Artist

Textile Translations (Elphin) 

Learn how to translate the colours, patterns and textures of the natural world into miniature textile works of art. 

Sister course: A Garden of Stitches.

Dipping in to the range of techniques Jan uses regularly in her own practice, you will learn how to take blank cloth through a number of processes - dyeing, printing, collage and stitching - each one contributing depth and patina to the finished work.

On the first morning of this week, we will go out and about from my studio, into the nearby landscape, gathering found objects, photographs and sketches, close-looking at whatever we find - rocks, trees, grass, sky, water.  

Once back at the studio, we will look through all this material and choose the most interesting to use as a basis for the rest of the week's work. The first afternoon will be filled with some warm-up techniques, helping you to become familiar with some of the materials and tools used by the textile artist.

Thereafter, on each morning you will learn a different technique for transferring colour and pattern to cloth. You will then experiment with these surfaces by manipulating the fabric, by way of such techniques as cutting and layering. The afternoons will be given over to further development of each little work by the use of stitch, both machine and hand, thereby raising the surface and increasing the intricacy of the marks that you make.  

By the end of the week, you will have a collection of textile translations , having captured the essence of the various elements that make up the stunning landscape of the North West Highlands.

All materials and equipment is supplied, though if you have your own camera, you will find it useful for the first day. I will provide a bank of sewing machines for all to use but, if you are used to your own sewing machine, then please do bring it along for your own personal use.

This course provides an introduction to a number of techniques for working in textiles and there is no assumption that the students have any experience of this type of work, including the sewing. In other words, the course is suitable for beginners, textile artists wanting to break out of their area of comfort, or artists working in another media who want to explore.  

Much of the attraction of this area of the country is the wildness it has retained as a result of the limited impact of human habitation.  Of course, this means that there are fewer choices of accommodation for the intrepid visitor, but there are still a wide number of options, many of which can be found on the Accommodation links page.

To read about an innovative community partnership approach to preserving and improving this landscape for the benefit of all, have a look at Coigach and Assynt Living Landscapes. To find out about the fascinating geology of this area go to North West Highland Geopark.