This self-paced online course explores the glorious world of colour and mixed media.
Using paints, oil pastels and other materials, learn how how to enhance textured collage, using stitching to add embellishment. I will guide you through the techniques, explain how colour works and how to build up a library of samples ready to be used in future projects.
Have fun, experiment and be creative!
Have you always wanted to be more experimental or try something new but never had the confidence?
This course is perfect for showing you the way.
Being creative and exploring new ideas is a great way to work but often people don't know where to start.
This course will cover all aspects of working in colour on paper collage and combining it with stitching:
Learn how to use a variety of media such as acrylic paint, oil pastels and watercolour
Get confident using colour
Learn how you can enhance images with stitching
Be confident experimenting and trying out new ideas
A self-paced online course that teaches you how to work more creatively and experimentally using readily available materials.
Learn how colours work together and the different effects that contrasting colours can create.
Create collage using paper and fabric, experimenting with different paint finishes.
See how colours react with one another and the effects of using coloured backgrounds in collage.
See how you can work on paper, using simple stitching to effectively enhance a piece of coloured collage.
Many people are apprehensive of trying out this amazing embroidery technique. It's actually really very simple and you will learn how it can be used to create all over texture.
Discover how effectively you can two or more colours and mixed media to enhance textures.
Gain insights into how stitching can be used to either create contrast and embellishment or become an integral part of texture.
Build your confidence using colour and making good choices to achieve the best results.
This shows a breakdown of the entire course and what lessons are in each module
The orange preview buttons will allow you to take a peak at some of the lessons for FREE!
Guides to materials and tools required. Downloadable PDF documents outlining the best materials for the course along with links to suppliers to help you easily track down those harder to find items.
I'm here to help you all the way through the course. You can ask me questions through the course portal at any time.
Create samples and projects throughout the course. Build up a catalogue of techniques and ideas that can be used in a future project.
You are a beginner and looking to get started with stitching and painting
You love doing embroidery but have never tried working in mixed media or paper
You are used to drawing and painting but have never worked with textiles before
You have never had the confidence to really experiment and work outside your comfort zone
You are an art student or practising artist looking to explore a new technique
You want to find new ways of using your embroidery skills
You are a keen amateur artist looking for a creative challenge
After completing my degree in Embroidered and Woven Textiles at Glasgow School of Art I've been a professional artist for nearly 30 years working both as a fine artist and textile designer. I have taught both disciplines throughout my career at all levels from primary, secondary, degree level and adults. My aim is to get other people to be creative and push their boundaries a little bit.
I get a real buzz from constantly trying out new ideas and techniques as it keeps me fresh and more creative, and I'd love to pass this enthusiasm on to you. I'm looking forward to taking you on a journey, showing you how I work and giving you lots of ideas on how you can boost your creativity in the wonderful medium of collage and textiles.
Combining stitching and collage can be a process of trial and error - you don't always know how things will turn out.
That's what I love about it. I love that unpredictability and spontaneity of not knowing exactly what the outcome is going to be. I always tell students not to have a fixed idea in their mind, because it stifles a bit of that creativity.
You have to go through the process of doing - of looking at images, trying out techniques, experimenting with colours, textures and stitching to form ideas. You can't just dream them out of thin air. And by doing that, you will create something unexpected that works really successfully.
Materials needed for collage and embroidery are discussed within the course. The materials list is available to preview and download in the contents section above and has links to suppliers. You can complete the course with some basic materials such as paper, paints and embroidery threads, however, investing in a wider range of materials will give you more scope.
Yes! The course will guide you through every step of the process. All the techniques are demonstrated in detail and are suitable even if you have done nothing like this before. This course is structured in such a way that each module builds on the one before so you will be guided through each section and gradually build up to completing lots of samples for future use.
This is a self-paced course so you are free to work through it at your own speed and in your own way. Some people will prefer to watch all of the lessons and then make a start and others will want to work through the modules one at a time, completing the exercises and projects as they go along (this is recommended). Some of the sections will be quicker to complete than others and it does depend on how much time you have to devote to itand how many samples you decide to make.