Why I Won’t Be Teaching Any More “Masterclasses” Soon

Like classical architecture with its time-tested ratios and proportions, Roman mosaics follow six clear rules of andamento. These aren’t secret knowledge or advanced techniques — they’re practical principles that guide every tessera we lay, from our first mosaic to our hundredth.

My teacher shared a profound truth with me: in Roman mosaics, there are no “advanced” techniques, how good you get is down to how many you do. What separates a beautiful mosaic from an average one isn’t hidden knowledge or special tricks — it’s simply time spent practising while faithfully applying these fundamental rules.

This is why I’ve decided to stop using the term “masterclass” in my teaching. While I’ll continue sharing everything I know about this craft, I believe using “masterclass” doesn’t accurately reflect the nature of our work.

The beauty of Roman mosaic making lies in its clarity of purpose and approach. Every mosaic artisan, whether they’ve made five or five hundred pieces, works with the same principles. We don’t become “advanced” — we just become more practised, more precise, more attuned to the materials and the rules that guide us.

And this is precisely what makes making Roman mosaics so special and, I believe, so profound. There’s something deeply honest about a craft where excellence isn’t hidden behind a veil of complexity or secret knowledge. Instead, it’s achieved through dedication to simple, unchanging principles. The rules that guided ancient Roman artisans are the same ones we use today. This direct connection to history, this commitment to proven fundamentals over flashy innovations, creates a tradition where true growth comes not from learning more, but from doing better with what we already know.

Lawrence