Ref: S3D13253
The course offered the opportunity to handle, observe, record, discuss and select from a collection of Ottoman textiles purchased by Amanda from the Island of Crete in the mid-eighties. This will inform decisions about what you like and would like to explore with thread and cloth during the course. The unique combination of stitches used in these textiles such as cross-stitch, gold-plate work, couching, drawn-thread, pulled work with other surface stitchery, will inform some ‘filling’ experiments and outlining.
This is a rare workshop taught by Amanda using colour who will share her obsession about these qualities of ‘oldness’ and the importance of informing ourselves through history and tradition, combined with a contemporary response. The aim is to be inspired to revisit or learn from new some overlooked embroidery techniques. Amanda is especially encouraged to look at different ways to outline and ‘fill in’ spaces. Changing grounds and experimenting with threads of different weights and textures will combine the traditional with the new. Silk floss, twisted silk, metal plate and cotton floss will be part of your explorations. Also you will be introduced to evenweave stitches most of which can be improvised on other cloth qualities. Part of the two days will be spent looking and recording the collection as well as looking at some other related old embroidered pieices. But most of all you will be encouraged to respond in your personal way and begin a few sampler pieces to get you inspired and continue at home.
Arrival Day - this is the first date listed above
Courses start early evening. Residential students to arrive from 4pm, non-residential students to arrive by 6.45pm.
6.45pm: Welcome, followed by dinner (included).
8 - 9pm: First teaching session, attendance is essential.
Daily timetable
Classes 9.15 - 5pm, lunch is included.
From 6.30pm: Dinner (included for residential students).
Evening working - students may have access to workshops until 9pm, but only with their tutor's permission and provided any health and safety guidelines are observed.
Last day
Classes 9.15am - 3pm, lunch is included.
Residential students are to vacate their rooms by 10am please.
(This timetable is for courses of more than one day in length. The tutor may make slight variations)
Having trained in Embroidery Amanda is still obsessed by the purity of thread and cloth. She is now working freelance after an enjoyable and satisfying few decades working on Art Foundation courses. She enjoys sharing her practice with others and is particularly interested in the way we all respond to similar elements with our own visual language.
Residential option available. Find out accommodation costs and how to book here.
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