What makes Mosaic Forest unique? Unlike traditional art studios where one particular medium is practiced, Mosaic Forest offers many media from which to choose. Mosaic Forest believes everyone should feel comfortable trying different media and techniques, with an emphasis on the creative process. The focus is about problem-solving when faced with new creative challenges. While working on an individual project, connections are being made between art and science, math, language, culture, architecture and the environment in practical ways. By connecting ideas, principles and the world around us in a setting that promotes experimentation and exploration, we discover their relevance in our daily lives as we enjoy a creative process.     Back to top

What is a Socratic teaching method? Reaching beyond the traditional approach to making art and art education, this unique and successful hands-on approach to art enhances practical life skills. Tied intimately to the time-tested Socratic teaching method, which uses questioning to help us gain information, we encourage participants to learn ways to discover answers independently. Participants become creative problem solvers by deriving answers to questions using available resources. Informed and creative choices can then be made when faced with stumbling blocks about our art.     Back to top

In what way is a Socratic teaching method useful? Making art requires us to think for ourselves and become independent problem solvers. A Socratic teaching method is ideal in an art studio because when we are stuck or feel the need to ask for help, further questioning enables us to learn how to focus our thinking, define the problem and arrive at answers for ourselves. We are encouraged to use what we know, the end result being that our passive knowledge becomes active, and we can feel safe to risk more while enjoying an art experience with growth and heightened self-awareness.     Back to top

Will Mosaic Forest help me gain practical life skills? While planning to make a piece of art, we work on making good choices. We develop our compositions by preparing a series of preliminary sketches. We learn to judge useable sketches from non-useable ones. We make choices based on tangible criteria, and we figure out how to move on from mistakes by changing a composition or figuring out how to proceed with a piece of work when something seems to have gone wrong. We also learn the value of constructive criticism. This is not a time to look for failure. The critique is a time to describe what is seen and the emotions shown, to discuss how visual effects used produce feelings, and to interpret meanings found in the work. Because the discussion is about our own work, it can be one of the most valuable learning experiences in making art.     Back to top

Is Mosaic Forest for kids or adults? Whether you are 5, 105, or anywhere in between, Mosaic forest has a class or workshop for you. See our "Site and Workshop" page for specific details.     Back to top

Where is Mosaic Forest located? Mosaic Forest is a portable art studio that offers the convenience of traveling to your location.     Back to top

Are custom classes or workshops available? Mosaic Forest is happy to custom design a class or workshop at your location to suit your creative needs and schedule.     Back to top

What materials are available? Mosaic Forest studio provides an opportunity to use both high quality art materials and regular household items to make art. For further information on specific art materials, please visit our Art Materials page.     Back to top

Are materials included in the class fees? In most cases, fees include travel, setup and materials. However, in some cases, there are additional material fees.     Back to top

What if I have never made art before? Mosaic Forest classes and workshops are designed so participants can have an enjoyable, successful experience regardless of their level of art education or experience.     Back to top

What makes an effective art teacher? As is the case with any other discipline, the most important role of an art teacher is to engage, excite and encourage students to keep making art and to continue a process of independent thinking and learning. Trained art educators also help students make visual comparisons and represent them in their art. Students are asked to notice elements of art – line, texture, color, space, form, shape, value - and understand the principles of design – balance, variety, harmony, emphasis, proportion, movement, rhythm, and pattern - and every kind of relationship in the thing, person, or animal being observed. Copy work, formulas, and drawing tricks are avoided, as they do not promote real learning. Students are not given answers; rather, they are encouraged to use their senses, experiment and explore to find answers themselves.     Back to top

How can I contact a real person at Mosaic Forest? Please contact us at info@mosaicforest.com