Luscious Layers

Monday 3rd to Friday 7th June or Monday 19th to Friday 23rd August 2024

When you are learning a new surface design technique there is a natural tendency to just use that technique to create a single layer of colour, mark, texture, line or shape. But what happens when you combine multiple techniques on a piece of fabric, building layers of colour, mark, textile, line and shape? You get complex beautiful art cloth; fabric that can simply be framed or hung, fabric that can be enhanced by stitch, fabric that can be used in conjuncture with other fabrics to create spectacular wall art, fabric that can be used to make truly unique clothing.

This five day workshop is aimed at those with experience of using Procion MX dyes to add colour to fabric using a range of techniques such as dyeing, screen printing, mark making, monoprinting etc. It is not suitable for beginners as it assumes prior knowledge of multiple surface design techniques.

At the end of the five days you will have a series of samples that combine different techniques, exploring the impact of scale of marks, colour value and colour proportion (these may be little works of art in their own right!). Based on these samples you will also create two or more larger pieces of beautiful, multi-layered art cloth.

Day 1:

Colour studies - extract colours from your own source(s) of inspiration, using colour families to determine if those colours can be used together or must be kept separate.

Creating ‘backgrounds’ - working quickly, use a range of techniques on 3 - 5 small pieces of fabric focussing on the type of mark, line or texture that works with your source of inspiration.

Create small breakdown screens, washable pva screens or flour paste screens if appropriate.

Day 2:

Creating ‘backgrounds’- continue to make sample backgrounds on small pieces of fabric using screens made on day 1 and other techniques.

Second layers - consider scale, colour value and different techniques to enhance your sample backgrounds. You may want to introduce focal points or some form of perspective. You may want to use masks on your fabric to add the 2nd layer to defined areas only.

Day 3:

Third layers - focussing on composition, add more defined line and shape, either by using more dye or by using discharge media.

Start work on larger pieces of fabric, selecting combinations of techniques from your samples to create background.

Day 4:

Fourth layers - asking the question ‘does this need more’? More could be added using thickened dyes, discharge media, textile inks and other media. It can be the addition of a single mark or some words. This can be where you start to think about adding stitch, manipulating your fabrics, collaging your fabrics with other media although you may run out of time within the workshop to start some of these.

Continue to work on larger pieces. Think composition as you add additional layers.

Day 5:

You can choose to continue to work on your larger pieces or to create more samples. You will be encouraged to assess your work and make a plan for how you might want to take some pieces further at home.

With a maximum of 6 students you’ll get lots of one to one support from Leah, group demonstrations and detailed class notes. How many samples and larger pieces you create will depend on the techniques you choose to work with and on how much time you need to assess each piece before adding the next layer . The workshops will run from 9.30am to 4.30pm each day with the studio opening at 9am and closing at 5pm.

The total cost for the course is £450. A £150 fee is payable on booking. The remaining £300 will be payable 6 weeks before the course start date.

The cost includes hot and cold drinks and biscuits You will need to provide your own lunch but there is a fridge and microwave in the studio. Most of the materials (except fabric), media and equipment needed for the workshops will be provided. You will be given requirement list but I aim to keep these as short as possible. The studio will be stocked with a selection of the fabrics, Procion dyes, auxiliary chemicals, screen printing screens and more for you to buy so that you can continue your studies at home.

Cancellation policy: This workshop will only run if 4 or more people enrol. If there is a shortfall you will receive a full refund. And you will, of course, receive a full refund if I cancel the course. However please be aware that your deposit will not be refunded if you cancel more than 6 weeks before the workshop unless your place can be filled. If you cancel less than 6 weeks before the workshop you will be liable for the full fee unless your place can be filled.