Breaking it for beauty | Taranaki News | Local News in Taranaki

TARIKI artisan, Karen Dravitzki is looking forward to the next intake of students signing up to take her Mosaic and Ceramics class through Adult and Community Education (ACE). Once a student of the same course, Karen will be leading the next six-week-long course when it starts up again on July 26.
“I’ve been involved in ceramics and mosaics for around six years after taking them up as hobbies. The two really work well together as they complement each other; you craft and fire ceramic shapes and objects and then stick your mosaic tiles to them.”
Since she started, Karen has always enjoyed working with the two media; she now enjoys passing on this love to the adult students that come and learn from her.
“Adult classes like this one are a great way to meet people. For a lot of students, often the social contact is the main reason they sign up and I appreciate that.
“That’s why we try and keep things really fun, really sociable and relaxed.”
Students on the short course will start their journey on the mosaic side of things, learning to work with the glues and tiles on flat boards. The slightly more complex field of ceramics – shaping, glazing, colouring and firing – starts a little further down the track.
“The first things that people produce are mosaic pavers; they’re good to learn on because they’re flat and allow people to practice mosaic techniques easily.
“People then quickly move onto projects that they are particularly interested in. I’ve had people interested in bigger things like birdbaths and decorative mirror.
“If anybody gets stuck, we always have good discussions where we exchange ideas with each other. It’s a great way to learn.”
Karen’s classes have proved so popular that, these days, she has a bit of a waiting list.
“Presently I’m only running classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays, but our numbers suggest that we may have to head to at least three nights a week at some point in the future.”
The prospect of more students potentially means a little money for Karen but she’s quick to point out that she’s definitely not doing any of it for financial gain.
“Like the people I teach, this is a hobby that I really enjoy, so I wouldn’t want it to become like work. People generally want to learn these crafts so they can make personal gifts for friends and families, and things for their own homes.”
Karen runs her classes from her studio on 88 Rugby Road and enjoys drawing students from all over Taranaki.
“We’re in a great spot for people from Inglewood and Stratford. I even get people from Hawera and New Plymouth coming to me. It’s great that people are so supportive of this wonderful hobby,” says Karen.