‘Remarkable Reptiles’ – Illustrate, Pattern and Stitch with Nigel Cheney

Description

Have you ever wanted to be able to stitch on your own artwork that has been digitally printed on fabric?

Led by Nigel Cheney and his contemporary approach to imagery and embroidery, this workshop provides an opportunity to create a unique stitched textile that incorporates digital printing.

You will develop your own visual research and artwork using experimental drawing, mark making and collage techniques that will then be digitally printed onto a fabric of your choice ready to stitch into to.

Inspired by an appreciation of colour and pattern you will explore themes such as the vibrant imagination of other cultures such as the fantastical Mexican Alebrijes as created by Pedro Linares, or the stylised bark paintings of the Aboriginal art, alongside more traditional approaches to observation and mark making.

This 4 day workshop is divided into 2 separate 2 day sessions.

Stage 1

Over this 2 day workshop you will be led through a range of techniques based on paper looking at both your favourite reptiles (lizard, chameleons, turtles, crocodiles, etc) and their perfect habitat. If reptiles aren’t your thing by all means work on your own chosen subject matter. Some image references will be provided but you are encouraged to bring as many images as you like to respond to. These could be from books, prints or even images on a tablet or ipad.

Working with water based mediums we will make an array of sumptuously coloured textures and marks.

Approaches will range from ways to represent pattern (scales, spots, stripes etc), shape as well as detail. This can be adapted for those who previously completed artwork or just love colour and texture without being so confident at drawing.

Nigel will take through a design development process to use the surfaces, papers and drawings you have created to develop dynamic compositions.

By the end of the second day you will have a number of artworks that can be photographed ready for digital printing. Based on examples Nigel will bring you will make decisions about the particular fabric base you want your designs printed onto. Nigel will help you complete an order form showing how you want to layout your fabric strip with any number and size of images that fill up to a 1/2 metre strip (50 x 120cm). You might have chosen to print one large panel or any number of smaller patches.

Using his computer skills Nigel will prepare the artworks following your instructions and organise digital printing. You will be emailed a pdf digital proof of your design before approval before it is sent off within a week of completing the first stage..

Stage 2

In this second part of the workshop you will get to stitch onto your printed strip of fabric. Using Nigel’s signature textile collage techniques you can add to your own prints. Working in either hand, or machine embroidery this is a chance to mix your own prints with other fabric treasures to develop into a finished piece or number of smaller artworks.

Please bring £25.00 on the first day to cover all digital proofing, photo manipulation, admin, direct email correspondence (1/2 metre per person)

Fee shown is for all four days.

images shown here are Nigel’s own sketch book and initial print ideas before stitch.