Language of Flowers at Llanidloes

Last week I was in sunny Llanidloes (the sun always seems to come out for us) teaching the Language of Flowers workshop for 3 happy days. Most of the students came on last years retreat as well - and 8 of us booked some holiday cottages together so we could extends the days happiness into the evenings

The cottages are surrounded by hills and have residents ducks, chickens and dog .. total perfection

So - day 1 was the one they were worried about - the drawing word. I never do anything scary, and I knew they were nervous - so we got stuck in and spent the morning following through simple exercises, designed to gently ease the students into drawing without them really realising it. The afternoon was then spent drawing flower images. Most of this group were determined they simply 'could not draw' - and yet ... this is what day 1 produced ...

No apologies for the number of images - I had 14 students - and they were all so excited about their new found ability to draw(!) that they did LOTS of drawings. We also carried on in the evening after sharing a meal in a large barn at the cottage site (and feeding ducks and chickens)

Day 2 dawned sunny and glorious and we were into making collage backgrounds for the flower drawings. All nerves had gone by now - told them they should have trusted me! And then on day 3 we looked at how to transfer the drawings onto their collaged backgrounds and thread stitch them. As ever with me it was a very full and full on 3 days ... and also as ever, the students rose to the challange magnificently. A few actually finsihed their thread sketches and lovely Brenda both mounted and sealed her peiece .. which was quite beautiful. So heres the work on day 3 ...

Beautiful aren't they?

I love it when I can give someone a belief and knowledge that they can do something they are convinced they can't - so this was a lovely workshop for me too. I could pick up the excitement as students realised that they could draw - and then realised what a wonderful thing to do it is .. very relaxing. I think I have sent 14 drawers out to draw their worlds now. Good job

I am tewachiuhng the Language of Flowers twice at the Bramble Patch in Weedon this year as well. Both are fully booked - but Anne does run a waiting list. I am also teaching it here in Newport next March (14,15,16) - and there are still spaces on that one. Visit the online shop and look under ';workshops' for more information.

I'm also going to teach a 2 day drawing course - for all of you who think you cant draw! We will start with simple exercises and you will gently move into drawing. We will then  move onto drawing from photos and life, together with adding elements of colour to our drawings. Theses are new on the programme and the first one is on 10th and 11th July. Again look under workshops in the shop. In fact - here is a link

http://www.hilarybshop.co.uk/ourshop/cat_1405774-Workshops.html

It was a magical few days - and the students want a repeat next year .. they didn't have to twist my arm much at all!

Hope to see some of you in Newport - back to decorating the studio now! - tanks for reading .. Hilary xx

Only 2 weeks to go ...

Unbelievably, it's only 2 weeks before the first workshop in the new teaching studio - I think we shall have cake. The first session is Make it Personal - the 2 days every other month option ... and session 1 will be on using masks and stencils to make materials reflecting the students chosen theme. This post shows you mine from a few years ago with my beloved tulips. 

 

This is a yearlong course which will help you to find your own voice and style as an artist. Year 1 could also stand alone as a very comprehensive course in surface design - we will cover making and suing stencils and masks, making and using stamps and lino cutting, monoprinting, collagraph printing and gelli plate printing; making and using rubbing plates, and taking rubbings from life plus using other resists to get texture; screen printing (my way) and designing and using thermofax screens: soy wax printing; using mixed media to work back into work and then finally analysing your work as a potential 'palette' of materials for your personal work. 

 

During this year you will learn to use procion dyes, fabric paints, artists crayons and mixed media to make unique materials. A small A4 size piece of work will be made at each session to consolidate the techniques learned and how they might be applied. Students will also be encouraged to keep sketchbook throughout the year to record and try out their developing artists voice. By the end of the year, each student will have 12 A4 pieces and at least one sketchbook of ideas and information. The emphasis will be very much on developing a personal voice and style throughout the year.

 

Year 2, for those who choose to continue will move on to elements and principles of design, drawing and painting for design and then into developing larger finished works. Again - each session will have a piece of work associated and students should complete 4 unique finished pieces of art. These, together with the A4 pieces from year 1, and sketchbooks and design work will be shown in a gallery at the Minerva Gallery  in Wales during May 2019. This is a white walled gallery and will give students the opportunity to show off what they have been doing, but also to experience preparing for a gallery show, hanging and presenting work professionally, stewarding and the logistics of exhibiting. It will also put their work in front of lots of interested people – another useful experience for a new textile artist.  

 

Doesn’t that sound good? But I still have a couple of places free on this course ... which I would love to fill. It’s my sort of ‘flagship’ course as it follows alongside my Make it Personal books and also reflects my desire to bring out the inner artist in everyone. Of all my workshops – this is the one I really want to be taken up

If you are having problems with the dates for a session, email and talk to me. I have mentoring days which we can use to make up any missed sessions … I have already done this with a couple of students

We have the perfect environment for you to learn and grow here .. and small numbers of students will mean as much tutor input as you need and opportunities to go completely off piste if you so wish!. Travel is easy to Newport and there are lots of places to stay nearby.  Students who did the similar course a couple of years ago are welcome to come again .. and will find it is updated and much more comprehensive this time .. and will follow through into making and exhibiting work. 

 

I so hope the last places book – but whether they do or not – students already booked will be starting on what I hope might be a life changing journey for them  in 2 weeks. I’d better get back to painting their studio then! - Hilary xx 

 

Art Textiles: Made in Britain 'Concealed' at the Minerva Gallery, Llanid...