Luscious Layers (5 day)

This workshop explores what happens when you combine multiple techniques on a piece of fabric, building layers of colour, mark, texture, line and shape? The results - 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 workshop is aimed at those with experience of using Procion MX dyes to add colour to fabric using a range of techniques such as screen printing, mark making, monoprinting, dyeing etc. It is not suitable for beginners as it assumes prior knowledge of multiple surface design techniques.

At the end of the five days students 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 they may also choose to create two or more larger pieces of beautiful, multi-layered art cloth. A three day version of this workshop is also available in which students only produce samples.

During the workshop the students will -

• Extract colours from their own source(s) of inspiration, using colour families to determine if those colours can be used together or must be kept separate.

• Create ‘backgrounds’ - working quickly, using a range of techniques on small pieces of fabric focussing on the type of mark, line or texture that works with their source of inspiration.

• Add second layers - considering scale, colour value and different techniques to enhance their sample backgrounds. Introducing focal points or some form of perspective. Using masks on their fabric to add the 2nd layer to defined areas only.

• Add third layers - focussing on composition, adding more defined line and shape, either by using more dye or by using discharge media.

• Work on larger pieces of fabric, selecting combinations of techniques from their samples to create background.

• Ask 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. Students may start to think about adding stitch, manipulating their fabrics or collaging their fabrics with other media.

• Receive one-to-one support throughout the week along with two group review session.

Simply Screen Printing (5 day)

The Simply Screen Printing workshop is based on my book of the same name. It explores a wide range of free-form screen printing techniques using thickened Procion dyes on fabric. It incorporates the study of colour to create a palette of beautiful, co-ordinated cloth. It is suitable for students with no previous experience in using dyes or screens.

During the workshop students will -

• Learn how to mix simple and complex colours using thickened Procion dyes.

• Develop colour families from sources of inspiration and experiment with adding contrasting colour.

• Learn how to use value and scale to create a set of printed fabrics that work together.

• Use an open screen to create background on pinned and crumpled fabric.

• Combine an open screen with masks on fabric and with loose paper, plastic and string resists.

• Use masking tape and washable PVA glue to create temporary resists on their screen.

• Learn how to breakdown print using thickened dyed and print paste as temporary resists on a screen.

• Dye fabric that co-ordinates with your printed cloth (optional)

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• Use flour paste screens to print fine line detail.

• Use sticky back plastic to create a reusable resist.

• Investigate the use of discharge paste on printed fabrics.

• Receive one-to-one support from me along with one group review.

Breakdown Your Palette (5 day)

My most popular workshop combines an in-depth exploration of breakdown printing (free-form screen printing technique where thickened dyes act as temporary resists) and colour to create a palette of beautiful, co-ordinated cloth. Working from their own inspirational images or objects students will extract colours to use as they work with a range of breakdown printing techniques. During the workshop students will also investigate the use of discharge paste in breakdown printing and how printed fabrics can be enhanced by other surface design techniques.

The workshop is suitable for absolute beginners and assumes no knowledge of screen printing or working with Procion dyes.

During the workshop the students will -

• Learn basic colour theory and how to mix simple and complex colours using thickened Procion dyes.

• Develop colour families from their own sources of inspiration and experiment with adding contrasting colour.

• Learn a wide range of breakdown printing techniques including embedded object screens, drawn screens, screen made by mark making and monoprinting, double layer screens and upside down screens made with paper and scrumpled plastic.

• Explore single colour and multicolour screens.

• Combine breakdown printing with additional resists on either their screen or their fabric.

• Learn how to use value and scale to create a set of printed fabrics that work together.

• Use thickened discharge paste to remove colour from their printed fabrics.

• Take their cloth further by introducing other techniques such as resist dyeing or thermofax printing.

• Dye six pieces of fabric that co-ordinate with their printed cloth (optional).

• Receive one-to-one support throughout the week along with one group review session.