My screenprinting taster day at the...

Kiwi Print Studio, Camborne.  I'll start showing you my final print onto fabric. It looks simple, but it made my brain ache.  It doesn't look much at the moment, but I hope with a little stitching it will be transformed. Ha!   When?  Who knows..  We are STILL! House hunting!

I had such a great day.. We started off with a sketch, I used one which I'd done at the Falmouth sketch club.. Imaginary fish and boat. My first mistake. Too complicated for the emulsion which you use to 'draw' your image on the screen. It's thick and sticky, so my fine lines didn't work.

This is the print onto paper.. Good job that you can learn from your mistakes.. And boy I made a few.... Hundred!

 

 This is Dena in full swing showing us how to produce a repeat  print..

We all had a wonderful day, the class was small the studio large bright and airy.. At the end of the day we were exhausted and we all wanted to learn more..

I have just started studying - Early Netherlandish Art - Part 1

This week I started a course with the WEA - Workers Educational Association here in Colchester to study Early Netherlandish art.. Well I'm as surprised as you.. !  Well, I have this friend.... Who also has a hidden passion for medieval art... Need I say no more...

"The course will introduce the art and social climate of the Fifteenth Century Northern Renaissance via the exploration of the amazing artistic techniques of the painters such as Jan Van Eyck, Rovert Campin and Rogier Van Der Weyden."  Says the blurb...  This sounds a bit heavy but I think that it will be an exciting journey..

Week 1:  The Dukes of Burgundy 

 

Philip the Bold - Philippe le Hardi 1364 -1404

John the Fearless - Jean sans-Peur 1404- 1419

 

 Philip the Good - Philippe le Bon 1419 - 1467

 

Charles the Bold - Charles le Téméraire 1467 -1477

 There were four Dukes of Burgundy in these golden years between 1364 and 1477: Philip the Bold, John the Fearless, Philip the Good and Charles the Bold. Each married well, so increasing the Duchy’s cross-border land and power. The Low Countries, what we know now as Belgium and the Netherlands, were amongst the rich gains bringing untold craft skills, culture and prosperity. A sumptuous court resulted where every aspect of the arts was patronised: tapestries, music, sculpture, gastronomy and fine arts. Burgundy blossomed, gaining in stature and power.

We also took a look at the book of hours other wise known as Très Riches Heures du Duc de Berry . This will blow your mind, so much detail.. So amazing.. 

I am totally hooked.. And looking forward to next week...

Week 14... On my work bench..

Well, not my work bench...I went on such an amazing course last Saturday with Alison Stockmarr and Abi Concannon. at the shipyard studio's Wivenhoe.  Textile art is my new thing.. (I can here my husband, not another lot of stuff... More shelves..Groan...).  

We started off with coffee and a very warm welcome then straight in at the deep end, just what I like.. The course was about transfer printing..

Firstly we learn't how to transfer scanned images from the computer to the special transfer sheets that were supplied.... Then we got to work choosing images transferring them onto fabric then 'destroying them... Well I did anyway..  Here is my feeble effort, first attempt was a collage of little boats.. Not the most exciting...

 

Then lunch... And what a spread.. It was delicious. After lunch... Back to the fun...

 

 Here is Alison explaining about texture and print.. 

 How to hot press velvet... Simple when you know how... Take a wooden 'fish' damp down your velvet, put on to of 'fish' and with hot iron press.. I didn't know that you can easily texture velvet with an iron and steam.  So exciting.

 

'Talk things over'

This was my final piece, not quite finished but loving it so far. Click on image to get a closer look..