Laurel True: True Mosaics Studio: Celebration of COLOR: Fall Mosaic Workshop in Provence: October 2015

Celebration of Color
Mosaic Workshop in Provence

with

Valerie Nicoladze and Laurel True

October 17 - 24, 2015

Experience the colors of fall in the South of France during this inspiring, week-long workshop and tour.

Mosaic artists Laurel True and Valerie Nicoladze welcome you to
explore and celebrate color and creativity through mosaics at

Valerie's Esprit Mosaique Studio, near Avignon, in the heart of Provence. Each instructor brings her own style and flair to the workshop, offering students various inspirations and signature lessons.

Workshop includes hands-on studio time with lots of time to create. Students will explore several mosaic-making techniques, focusing on a project utilizing a unique, pigmented cement background, which will be created with local earth pigments.

Esprit Mosaique Studio is full of joyful color and provides a welcoming place to learn, create and spend time in community with other mosaic enthusiasts

Students have access to a huge array of colorful materials to work with including drawers and drawers full of colorful and exotic materials from all over the world

for use in the creation of their mosaics.

Special exercises will include experiments with texture, use of pigmented mortar beds, and combining materials for interesting effects. Each student will work according to their experience level, and all level of students are welcome.

Google images, "Fall in Provence"..

In addition to enjoying time in the studio, participants will have the chance to eat delicious farm-to-table meals together, stay in a cool Provincial hotel, tour Avignon, and take a very special class on the use of color and natural pigments at the world renown Conservatoire a des Ocres, an atilier located in the rustic countryside near Roussillon, where ocre and natural pigments have been mined for centuries.

A walking tour of the amazing pigmented rock formations in Roussillon will inspire the senses. The nearby village has great shops selling rare and beautiful pigments, as well as boutiques featuring local wine, cheese and olive oil.

The week will culminate with a celebration of color at a garden party and afternoon wine tasting at the home of Valerie and her family.

"We hope you can join us on this colorful journey of creative exploration and sensory enjoyment!
You'll leave Provence refreshed, truly inspired and feeling like family... the good kind!"

Cost of trip:

1845 Euro ($2350, check current exchange rates here.)
Investment includes: Mosaic workshop instruction Accommodations for 8 nights (based on double occupancy, we can help coordinate, single room extra) Transportation from train station or Avignon airport and to and from workshop
Breakfast and lunches (except for arrival Sunday)
Provincial garden party at Valerie's
All touristic visits
Wine tasting

Cost does not include flight, dinners or personal expenses.
Valerie and Laurel are bi-lingual and workshop and activities will be in English and French.

To register for this workshop, please e-mail Valerie Nicoladze at: espritmosaique@free.fr

Questions? Contact Valerie (above) or Laurel at laurel@truemosaics.com

We have only 10 spaces and expect this workshop to fill very quickly! Register early.

Itinerary 2015
Saturday, October 17
Participants arrive and get settled in Hotel de Atelier. Laurel and Valerie will meet participants at the train station during two pickup times.

Sunday, October 18
Studio orientation and intros at Esprit Mosaique Studio. Brief presentations by Laurel and Valerie of their work as it relates to COLOR
Fun color exercise and receipt of studio gifts and swag
Lunch in Avignon as a group (non-hosted) and a chance to explore lovely Avignon.
Evening: Free (get over your jet lag and gear up for a great week ahead!)

Monday, October 19
Morning: Inspirational quotes/colors, project lessons/demonstrations, materials selection and plan first project
Lunch at Restaurant La Strada (La Strada is an amazing restaurant!)
Afternoon: Studio instruction and work time
Evening: Optional studio time and collective color project
Tuesday, October 20
Morning: Visit to Roussillon Ochres Footpath and pigment shopping in village
Lunch at Restaurant Roussillion with view of countryside
Afternoon: Color class at Conservatory of Ochres
Evening: Free

Wednesday, October 21
Morning: Studio time
Lunch at Restaurant La Strada (La Strada is an amazing restaurant!)
Afternoon: Studio time
Evening: Optional studio time with French snacks BYO wine

Thursday, October 22
Morning: Mosaic studio time, grouting and cement background sample Lunch at Restaurant La Strada (La Strada is an amazing restaurant!)
Afternoon: Application of pigmented cement to mosaic and wax patina lesson
Evening: Free
Friday, October 23
Morning: Laurel gives Global Color presentation/ mortar bed exercise Lunch at Restaurant La Strada Afternoon: Studio time, creation of elegant color study
Evening: Free

Saturday, October 24
Morning: Studio wrap up
Afternoon: Wine tasting led by wine expert Gilles le Fur and GARDEN PARTY with lunch
Goodbyes and departure!

Russillon

Esprit Mosaique Studio

La Strada Lunch

Feedback from previous workshop/tour participants:

"Valerie's studio, project and supplies were the stuff of dreams! The accommodations were fantastic and the village we stayed in was like an American fantasy of what Provence could be...the excursions were all fantastic and the opportunity to have a meal at a French home as well as a picnic...I can't even express what precious memories those will remain for me! I mean really, the entire trip was great!"

- Karen R, Toledo, Ohio

"I loved every second..."

- Mary W, Seattle, WA

"The special people that I met will forever be in my heart and memories."

- Susan R, Albany, NY

"Laurel and Valerie are an amazing French/English teaching team! They each have fantastic personalities and teaching styles. Great class for first timers or more advanced mosaicists. I loved the combination of creative time and exploring Provence time. Every part of this trip was amazing!"

- Jennifer N, Carlsbad, CA

Above: Your fearless workshop leaders, Laurel True and Valeria Nicoldze

"Valerie hosted me at her beautiful home and studio in Provence and we decided to put together this workshop experience so that mosaic artists could come and enjoy the atmosphere of this amazing area and the warmth and hospitality of Valerie and her family and community. I came back from that trip bursting with energy, inspiration and a full heart, and can't wait to share this experience with my students!"

- Laurel True, mosaic artist and co-instructor of workshop

" I welcome you to my studio and town, in the hopes that each participant/ student comes away with a feeling of having spent a wonderful week of creativity, sharing our mosaic passion and fun, discovering the most beautiful places in Provence, with the desire to come back to explore more!

- Valerie Nicoladze, mosaic artist and co-instructor of workshop