Tryon Arts and Crafts School will host a mosaic painting weekend workshop with instructor Kay Larch. The workshop will be held on Saturday, March 5 and Sunday, March 6 at the craft school located on Harmon Field Road. This is an opportunity for students to learn a new painting technique uniquely and originally created by the instructor.

Kay Larch, a self-taught mixed-media artist and painter, grew up in Huntington Beach, Calif. She currently lives in Greenville, S.C., where she shares a studio space with two other artists. Larch says she has always been drawn to mosaics. Blending this ancient art form with her own acrylic painting was, according to her, “a natural path” to take. Using brilliant color from water based paints and a glassy texture achieved through layers of lacquer, Larch has developed her own style and technique that she refers to as “painted mosaics.”

Painted mosaics create the visual effects of ceramic tile mosaics without the mess, tools, buckets of grout, nippers, goggles, etc. Over the course of the weekend, students will learn to transform acrylic paintings into mosaics. By adding ‘grout’ lines, paintings take on a painted ‘tile’ appearance.

Adding layers of crystal lacquer creates the shiny, mosaic texture that can be felt as well as seen. Everything necessary to complete these unique projects will be provided and each student will create at least three mosaics during the workshop, as simple or as elaborate as the students’ desire. Students may create mosaics using their own design, subject matter and individual style or they may choose from a selection provided by the instructor.

The “painted mosaic” technique will be taught by its creator, Kay Larch, on Saturday, March 5 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sunday, March 6 from 12 – 5 p.m. Space is limited in this workshop.

Advance registration for all workshops is required. For more information about the instructor or workshop including tuition and supply costs, contact Tryon Arts & Crafts at 828-859-8323 or by email tryonartsandcrafts@windstream.net. More details and examples of projects are available on the Tryon Arts and Crafts website, www.TryonArtsandCrafts.org.

Tryon Arts and Crafts is a non-profit crafts school located at 373 Harmon Field Road in Tryon and exists to provide creative opportunities for everyone.