21st Century Tapestry: Colour Fusion (Non-credit)

Pre-requisites for enrolment

Some art and design experience essential. Some previous weaving or tapestry experience desirable.

Special Information

Materials and equipment provided for students as part of the course and included in course fee:

• Small tapestry frames

• A basic and limited selection of yarn

• A selection of warp

• A2 layout paper

• Set of gouache paints

Essentials Materials and equipment students will need to provide themselves:

• Selection of papers such as a range of weights of cartridge paper

• Thin card

• Coloured or printed papers

• Collected found papers

• Notebook

• Scissors

• Darning or tapestry needle

• Masking tape

• Glue

• Wet media such as gouache, watercolour or poster paint or ink

• Dry media such as graphite stick, chalks or oil pastels

• Pencils

• Beeswax

• Selection of threads fibres e.g. wool, linen, cotton, string, raffia, shredded rags

Content of Course

Over the weeks the course will cover;

1. Introduce broad aims and objectives. Set course structure and begin simple tapestry sampler.

2. Colour analysis and mixing.

3. Weaving considering colour.

4. Colour exploration in tapestry.

5. Developing ideas in tapestry.

6. Interim review of work and establishing personal direction.

7. Weaving individual tapestry.

8. Weaving individual tapestry. Lecture – Art Tapestry.

9. Weaving individual tapestry.

10. Final review and preparation for assessment.

11. Resolving all work for assessment.

Teaching method(s)

This course will be based and delivered in specialist design studios or workshops and will typically include a range of practical exercises, introductions to techniques, processes and concepts, and set projects which lead to more focused and personal exploration.

Each week, students’ progress will be monitored and supported by the tutor who will negotiate and agree a ‘directed study plan’ for work to be undertaken out with the class hours each week. This will include researching a range of suggested artists or designers and their associated movements to engender a contextual awareness of the discipline being taught as well as how to annotate and evidence this within a sketchbook and practical outcomes. Teaching will include practical demonstrations, one to one tuition, group discussions and critiques.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the course, through attending classes and engaging in directed and independent study, students should be able to:

• Explore fundamentals of colour mixing and surface building and the various means by which this can be interpreted in tapestry.

• To explore optical effects, colour relationship, tone and proportion through considered and innovative use of materials and media.

• To evolve individual colour palette demonstrating confidence in using colour within individual tapestry outcome.

Sources

Core Readings

Recommended:

• Soroka, J, 2011 Tapestry Weaving, Design and Technique, The Crowood Press Ltd. Wiltshire.

• Beutlich, T., 1967, Technique of Woven Tapestry, London: Batsford

• Phillips, B., 1994, Tapestry, London: Phaidon Press Victorian Tapestry Workshop, Walker, S. ed.,2000, Modern Australian Tapestry, Victoria: Victorian Tapestry Workshop

• Cavallo, A.S., 1998, The Unicorn Tapestries at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York : The Metropolitan Museum ; H.N. Abrams

• Barbican Centre (London), 1985, Egyptian landscapes : weavings from the Ramses Wissa Wassef School, London: Ramses Wissa Wassef (UK) Exhibition Foundation

• Campbell , T., 2010, Tapestry in the Baroque, Threads of Splendour, New York: Metropolitan Museum of Art

• D’Harcourt, R., 1962, Textiles of Ancient Peru and their Techniques, Washington DC: Washington University Press

• Albers, A., 1974, On Weaving, London: Studio Vista Catalogue, 1985, Egyptian Landscapes, 50 Years of Tapestry at Ramses Wissa Wassef Art Centre, London: Ramses Wissa Wassef (UK) Exhibition Foundation

• Weltge, S. W., 1993, Bauhaus textiles : women artists and the weaving workshop, London: Thames and Hudson

• Kahlenberg, 1972, M. H., Berlant, A., The Navajo Blanket, Westport, CT: Praeger

Web Sources

www.factum-arte.com/eng/exhibits/penelopeslabour/default.asp

Class Handouts

Course information will be provided on enrolment and handouts provided during the course.

Queries

If you have questions regarding the course or enrolment, please contact COL Reception at Paterson's Land by email COL@ed.ac.uk or by phone 0131 650 4400.

Student support

If you have a disability, learning difficulty or health condition which may affect your studies, please let us know by ticking the 'specific support needs' box on your course application form. This will allow us to make appropriate adjustments in advance and in accordance with your rights under the Equality Act 2010. For more information please visit the Student Support section of our website.