This course offers you the opportunity
to discover the wonderful world of mixed media using a variety of simple
techniques that can easily be done at home with minimal equipment. No previous
experience is needed.
Our time will be split between
demonstrations & sample-making, followed by time to explore the different
processes and develop your work at your own pace in a friendly and informal
atmosphere.
Creating the Surface
We will make our own collage papers
using gelli plates to create a range of interesting background prints to use as
our starting points. There is also the
option to work onto fabric for those who would like to incorporate
hand-stitching into their work. These will then be collaged together with text &
tissue papers to create interesting bases to work on. We will look at the use
of suitable adhesives and mediums to prepare this layer for painting and
printing.
Simple Printing
An overview of simple printing methods
with relevant examples
We will cover:- suitable materials for making a printing
block - use of polystyrene sheets for linear prints, foam & rubbers for
simple stamps, and textural & pattern printing blocks made with everyday
items such as leaves, string & textured card etc. We will experiment with
different ways to apply colour to the printing blocks and use simple
hand-printing methods to transfer the image.You may wish to collect things with interesting textures to print with
such as embossed wallpaper scraps, feathers, leaves etc.
Acrylic Paint & Gel Techniques
We will have fun dripping, spattering
and using washes of colour to add interest to our images. We will also look at
using acrylic gel mediums for transferring Sharpie pen drawings &
monoprints from wax paper or polythene sheet to our layered surfaces.
Individual work
A chance to work with the basic
practices at your own pace - experimenting, layering and combining techniques
to create a series of unique images or develop a theme, either as an artist's
book (there will be an opportunity to make a folded zigzag book) and as
individual pieces of work to make into cards, decorations, etc
There will be lots of demos, one-to-one help
and advice as to how to progress your work further.
PLEASE NOTE:All inks, paints & mediums used during this workshop are water-based
- all cleaning up is done with soap & water. Please bring barrier cream or
gloves if you know you have an allergy to any of these materials.
Contemporary artists to reference:
Cas Holmes: Mixed media with paper & textiles Kirsten
Jones: Collage & Paint
Useful Books (copies of these will be available to look at
during the course)
Printmaking & Mixed Media by Dorit Elisha;
Making Journals by Hand by
Jason Thompson;
The Collage Workbook by
Randel Plowman;
Gelli Plate Printing by
Joan Bess
Students 'To Bring' List:
Old apron or shirt,
Paintbrushes if you have them, pencil, rubber, biro,
notebook
Sketchbook /
reference as starting points (good subjects might be Flowers / Seedheads /
Birds / Hens / Recipes / Garden / Seashore / Travel & Places etc)
Textured paper scraps, leaves, feathers, etc - the tutor will also bring some
Text / tickets / music scores /ephemera etc - the
tutor will also bring some
Small basic sewing kit if you wish to work on fabric -
the tutor will bring stranded embroidery threads in a range of colours.
All other materials are supplied by the tutor
