Vanessa Rolf
Vanessa Rolf studied at the Royal College of Art. She has taught BA and MA level students, led workshops, given talks and worked with schools and communities.
Object: memory - exploring tactile ways to tell stories with Vanessa Rolf
Ref: S4D40958
About this course
We will use textiles as a medium to explore objects and memory. We will begin with drawing as a playful way to develop our ideas and then work with fabric and simple collage and stitch techniques; exploring how tactile qualities can be used to share stories.
Course Description
This course is part of our Making Skills: Degree and Diploma Taster Week, a themed series of short courses that teach foundation skills and offer an insight into studying one of our Higher Education courses at West Dean. They cover a variety of subject areas and are taught by selected tutors who teach on the Degree and Diploma courses at West Dean, giving students a real insight into the opportunities available for full or part time study. They also offer an excellent opportunity to create and build on your portfolio, often a key requirement when you apply for a higher education programme, develop you practical making skills and find out if you would like to pursue further study.
This course takes inspiration from the objects we treasure, even when they may have no material value, and how these help us tell stories about ourselves.
We will explore how simple shapes, limited colour palettes, textures and stitch can be used to tell stories about objects and their significance to us.
We will begin by creating simple silhouette shapes of objects you are keen to memorialise using drawing and paper collage. These could be based on photographs of objects, drawn from the object itself (if you wish to bring it) or from memory. The object you wish to explore may be valuable with a rich story or perhaps it is more mundane and practical, it could even be something you only held fleetingly. You do not need to have a specific object in mind before the course and could allow the introductory activities to be an opportunity to explore whatever comes to mind.
Playing with scale and simple methods we will create quick responses, developing composition and giving opportunities for ideas to grow.
Potential textile techniques to explore further will be shared via demonstrations, including simple hand stitch and appliqué using stitch or no stitch iron on methods.
You may create a series of studies or a single more resolved work, using fabric collage to explore how tactile qualities can be used to convey narratives.
There will also be opportunities for feedback on work in progress from the tutor and sharing and discussion with other students will be encouraged.
The course will include a talk from textile artist and tutor Vanessa Rolf about her practice and her inspirations.
The sessions will build confidence and your visual skills, using simple materials and processes to share stories. No hand stitch experience necessary.
Making Skills: Degree and Diploma Taster Week
Other subjects and short courses on this themed week are:
Foundation Diploma in Printmaking
- Printmaking: Combined Techniques
Foundation Diploma in Tapestry
- Tapestry Weaving: The Art of Translation
Foundation Diploma in Art & Design
- Painting Inspired by Goldsworthys Chalk Stone Walk
BA Art & Contemporary Craft
- Object: Memory - Exploring Tactile Ways to Tell Stories
- Experimental Concrete Casting for Sculpture
- Painting Inspired by Goldsworthys Chalk Stone Walk
Graduate Diploma Fine Art and MFA Fine Art
- Printmaking: Combined Techniques
- Experimental Concrete Casting for Sculpture
- Tapestry Weaving: The Art of Translation
FdA Metalwork (Craft Practices)
- Silversmithing with an Emphasis on Box Making
- Blacksmithing: Fundamentals and Individual Projects
FdA Furniture (Craft Practices)
- Woodworking: Tool Control, Posture and Precision. No Plane, No Gain
FdA Books & Bindings (Craft Practices)
- Bookbinding Sampler: Designing and Creating a Sewn Notebook
- Introduction to the Conservation of Books and Archives
Graduate Diploma Conservation and MA Conservation
- Introduction to the Conservation of Books and Archives
BA (Hons) Interior Design and HE Diploma Interior Design
- Interior Design Intensive Process, Planning and Presentation
There will also be opportunities to Meet the Tutors on Tuesday 8 September, with an evening event starting at 5:15pm in The Old Library, where each tutor will give a 10 minute talk about their practice and course. Workshop and studio tours will also be scheduled as part of the week, offering students the chance to see the full range of facilities and courses West Dean offers.
Find out more and View all Courses
Course Materials
Included
On this course the tutor will supply the materials including:
- Needles
- Scissors
- Threads
- Yarns
- Scrap fabrics
- Industrial wool felt
- Transfer paper
- Bondaweb
On this course the College will supply:
- Assorted papers
- Drawing materials
What students need to bring
Most items are provided but students may wish to bring an object or image of an object they wish to use as a reference point during the sessions. It will also be possible to work from memory if you choose to or no longer have the object (or it is not suitable to bring).
- Graphite sticks
- Pencils
- Fine line pens
- Wax crayon - black
- White chalk
- Marker or sharpie
- All available to purchase from the Gardens Gatehouse Craft Shop
Available to buy
Gardens Gatehouse Craft Shop:
- Graphite sticks
- Pencils
- Fine line pens
- Wax crayon - black
- White chalk
- Marker or sharpie
Additional information
Please wear appropriate clothing/aprons for the workshop or studio, this includes stout covered footwear (no sandals or open toes).
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.