Explore the acclaimed mosaics of Italy while creating your own in the hilltop village of Orvieto, considered one of the loveliest in Umbria. Pam Goode will be a guest instructor with Adventures in Italy for a wonderful week in May, 2013, the perfect travel month. Our time will be divided between mosaic workshop instruction and tours of mosaics, Etruscan caves, local vineyards, and a cooking class led by a James Beard chef, with accommodations in a centuries-old convent.

In this workshop, we'll do lots of exploring, both physically and creatively. We'll walk along historic lanes, breathe in the aromas of Italian fare, sample the essence of grape and olive, and run our eyes along the fabulous light-catching mosaics of Orvieto's cathedral. And then we'll look inside to capture the pivotal moment that brings it all home for us. We'll use these epiphanies to translate our trip into mosaic using techniques practiced during the week.

Our theme will be Postcards Home: Mosaic Talismans. We'll create 1-4 small mosaics that capture the face or feel of Italy, bringing into play abundant light and texture. Subjects will be entirely yours, and the hope is you'll choose images that speak to you deeply. Then you'll select techniques and materials to make that voice resonate long after you return home.

Each day will be composed of a lesson on technique, a suggested exercise, and time to work on your own, as well as ample time to explore Orvieto for inspiration. We'll cover:
• Converting your photographs to mosaic designs through
computer software (no drawing necessary!),
• Bringing light and energy to your work,
• Choosing materials to bring an image to life, and
• Working in miniature.
Mosaics will be postcard-sized, allowing everyone to finish at least one piece in the workshop. Extra portability will allow us to work in pleine air if we choose, maximizing our ability to soak up the sights, sounds, and feel of Umbria.

Optional: Post-workshop travel and tour of ancient and contemporary mosaics in Ravenna, a Byzantine-mosaic world capital.

More information and a registration form can be found here. For questions, please email Pam.