Priscilla Edwards
Priscilla has over 25 years of teaching experience and has worked in several HE textile departments.
Sculptural Textile Art - Mixed Media, Wire and Wax with Priscilla Edwards
Ref: S2D41753
About this course
Explore the possibilities of working with lightweight wire to create small sculptures. Priscilla will share with you her creative techniques to embellish your piece using fabric and wax before adding paint, buttons, and stitch.
Course Description
Explore the extraordinary possibilities of working with lightweight wire to create small-scale sculptures that incorporate found materials.
During the workshop, Priscilla will share with you her unique combination of creative techniques showing you how to shape wire by simply using pliers and fingertip manipulation to make a structure. Priscilla will then explore the process of applying layers of silk and wax to your piece. This can then be embellished by adding stitching, touches of paper, paint, buttons, broken jewellery, beads and anything else you may like to add.
As the sculptures develop, you will see their distinct characters unfolding and becoming your own creations. Repurposing materials is hugely rewarding as it allows you to use fragments of precious fabrics and treasures in your stash, producing an original piece that is totally personal and unique to you.
This workshop is aimed to inspire with lots of different techniques and processes, so you can develop them in a way that fits in with your own practice. It would suit anyone who enjoys working in a three-dimensional way with mixed media techniques. Priscilla will be bringing lots of her own work to the workshop and will talk you through how she puts pieces together; this provides the perfect insight into her own making and how she develops ideas.
Please feel free to bring any additional resources you wish to work with. Priscilla’s workshops always encourage you to develop personal pieces of work. This workshop would suit anyone who enjoys working with mixed media techniques and would like to develop this approach to their own practice.
On the first evening, you will look at examples of work provided by the tutor and have a play, creating some samples to get a feel for working with the wire.
- The course aims:
- To broaden a mixed media approach to textile sculpture
- To develop new ways of working
- To create a personal body of work
You will:
- Learn how to manipulate wire with pliers/finger manipulation
- Explore different ways of adding embellishments to a three-dimensional structure
- Gain confidence in making sculptural textile art
Learning outcomes include:
- Learning to create sculptures using wire, fabric and wax
- Executing ideas and concepts using mixed media techniques and processes
- Applying personal reflection to creative practice
Course Materials
Included
On this course the tutor will supply some of the materials, including:
- Fabrics
- Wire
- Silk
- Threads
- Glue
- Haberdashery
The College will supply some of the materials, including wax.
What students need to bring
Apron
Pen/pencil
Paper or sketchbook
Fabric and paper scissors
Grip pliers
Broken china, jewellery or doll parts or other items of ephemera of found objects
Camera or camera phone
Plus, if you wish:
A small collection of lightweight fabrics – cottons and silks work best
A small selection of scrap paper
Haberdashery – including buttons, lace and threads
Feathers
Old zips
Available to buy
General art and craft materials can be purchased at the Gardens Gatehouse
Additional information
Please wear appropriate clothing/aprons for the workshop or studio, this includes stout covered footwear (no sandals or open toes). Possible equipment restrictions in tutor absence.
Timetable
Arrival day - first date of course
Residential students can arrive from 4pm, non-residential students to arrive by 6.45pm for registration
Student welcome, followed by dinner: 6.45pm (dinner included)
Teaching session: 8pm-9pm (attendance is essential)
Daily timetable
Course teaching: 9.15am-5pm
Morning session: 9.15am-12.45pm including coffee/tea break
Lunch break: 12.45pm-2pm (lunch included)
Afternoon session: 2pm-5pm including coffee/tea break
Teaching finishes: 5pm
Evening working: students may have access to workshops until 9pm, but only with permission from the tutor and provided any health and safety guidelines are observed.
Departure day - last date of course
Course teaching: 9.15am-3pm (lunch included)
Teaching finishes: 3pm
Residential students will need to check out of rooms by 10am.
Please note, the tutor may make slight variations to the daily timetable as required.
General Information
Tutors
Accommodation
Residential option available. Find out accommodation costs and how to book here.
Further study options
Take the next step in your creative practice, with foundation level to Masters in Fine Art study.
Depending on your experience, start with an Online Foundation Certificate in Art and Design (one year, part-time), a Foundation Diploma in Art and Design made up of 10 short courses taken over two years (part-time) or advance your learning with our BA (Hons) Art and Contemporary Craft: Materials, Making, and Place (six years part-time). All will help you develop core skills, find direction in your practice and build an impressive portfolio in preparation for artist opportunities or higher-level study. See all degree and diploma courses.