Glass Mosaic Canada

Although I've been doing glass mosaics for over 10 years, I decided this year that I would take a "real" mosaic class, learning the art the way it was done thousands of years ago. Interestingly, while at the RE/MAX sponsored home show, I met Akram Gabra of Glass Mosaic Canada (http://www.glassmosaiccanada.com/) What first captured my eye was the fabulous tile Marilyn Monroe featured in his booth. The work is so intricate, so beautiful, so detailed, I can't begin to tell you. The piece is featured (left) but it does not capture the true magnificance of the workmanship and the time involved to do something like this. I signed up for his classes the next day. To be honest, at the beginning, I found the work labourious. Tile is very different from glass. Essentially you have more control when working with glass as it is finer. Akram's wife Fadia, gently guided us through the first phase which is doing the drawing and then starting the tile work. She is lovely and kind. Both Fadia and Akram have artistic spirits-they love what they do and are making a go of it in their shop on The Queensway. Today was my second class. I'm a convert-it's not that I won't work with glass anymore-I have thousands of pieces that have been donated from various stained glass studios, however, I like trying something different. There are going to be classes offered whereby you can learn how to do faces. I think I'd like to do a mosaic of my son when he was very little. Also, of course, Elmo Bower (dog).

Check out the beautiful Marilyn and see for yourself. If an old art form interests you, the classes are on-going and the teaching is terrific.