West Dean
For those of you who do not know this terrific residential
venue for adult education courses, you must look at the new perspectus for
2012/2013 to see what wonderful creative classes are available. I have just taught a 3 day class there and it
is always a pleasure for me to enjoy the scenery and ambience of this stately
home once again.
The class was based on
the new book Connecting Design to Stitch and we created a wonderful little book
full of design and composition ideas on a personal theme. Everyone brings something unique to a class
with their own personal theme and interests and the results at the end of the
course is always very individual and different.
It is great to see how work evolves from a photo design source as we
looked at the elements and principles of design. http://www.westdean.org.uk/CollegeChannel/ShortCourses/RequestaBrochure.aspx is the website - then look at the short course 2012/2013 pdf brochure for a wonderful selection of workshops. I am teaching there again next spring.
By working through line, shape, value, colour, pattern and
texture in any one particular theme or focus – dozens of potential ideas can
emerge. Only a small number might be
appropriate to the essence of the subject but by working through several
compositions, it is possible to see a series of pieces begin to emerge. It is always so exciting to see this evolve
in sketchbook form – a little treasured compilation of different ways forward
for new work. Here is a selection of work done in class – I am very
excited about this class and will teaching it again soon.
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| wonderful work done by the ladies on the course |
Surrounded by boxes.
Well the MOVE is happening very soon and we shall be in
Somerton by the 2nd October (all being well). Moving house in the UK is certainly a very
frustrating process and somehow with all the technology today…email, downloadable
files etc. you would wonder why the
whole procedure has to be so lengthy.
Until this ‘exchange’ of contracts happens you are in ‘limbo’. Thankfully we had started to pack several
weeks ago. Very necessary with all of my
art and textiles and 22 years of ‘life’ accumulated in Binfield, Berkshire. I have given, donated, parted with as much as
I can and there are still more and more boxes to fill. It seems endless. I definitely wouldn’t want to do this too often.
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| Views of Somerton and our new home. |
Somerton seems a lovely small town, south of Glastonbury and
Street (Clark’s Outlet village) and the lovely countryside of Somerset. Can’t wait. There is a very active Studio and
Arts week - SAW (the Somerset Arts Weeks) http://www.somersetartworks.org.uk/ which is on now until end of the month. The Courthouse Gallery
which is home of the Somerset Guild of Craftmen is located in the Market Square
in Somerton – just 5 minutes away. http://www.somersetguild.co.uk/courthouse.cfm
I will be quite close to the A303 and not far from the M5, so
travelling won’t be too difficult. Just further from London, which shouldn’t be
too bad, as bus and train services are good. Once settled, I look forward to getting back to some new
work. Several pieces already started,
have been put on hold.
My plan in the new year is to introduce an online 'Design Essentials' course (design and composition for stitched textiles) in 10-12 instalments - with homework involved. There will be one or two 'face to face' visits and tutorials (when possible) during the program, but for the most part it
will include online presentations with coursework as pdf files which will, with your own design and composition exercises create a wonderful resource for future
stitched textile work. The course will
include some of the feature workshops and classes in my latest book, taken further with
more possibilities. I am very excited
about the prospect… so, watch this
space.
I have a welcome reprieve from packing and travelling to
Lancashire for a course I am teaching at Alston Hall for 3 days next week, then
the MOVE.
Until then…. Thanks for reading.
Sandra
Hi
ReplyDeleteI hope that your move went well and you are happy in your new home.
I wonder if you are any further on with the 'Design Essentials' on line course?
I have ALL your books, and love them, but I have only done a few of the exercises, so need that added push which an on line course would give.
Unfortunately I live in Yorkshire, so probably never able to attend one of your 'live' courses, sadly
best wishes
Lynne
Hi Sandra ... I, too, hope that the move went well and that you are settled in now.
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to your trip to Ontario this year ... see you at a meeting I hope !
I had a chance to combine my two loves in life recently and had a two weeks' holiday in wonderful France, to which I had been before, and had loved so much. I took a little Renault rental car and headed off from Paris, to the Palace of Versailles, to Chartres then southward to sunny Provence, via the Auvergne region, with the Songs of the Auvergne playing repeated on the CD player.
ReplyDeleteMagnifique, comme toujours. I saw many art galleries and followed the footsteps of artists, like poor Vincent Van Gogh.
Back home all too soon, I ordered a canvas print from wahooart.com, choosing this painting by Cézanne, http://wahooart.com/Art.nsf/All-Popular-Artists, to remember my trip by.
Wonderful blog,images looking so gorgeous ,It makes me feel great when I saw these blog. CO2Art
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