You Don't Have to Be an Artist to Start. (I Wasn't Either.)

A friend of mine loves to remind me about the drawing class we took together about ten years ago. Apparently I spent the whole time insisting I wasn't creative. I now sell out mosaic classes and have three active commissions.

And now I hear it from students in almost every class I teach. Sometimes it's the first thing someone says when they walk in the door. And I get it — signing up for an art class when you don't consider yourself an artist feels like showing up to a 5K without having trained.

Here's what I've learned after years of teaching mosaic classes across the Puget Sound: the people who say "I'm not creative" almost always make something beautiful. And occasionally, it's the traditionally trained artists who struggle most — because they're trying to paint, and glass doesn't work that way. Mosaic has its own logic, and everyone learns it together.

So before we talk about which project to pick, let's answer the question you're probably actually asking: Are you going to be okay?

Yes. Here's why.

Almost every mistake can be fixed.

The ones that can't be fixed can be improved. And the ones that can't be improved? Those become your best teachers. Mosaic is a forgiving medium in ways that surprise people. A piece of glass that lands crooked can be lifted. A color combination that isn't working can be adjusted. You have more control than you think, and I'm right there with you the whole time.

You don't have to figure it out alone.

I bring inspiration photos to every class — not to tell you what to make, but to give you guardrails while you find your own direction. And if you're genuinely stuck on a color choice, I'll hold your piece up and poll the room. My classes tend to be wonderfully interactive that way — your classmates are rooting for you, not competing with you. Even gold medalists get beat. Focus on learning, not on being best.

You will almost certainly finish.

Most beginner classes are four hours, and most people finish. I steer students away from projects that are too complex for the time available, so if I let you sign up for something, I believe you can do it. And if life happens and you need a little more time? I've stayed late. I've helped students cut glass to take home and finish gluing themselves. Students are welcome to come back to a later class to wrap up, and at BARN I offer open studio time for exactly this reason. You won't leave with an unfinished piece gathering dust if I can help it.

Your clothes will survive.

The glasswork itself isn't particularly messy — wear something comfortable and don't stress about it. Grouting is a different story, and you'll do that at home after class. Protect your floors, your counter, and your clothes. Work outside if you can, or in a basement or garage. I send you home with gloves, a full demo under your belt, grout supplies, and my contact information — plus access to my grouting video so you can watch the process again before you dive in.

So — which project should you actually pick?

Now that we've settled the existential questions, let's talk logistics.

Mirrors

Mirrors are my most recommended first project, and here's the honest reason: you start by positioning a 5" mirror on a 12" wood round — and just like that, you've immediately filled a 5" circle of your surface before you've cut a single piece of glass. You feel momentum from minute one. Mirrors are flat (one less dimension to think about), the adhesive is straightforward, and four hours is genuinely enough time to finish. You'll leave with something impactful enough to hang on a wall and show off.

Pendants

Pendants are their own category entirely. They use a different adhesive than everything else I teach, and you can incorporate beads, glass, ball chain — real creative freedom in a small space. Most people finish two pendants in under three hours, and fast workers are encouraged to fill as many bezels as they like — then pick their two favorites to complete. It's a wonderful first class for making something, though I'd describe it as adjacent to mosaic rather than core mosaic technique. A great choice if jewelry is your thing.

Hearts and Garden Rocks

Hearts and garden rocks round out my top recommendations for first-timers. Hearts are flat, manageable in size, and a natural gift or expression of love — we don't need to save expressions of love for February. Garden rocks are one of my favorite "gateway" projects — small surface, instant color in your yard, and enormously achievable. Once you've done a garden rock, a stepping stone feels like a natural next step.

What about stepping stones?

They're wonderful, but a notch harder than mirrors as a first project. You're working with about a square foot of surface and no built-in "gimme" space like the mirror offers. The outdoor adhesive (silicone) is also fussier to work with. Not impossible for a first class by any means — but if you're on the fence between a mirror and a stepping stone, , I'd nudge you toward the mirror first.

What about gazing balls?

Save it for your second or third class. It's achievable, but it's the most complex thing I teach, and it'll be more enjoyable once you have some glass-cutting confidence under your belt.

The questions that depend on you

"What makes a good gift?"

That depends entirely on the recipient. If they get their jewelry at Tiffany's, a mosaic pendant might not be their style. If they live in an apartment, a stepping stone doesn't make much sense. This is genuinely a "reach out and let's talk it through" situation — I'm happy to help you think it through before you register.

"I want something for my garden."

Start with a garden rock. If you want more, try a stepping stone. The gazing ball is the most complex garden option and a better choice once you have a class or two behind you. And coming soon — garden posts, which are four square feet of mosaic and honestly intense even for experienced students.

"I want something impressive for my wall."

Mirrors are your answer. The 12" round is where everyone starts, and once you've made one, you have the foundational knowledge to scale up to larger pieces on your own. (I currently only offer the 12" round in my classes, so bigger wall pieces are your next adventure after class.)

"Can I bring a friend?"

Please do. Some of my favorite classes have been partners, best friends, parents and adult children coming together. You'll have access to the same tools, supplies, and instruction, and if you want to coordinate your pieces that's genuinely fun. But you'll also probably make something completely different — because that's one of my favorite things about teaching mosaic. Fifteen people, same tools, same materials, fifteen completely unique pieces. Bring your person. You'll always have the piece to remind you of the day.

The honest answer to "which project should I pick?"

It's hard to go wrong. Everything is experience, and every project teaches you something. But if you're genuinely stuck — reach out before you register. I love these conversations, and helping someone find the right starting point is half the fun.

See you at the mosaic table.

— Barbara