From the basics to exploring your own style!
My favorite thing about teaching — the reason why I teach at all — is that moment when something sinks in for someone, when a concept finally clicks. That moment often happens for many workshop veterans during what I call the foundation courses: how to cut, what andamento is and what the principles are, how to approach different materials, design principles, color theory applied, etc. For me, it's not about projects, or teaching how to do what I do, but rather helping students gain really strong skills and further the path to mastery of technique to create whatever they want — in their own style. In July, 2025, I get to teach two foundation courses: hammer and hardie cutting techniques, and a smalti intensive, along with my very favorite class to teach, The Language of Andamento. Join me there??
First session: July 12: Cut Anything - The hammer & hardie workshop July 13: Smalti Intensive July 14-16: Andamento as Language
Second session: July 19: Cut Anything - The hammer & hardie workshop July 20: Smalti Intensive July 21-23: Andamento as Language
To sign up and for housing information, please contact Kelley Knickerbocker directly.
Cut Everything: The Hammer & hardie workshop
July 12 & July 19, 2025
Cutting well with hammer & hardie is the result of good technique and the appropriate hammer for the material — and all will be revealed in this one-day beginner-friendly workshop. You will learn the optimal positioning of hammer, stump and your own posture to obtain the best cuts. Rarely discussed details will be thoroughly explored in an effort to maximize the efficiency of your cutting technique with a variety of materials, and you’ll leave understanding exactly how to set up or modify your studio and tools for maximum cutting success! Participants may complete a small composition, but the focus will be in achieving specific cuts with all available materials.
Workshop fee: $225 ($205 if taking both 1-day workshops)
Materials & lunch are included, but students are encouraged to bring any materials for which they have questions about cutting.
Smalti Intensive: Cut, shape, texture, light and reflectivity
July 13 & July 20, 2025
From pizzas (or tortillas) to tesserae: Learn how to break down smalto from its largest presentation to the more common A-cuts, and do so with minimal waste. The workshop will give you practical knowledge about the manufacturing process, which will aid in deciding which smalto format is best for your particular project or style. The workshop will also cover gold-foil glass (sometimes called gold smalti) and precision cutting. A variety of tools will be used to facet smalti and achieve beautiful texture, all the while keeping in mind its reflective nature and focusing on how to harness light in mosaic compositions. Participants may complete a small composition, focusing on setting techniques that enhance the potential of this beautiful material.
Workshop fee: $245 ($225 if taking both 1-day workshops)
Materials & lunch are included.
The Language of Andamento
July 14-16 and July 21-23, 2025
Classical andamento, the principles that have guided the construction of lines in mosaic since ancient times, need not be thought of as boring, restrictive, or old fashioned, but rather as the grammar of mosaic, giving definition and clarity to the work. Going beyond the principles of andamento, this course shows you how to develop a voice and a narrative in mosaic, creating your own language. I believe that the way we each set tesserae to form lines is a lot like handwriting, and will work with each student to start developing their own style.
Grammar and typography govern how we arrange letters into words and determine how easy or hard a text is to read and understand. In mosaic, the language is seemingly simpler in that there are no language barriers — it is universal — but texture, spacing, and dimension, layered over the basic principles of andamento can give lines, and therefore a mosaic, very different characteristics, or accents. Making analogies rooted in my love of typography and languages, we will build on the principles of andamento to create different languages within mosaic, calling attention to the nuances of the grammar that go beyond the simple principles, exploring options for different narratives by adjusting spacing, material qualities and dimension, encouraging everyone to develop their unique mosaic voice.
Previous knowledge of andamento rules is a pre-requisite. Hammers and hardies will be available, but students are welcome to bring nippers to work with the softer materials.
Workshop fee: $490 ($450 off if taking all three workshops) Materials & lunch are included, but students are encouraged to bring any favorite materials or smalti colors that may help in developing style and language (found objects, metal inclusions, site-specific materials, etc.)
Upcoming:
Out of Line: Challenging Thinking in Mosaic Practice with Kelley Knickerbocker
Studio 164, Falkirk, Scotland
September 19-21, 2025
The Language of Andamento
Part of my Mosaic Study Tour of Italy
October 18-19, 2025
Study Tour of Italy - in two parts! October 17-25 & October 26-November 1, 2025 Contact me for info!