Ravenna Method - 5-Day Intensive

Students will be taught and work in 2 Methods in this course.
Firstly, in the Ravenna Method (or Direct Method into Temporary Binder)
Secondly, in the Direct-into-Mortar or (Direct Method into Permanent Binder)

"The "Ravenna Method' was developed when ancient mosaics started to have trouble with their original mortar settings and needed to be restored or transferred to other locations. It is a combination of the ancient direct method and the restoration methods developed at that time.

The Ravenna Method applies ancient methods of laying tesserae, is useful in contemporary applications, and is still used by many Italian professional mosaicists today. In the Ravenna method, materials are set into a temporary bed of lime paste or clay where they can be moved and changed until the final effect is achieved. The temporary bed of clay or lime paste remains moist for weeks and months; meaning it can be left and returned to when you are ready to work again. Once complete the mosaic is transferred to a permanent mortar bed.

Some of the main advantages of the Ravenna method are:

- Changes are easily made by removing tesserae directly from the moist clay
- You are always working on the right side or face of the mosaic and as it will look when finished.
- The mosaic can be worked on while sitting upright and can be viewed from a distance to see how it is reading to the eye

Instruction in the use of hammer and hardie (the traditional tools for cutting smalti and stone) is covered, practiced, and used with stone and Italian smalti glass to reproduce a portion of a classical mosaic. Hammers and Hardies are provided. We do not use nippers in this class. If you can hit a nail with a hammer you should be able to learn these tools.

Students will choose a reproduction from the list I send them after registration. The downloadable and printable paper components of these reproductions will be purchased from me and sent to the student to take to a printer like Kinko’s/Fedex to be printed in their working size. (See https://michael-kruzich.squarespace.com/config/pages)
Within these, there will be a list of materials to be purchased and acquired by the student from diMosaico.com ahead of time and brought by you to the class. Therefore it is essential to sign up for your course at least a month in advance so that all of these components have time to arrive to you.

Students will have 2 1/2 days to complete their cutting and laying their reproduction. We then begin the extraction and setting process over the final two days.

During and in between the final processes of the Ravenna method reproduction in the final two days, students also explore gradients by working on a 2nd smaller mosaic with a simple monochrome palette and design of their own in white, greys, and black, working directly into thin-set mortar. This second mosaic serves as an exercise in value/contrast and gradient, without the distraction of color.

Some of the class topics covered include:

Mosaic terminology
Origins of the Ravenna method and step-by-step processes
Ancient cutting techniques with hammer and hardie and proper alignment of body and tools
Developing and printing a design to a temporary clay bed
“Andamento”, “Value” and classic principles of laying tesserae for both subject and backgrounds
Mosaic Materials, Substrates, and Binders: preparation, properties, and appropriate selection
Demos of alternate “finishing” options for mosaic including “cocciopesto” treatment
Demo of mounting a hardie in base
Several other Direct Method techniques.

Here is a link to a video by Michael Kruzich's teacher Luciana Notturni in her Ravenna school The Mosaic Art School explaining the Ravenna method: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dVqnd0MCcW0

This class is for the serious mosaic student who is ready to knuckle down, work hard, and discover how the classical principles of mosaic can be of value in developing your mosaic work. This is not a socializing course. I want you to have fun but you will be VERY busy as will everyone, and this is to be respected. If you need a lot of socializing during class hours, this is NOT the course for you.

This is an intensive course with an immersive schedule. Please note there is no opportunity to make up missed time.

Materials & Fees

*Ravenna Method students will be responsible to individually aquire a reproduction kit, stone or smalti materials for 2nd mosaic and cutting practice packets from diMosaico prior to the class and bring these with them.
If you have prior hammer and hardie cutting experience or are taking my Hammer and Hardie Bootcamp prior to the Ravenna Method you will not need the “cutting practice packets”
Students will receive an email from Michael when they register for the course, with complete instructions on acquiring these and preparing for this course.
There are over 50 reproduction kit subjects available, however, not all of them are achievable in the class time. Therefore, the list I send you to choose from will not include all of the choices available at https://www.mkmosaics.com/ancient-reproduction-kits-1
After the course students will have the ability to order further reproduction kits from Michael to continue their practice.

MKMosaics Studio-San Francisco, CA

Ravenna Method 5-Day Intensive and 5-Day Returning Student Intensive

Daily-10am-6pm with 1 hr for Lunch

Semi-Private rate: $850

Private rate: $1050

Register: kruzline@gmail.com

Ground Rules

I am big into classroom etiquette and basic manners. I am not trying to be rigid, however from experience, Over years of teaching, I have found a disturbing number of adults, my age and older, who have no problem with showing up late on a consistent and continual basis without any notification and expecting me to go back in the lessons to fill them in. I have no tolerance for this. I understand a one-off accidental situation, but I was taught that repeated and chronic lateness (especially in a group situation) is rude and disrespectful not only to the instructor but also to the other people in the class. Additionally, with my career background in dance, if you are late, you have already been replaced.
Therefore, I set down these ground rules at the beginning so that people know what I expect and can adjust whatever habitual approach they have.
Much better to be a little early than to be late with me, and it is your responsibility to be mature enough to do so.
I consider these Ground Rules to be based on normal common manners.

If you study with me, you need to come in with the maturity level of being disciplined, being serious enough, and having the manners and responsibility to show up on time. I expect you to be on time both in the morning and after lunch and you should be committed to this. These are the times when new material is being presented, and I will be starting on time. I will not be waiting on you and I will not be going back to cover what you missed.
Repeated lateness is disrespectful and disregard for the rest of the class as well as the instructor, and nothing will ruin our relationship quicker than repeated lateness.
If you are a chronically late person, this is NOT, I repeat NOT the class for you and I am not the teacher for you.
If you repeatedly show up late, you and I will have a problem and you will probably be asked to leave and not come back.
Please turn cellular devices to vibrate and if you take a call I expect you to take it outside.

Be Courteous to each other: sometimes classes can get a bit crowded; be respectful and kind.
Though I want you to have fun, I insist that you are aware that you are one student among a group of students who all have paid to be here, concentrate, and work on learning. I encourage the exchange of ideas and “cross-pollination” but during class time, dialogue and conversations are to be kept to a respectful level and length.
If you are a person who needs a lot of social conversation while you work, this is NOT the class for you.
Many are here to focus and constant chatter is not conducive to the work you will be doing or respectful of the work others are trying to do.
Before and after class and at lunch time feel free to let your hair down and talk all you want.
If things get out of hand I WILL say something. I have, unfortunately, had instances where I had to remove a student from class who could not take responsibility for their behavior or who could not appropriately conduct themselves for a group class.
I also have a “thing” about being interrupted while I am speaking and presenting.
I understand it is normal for you to be excited about the new things you are learning and I am pleased about that. But please control yourself and do not interrupt.
I encourage questions; it means you care about learning HOWEVER, I am VERY thorough and very good about checking in as I am presenting; “does that make sense? Are there any questions about that?” This is the time to ask. If I say “later please” it means I am coming to that and will answer at some point in the future of the class and you don’t need to be concerned about that at this point. There will be plenty of time to answer as many questions as I have the answers to.

Classes at MKMosaics Studio are kept to a maximum of 3 students at this time. To run, a class must have a minimum amount of 2 students unless it is a private course at a private rate.

Please do not delay in signing up. There are only 3 available spots for any course.
A rule of thumb is to be signed up at least 30 days before the course to facilitate acquiring necessary materials etc.
Many people come in from all over the United States for class and need to make travel arrangements.

Class is a go when the minimum amount of students sign up.
If the minimum amount of 2 students is not met one month before the course, I will contact any student signed up to ask if they would like to pay the “private” rate and keep the class as scheduled. If the single student does not wish this, the class will be canceled and they will have the option to reschedule or receive a full refund.

Tuition is refundable up to 30 days before the start of the class.

Cancellations/refunds after 30 days prior will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Please get in touch with me at kruzline@gmail.com to make arrangements.

My studio is located in an artist’s collective called “The Point” in the Hunter’s Point Shipyard in the Bayview area of San Francisco. Though it is accessible by Public Transportation, this area takes quite a while to commute to and from, therefore it is advisable to have a car. Once registration and payment are received I will send you more detailed information about your course and how to get here.

What Michael's students say...