Cut,Create, Stitch

Three weeks ago I started a 6 week course at Dragon Hall in Norwich called

Cut,Create Stitch.

I do one day a week and our tutor is one of the Textile lecturers

from the local collage.

I have to admit I didn't really know what to expect 

other than looking at different things we can do with textiles

but I have to say I am loving it.

Dragon Hall is a Medieval Trading Hall

which has been restored and is used for all sorts of 

things from Weddings to workshops, 

Tudor minstrel shows to Vintage fairs.

It is a fabulous place to work although slightly dark.

Week One

The first day we had a real fright when we were

told we were going to do some drawing. 

I am no artist--believe me and I wasn't the only one to have this reaction.

So the phrase was changed to making marks as she didn't want a picture more shapes for us to follow.

The first thing we did was some rubbing, like brass rubbing but on all sorts 

of textured surfaces such as wood beams or brick floors,

which was great fun and really quite interesting as things really didn't come out how you thought they would look.

We then had 60 seconds to make a large representation of part of the wall in charcoal

rubbing lines out then turning the paper and doing it again and again.

This is one of the pictures I ended up with.

You can see all the beams that the hall is made up from

but it certainly changes the way I looked at

making marks.

The next thing we did was take one of our marks

and use it to make a mixed media picture by 

adding paper, fabric, wools and stitching.

This is my effort. 

My first mixed media art work

and I know it's no masterpiece but I'm quite pleased with it.

There is only one other lady on the course, which for the hall is a shame

but for us is great as we get almost one to one tuition.

This is her first picture which I think 

shows off the beams better than mine but we noticed very quickly that we 

look at things in a different way as I looked at a small part of the hall

 such as a window or a doorway

whereas she took in the whole thing and covered the whole paper.

I need to take some better photos before I tell you

about the next week.

See you soon.

Gillx