Glass-on Glass Mosaic with Sonja London-Hall
Tuesdays, Feb 2, 9, 16, 2027, 5:30 pm – 8:00 pm
This evening class, for beginners to intermediate students, will teach students the intricate art of glass-on-glass (GOG) mosaics. Over three consecutive evenings, participants will discover how transparency, light, and color interact by creating a beautiful, light-catching art piece. By utilizing clear glass substrates and specialized transparent adhesives, this course offers the radiant aesthetic of traditional stained glass but uses accessible mosaic techniques. We will make 1-2 small items.
Evening 1: Design, Safety & The First Cut
Focus: Mastering the tools and laying the structural groundwork
- Welcome and studio safety orientation covering proper glass handling, nipping techniques, and flying splinter containment.
- Reviewing design ideas and transferring templates onto the clear glass substrate.
- Hands-on practice with wheeled nippers where students begin cutting and gluing their outer border and primary design elements, learning application techniques to avoid messy adhesive bleed-through.
Evening 2: Precision Fitting & Composition
Focus: Developing the internal pattern and completing the layout.
- Brief check-in to address alignment issues or sliding pieces from the night before.
- Intensive studio time with instructor guidance on choosing complimentary colors and cutting shapes that minimize wide gaps. Students focus on the relationship between overlapping glass tones and passing light.
- Final inspection to ensure all glass pieces are firmly adhered so the panel can handle the mechanical pressure of grouting the following day.
Evening 3: The Grouting Transformation
Focus: Finishing the artwork and learning clean-up protocols.
- Grouting demonstration covering mixing consistency, application, and how to safely pack gaps without scratching the stained glass.
- Hands-on application where students mix and apply grout to their panels.
- Haze clean-up phase where students carefully sponge away excess grout, polish their glass surfaces, and reveal the vibrant, translucent colors.
- Photo session, care instructions (displaying in direct sunlight, moisture safety), and workshop wrap-up.