WORKSHOPS FOR 2015/6

Based on ‘From Art to Stitch’ 

CHUCK CLOSE

The inspiration is the work of an American portrait painter. He divides his images into grids which when viewed from a distance renders the image to a photographic likeness, but close up each square is abstract.

We will use this idea to turn a photograph into a hand stitched piece.

 

VAN GOGH

We will explore colour and texture through the work of this popular and inspirational artist. We will look closely at the painted surfaces and working with hand stitch, we will record the extraordinary colour combinations to inspire textured, stitched landscapes.

 

KANDINSKY

This artist was inspired by music, geometric shapes and eccentric structures. We use these ideas to create machine stitched surfaces as backgrounds for playful, imaginary 3D figures built from found objects.

 

HUNDERTWASSER

Hundertwasser was an architect who created imaginative buildings that grew out of the landscape. He had a horror of the straight line which he used to great advantage to meander across his vibrant paintings. This course uses applique and couching by hand and machine to depict architecture in the landscape.

 

MORANDI

Italian artist Georgio Morandi used a quiet, close-toned palette of colour to depict small still-life groups. We will combine loose textured surfaces with fine stumpwork-like stitching. Small vessels will be cast using a variety of techniqes with added straight stitching.

 

JOHN PIPER

The work of this prolific artist spans much of the twentieth century, so moves through several styles. This course is inspired by his prints and drawings of architecture that captures the ‘aesthetic decay’ of the British countryside. We will work with mono print to reflect the scribbly style of his mark-making and will combine this with machine stitching to create a small panel.

 

MATISSE

Henri Matisse is a very popular and prolific artist whose work developed through decorative simplification with light , colour and space. Much of his inspiration was drawn from textiles. Taking these elements we will use patterned, printed cloth together with still-life imagery to create rich, decorative and patterned surfaces using composite stitching by hand.