Hacienda Mosaico, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

Exterior Mosaics and Small Murals for Garden, Home, or Street

March 3 - 9, 2024

Retreat full…email for waitlist.

Arrival day with welcome happy hour is Sunday the 3rd, departure day is Saturday the 9th.
Retreat includes 6 nights accommodation + breakfast and lunch at Hacienda Mosaico

Join me at the beautiful Hacienda Mosaico in March 2024!

Want to make something awesome for your garden wall, home, or streetscape but aren’t quite ready to jump into a large-scale project?

In my hands-on, small-scale mosaic mural workshop you’ll learn best practices for creating exterior and permanent mosaic projects in smaller sizes while enjoying the inspiring environment at Hacienda Mosaico - one of my all-time favorite places to teach…an inspiring colorful and creative gem in sunny Puerto Vallarta. 

During this 5-day workshop each student will design and create a mural element which can be installed later in an environment of their choice. Whether it’s a mosaic flower for your garden wall, a mosaic butterfly to be done with a group of school kids, or something to be installed in the public sphere, you will learn how to make mural elements using the same principals I teach in my Mosaic Mural Making workshops, but on a smaller scale. 

Your finished piece may be combined with other small mural elements to create larger compositions, grouped as components in community projects, or simply used to enhance your garden, home, or street corner. 

The focus of this workshop will be on creating mosaics for exterior spaces and architectural applications using best practices for durability and longevity. I’ll share my secrets, tips and tricks for creating successful, exterior installations, through demonstration and hands-on participation in installation and grouting techniques using sample elements that will be installed at Hacienda Mosaico. 

This workshop includes step-by-step instruction in specific mosaic-making principles using ceramic, mirror and glass elements. You’ll also learn the Tile Tape Method, my go-to method for off-site creation of mosaic elements.

Uniquely designed for students of all experience levels, this workshop will teach participants skills and techniques they can use to create future projects of their own for exterior spaces.

Workshop will also cover:

  • Design development, color coding and planning techniques for small murals and stand alone mosaic elements

  • Best practices for creating mosaics for exterior application and display

  • Choosing the correct substrates + adhesives for exterior and permanent applications 

  • Working with mirror (avoiding de-silvering, cutting, setting and sourcing)

  • Working with materials of different heights and shapes

  • Climate considerations for different materials

  • Selecting and creating various cuts and shapes of tile/glass for specific areas of a design

  • Use of mosaic tools for best effect (small tweaks in body and hand positioning make a big difference!)

  • Use of the Tile Tape Method (and why I like it better than fiberglass mesh)

  • Dividing and coding larger elements for easy, one-person installation

  • Understanding, mixing and using thin-set adhesive (and my favorite types)

  • How to apply an even mortar bed for painless installation

  • Grouting with a finished, professional edge for a graceful transition onto background

  • Suggestions and inspirations for finishing the wall behind mosaic elements

  • Sourcing materials for future projects

Open to students of all levels. Although some mosaic experience may be helpful, it is not necessary. 

Students will need to bring their own tools and some supplies - a full list, along with links to purchase, will be sent out before the workshop.

Students are welcome to bring special colors and materials to incorporate in their small-scale mural elements (guidelines will be offered ahead of workshop.)

A selection of cool design templates/ patterns (that students can use or adapt) will be provided.* Templates are sized from approximately 12” - 18”. Students are also welcome to bring their own design. 

*Patterns include: Flower, bird, dragonfly, butterfly, radial/mandala, heart, lizard, lotus

Note: Laurel will work with students to simplify or create more complexity in their designs, as appropriate, for the duration of the workshop.

“This workshop was a fantastic learning retreat. The venue was perfect. The meals were healthy and accommodated even the pickiest eater. The rooms were very comfortable and roomy, and the work area in the back was nirvana. Laurel is so generous with information; she held nothing back, teaching everything about making a mosaic mural from concept to completion. 

I finally have the confidence to do it on my own.”  - Janet R, USA

Workshop Fees and Registration

Workshop fee: $2,295 (based on double occupancy)*

Option to register in full or make a 50% deposit. For other payment arrangements, please contact True Mosaics Studio.

Final payments are due by January 15, 2024.

Workshop fee includes: 5 days instruction; 6 nights of lodging; breakfast and lunch served poolside, prepared with love by Hacienda Mosaico’s chefs, Jorge and Anna; and unlimited access to the beautiful, covered, open-air studio. 

Note: Workshop fee does not include flight, taxi to/from airport or dinners. There are plenty of  great dinner options to explore that are within walking distance or an easy taxi ride away.

Registration

The buttons below will take you directly to PayPal. 

Within 24 hours of registration you will receive a registration confirmation and welcome email from True Mosaics Studio. Attached to the email will be a registration form, which you’ll be asked to fill out and return.

For other payment arrangements, please contact True Mosaics Studio

Make a Deposit ($1147.50)


Pay in Full ($2,295)

Note: You must be fully vaccinated with the Covid-19 vaccine to attend this retreat.

Accommodations

*All rooms are double occupancy. We will match participants with a roommate if traveling solo. There are no single rooms available on-site at HM for this retreat.

If you require a single, there are off-site options in the neighborhood (such as AirBnB) you can arrange yourself. When searching, look for the Versalles neighborhood where HM is located (super cool neighborhood). Contact True Mosaics Studio. for more information and rates for retreat participants staying off-site. 

Not included in the workshop, but fun…

There are often impromptu group outings into the “Romantic Zone” of Puerto Vallarta, excursions to art walks, galleries and outdoor markets, dinners, and hang outs.

Students have many options as to how to spend their time outside of workshop hours. For those who like to stay close to home base there are lots of nearby dinner options from sit-down restaurants, to tacos on the street, to take away. There is a fully equipped kitchen for student use on-site and grocery stores within walking distance. We often enjoy cocktails/mocktails, lively conversation and laughter around the pool.

Retreat participants can spend as much time as they want in the company of others, or enjoy the environs solo in their free time. There are ample places for personal quiet time on the grounds.

Schedule


Arrival Sunday at 5 pm:  Welcome cocktail/mocktail
Monday - Friday:  Workshop hours, 9 am - 4 or 4:30 pm
Depart Saturday  (checkout 11am but it’s ok to hang until your flight!)

A detailed itinerary will be sent to retreat registrants ahead of the workshop.

For more info about Puerto Vallarta and the surrounding small towns, check out this super informative and colorful blog post!

Instructor Bio

Laurel True has been creating mosaic murals around the world for the past 30 years. She is the co-founder of the Institute of Mosaic Art, Founding Director of the Global Mosaic Project and owner of True Mosaics Studio. Laurel has created over 100 mosaic murals and has taught and trained thousands of students, apprentices and volunteers.

Laurel started making architectural mosaics after an apprenticeship with street artist Isaiah Zagar. Isaiah’s work is characterized by flowing mirrored lines and large fields of broken tile. Laurel has been incorporating mirror, glass, and tile into her work ever since, adapting it to her own style and methods.

Hacienda Mosaico and True Mosaics Studio Cancellation Policy for 2024

A 50% deposit is due to secure a space in the workshop.  

Remaining 50% is due 45 days before workshop start date.
Deposit/fees paid are refundable - minus $100 admin fee - up to 45 days before workshop.
Less than 45 days out from workshop start date - fees paid are non-refundable and no credits will be given. No exceptions will be made to cancellation policy.

Travel Insurance*
It is strongly recommended that all workshop participants purchase Trip Cancellation, Emergency Medical Evacuation, Baggage, Accident and Medical insurance from a reputable insurance company.

Should any workshop/retreat be canceled by Hacienda Mosaico or True Mosaics Studio the entire amount paid will be refunded within fourteen days after cancellation. Once this occurs, neither Hacienda Mosaico nor True Mosaics Studio shall have any obligation regarding any additional costs or fees related to the issuance and/or cancellation of airline tickets or other travel reservations. Hacienda Mosaico and True Mosaics Studio accept no liability for any airline cancellation penalty incurred by the purchase of a non-refundable ticket. Nor do either accept liability for canceled flights.
*Neither Hacienda Mosaico or True Mosaics Studio are affiliated with any travel insurance company. It’s up to participants to conduct their own research and find a company that is a good match for their needs. 

Some links to get you started:
www.travelinsured.com or www.travelsafe.com
https://www.nerdwallet.com/blog/insurance/travel-insurance/

Images at right:

Second image is of a wall piece created by Valerie Nicoladze in France. All other images designed and created by Laurel True. See below for more details on group or class projects.

Swan mural created with Mosaic Mural Making students in Buenos Aires. Lotus mural created with students in New Orleans, peacock mural created with young women and girls in Jacmel, Haiti- Mosaic eyes contributed by international artists as part of the Urban Eyes Project. Flower mural (round) created with Mirebalais Mosaic Collective in Haiti. Mexican mandala mural created with students at Hacienda Mosaico in PV, Mexico. Butterfly created by Vaishali Sanghavi for participatory project at Mirebalais Hospital. Second to last image created with students at Gazi University in Ankara, Turkey. Final image: mosaic graffiti New Orlenas, circa 2000.