creative hobby, such as DIY mosaic art, is a great way to unwind, practice your problem-solving skills, and discover new things. Best of all, when you finish each project, you have something to show for it.
Michelle Sider, a mixed-media artist, joined “Live in the D” to discuss her upcoming Tea & Glass Beginner’s Mosaic Workshop.
Sider described mosaic art as an old art form in which small parts are combined to create a larger design. She said that traditionally, stone and glass were used, but that nowadays, wood, organic substances, and a variety of other materials are used to create a design once it is adhered to another surface..
“I hunt for glass, and I’m kind of a glass geek,” Sider said. “I find the glass that is going to be perfect for the different spots.”
Glass of various thicknesses, textures, and iridescence are used in all of Sider’s creations, which she says is sourced from all around the world.
The mixed-media artist approaches this medium in a unique way, beginning with an idea and a drawing. She says that underneath each of her pieces is a fully finished painting, and the next thing she does is choose the type of glass, which she says is a lot of fun.
At the Janice Charach Gallery, Sider will teach a beginner’s mosaic workshop. A glass mosaic inspired by her painting of her grandmother’s teacup will be the focus of the class she is hosting. She will also show how to use the round-bladed nippers to cut and place the glass. She says the process is easy, and there will be tea on hand to sip.
The workshop on Nov. 20 is currently full, but there will be another workshop on February 5, 2023. Tickets can be purchased on the Michelle Sider website.
The complete interview may be seen in the video above.