Taking Textiles Further
These advanced workshops, held at Missenden Abbey in Buckinghamshire, are designed for those who have completed City & Guilds courses in textile related subjects to Diploma level or other equivalent qualifications, and who are committed to further develop their own personal creativity within a design-led context. Learners are encouraged to work independently to explore experimental approaches and contextual issues.Three weekends within the educational year are offered, one per term. Each one is designed to stand alone but the three are linked by theme to enable a progression for those booking all three.
The theme chosen for this year 2010/11 is mark-making.
The marks that we make with textiles often identifies our work in the same way that a signature identifies a writer. Handwriting is recognisable as belonging to a particular person and the creative work that we make can do the same.
We may make our textile pieces purely by chance or we may purposely and deliberately set out to create a particular effect. Either way, our personal signature will usually be present.
A mark can be seen as a definite shape, as texture or as a three dimensional structure, as seen illustrated by a circle, a dot and a sphere.
Weekend 1 November 26/28th 2010 ’Mark as shape’
Weekend 2 March 4/6th 2011 ’Mark as texture’
Weekend 3 May 13/15th 2011 ’Mark as structure’
This is the course information sheet (CIS), also found here
Course level: Advanced.
This course aims to:
- Help learners to develop their creative ability and confidence to follow a personal approach to their textile work
- Encourage learners to work independently
- Enable learners to develop an awareness of contemporary and professional practice
It is for… those who have completed C&G courses in textile related subjects to diploma level (or other equivalent) and who are committed to further develop their own personal creativity within a design-led context. Learners will be encouraged to work independently to explore experimental approaches and contextual issues. They should have an open mind to new ideas and be prepared to participate in discussion and group evaluations.
During the course… observational drawing will underpin the development of design ideas and a range of processes will be explored with reference to contemporary art and design themes. A structured approach to design and technique will provide new starting points for personal work. Group and individual tutorials will tease out methods and processes suitable to interpret personal ideas and themes. Consideration will be given to display and presentation of finished work. The weekends may be taken individually or booked as a series to promote continuing development.
Your progress will be measured by… tutor observation and individual discussion in one to one tutorials of methods learnt and applied to personal work.
By the end of the course you should be able to:
- Have a greater understanding of the design process and how it underpins your own creative ideas
- Evaluate your work and make suitable adjustments to it
- Have a greater awareness of cultural and contemporary art and textiles
- Confidently develop ideas on personal themes and have developed a meaningful working practice
After the course… you can apply to higher level courses, apply to join accredited stitch related courses or enrol to continue with further weekends ‘Taking it Further’.
Please bring: The following is a guide only (detailed list will be sent at a later date):
- Design source
- Sketchbook / notebook
- Range of papers
- Wide variety of art and drawing materials including wet and dry media.
- Large cork board or pin board
Additional costs… none.
To enrol, please contact Missenden Abbey by clicking here
Dates for 2011/12 are: 25/27 November 2011, 24/26 February 2012, 11/13 May 2012
Evaluation for the year 2010/11
The three weekends on the theme of markmaking have proved fruitful in terms of work done and confidence gained. The group has bonded well together and feels much more able to evaluated work done and to discuss it within the supportive setting. The sketchbook challenge, set up at the start of the year, has proved to be a creative stimulous. Each member of the group gives out a challenge to all to take their work forward, working into their sketchbooks on their own themes, experimenting with the process given.
Marks as shape, texture and form has been a testing theme, but has extended the concept of marks. It is hoped that students will continue to develop their own mark as a personal signature within their textile work. Shape and texture were somewhat easier to work with than form. Many students view this area of design in too narrow a way, thinking only in rather stereotypical pathways. The idea of not having a background was anathema to them. However, everyone produced some interesting and worthwhile samples and were able to see how their ideas could be taken forward into original textile pieces. I look forward to the results.
An exhibition is being planned for February/March 2012 at Missenden Abbey which should showcase the work done within the group and give participants an opportunity to show their work to the wider public.