I'll Screen and I'll screen til I make myself sick.

Hopelessly addicted to screen printing. I am in love with another skill. I know, another one. But this is the real thing. And I can combine it and it's versatile and and and.............

This new love affair began ages ago with the photo transfer images, Lino cut prints, potato prints, and reading reading reading about screen printing. Oh the excitement.

I then visited my dear friend Jules in Cornwall and had the opportunity to try out screen printing in her studio. These are a few results.




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My wonderful, talented, inspirational friend Jules.





Elliott had a go too.





Imagine having all this glorious space........




A screen prepared with a photo image. I am hoping to go on a course to learn this properly.




Shiny happy prints.

Anyway. Completely addicted I returned home and sourced some of my own equipment which I have only begun to have a little play with so far because of the ups and downs of the course and the fact that it takes time......




Today I managed this print. This is of Elliott looking out to sea and was inspired by a photo taken on Dunwich beach. I think it would be a great image on a bag, tea towel, t - shirt or beach towel. We shall see.......

I then began on a project that has been building up in my head for some time. A picture of Henry.




I got him to do lots of poses but I loved this picture of him in my shades.




Using drawing fluid I have drawn this picture onto my screen. I am waiting for this to dry to prepare it for adding screen filler.

Photo transfers

I am always inspired following a trip to the Isles of Scilly. Matt and I took lots of photographs but these are two that I have so far made into photo transfers. I have lots of ideas about screen printing and stitching into these pieces. I will post the results when I have finished them.




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Course closed

I am in shock. This evening I have learned by email that the Julia Capara college of textile art with which I have been studying has closed!

With only one module to complete and one module still to be marked I am in no way near as bad situation as people who have actually begun the degree course. In terms of money I am only a little out of pocket, I had already decided not to start the degree course in September for three reasons - 1) the monetary impact at present on our family. 2) Anna is still at home all day with me and doing the pre degree has been a fantastic experience and I have learnt lots of new skills and tried lots of new ideas. I have had my mind stretched and my eyes opened. But it has been very time consuming and I have thought about it constantly, I am now able to concentrate on my family and then do my own projects in my spare time without the time constraints which will be more relaxed. 3) whilst my tutors have been great and have constantly asked me to look at things differently I have missed the human contact which one gets at college. For this reason, when I do finally try and embark on an art degree I will be applying to colleges where I can go to a site and have teachers I can have eye to eye contact with. I have made a friend on my course who I will remain in contact with but ideally if I was to go to college you would meet multiple people and would be able to build up friendships and inspirations.

However tonights news has left me feeling really shocked and sad. I feel cut adrift and whilst I am determined to carry on with my art work and my adventures in textiles I really like the pressure to deliver and having my work "marked" or constructively criticised.

So, with this in mind I have decided to complete the course myself. I have been given the final module which is all about creating a portfolio so I will be keeping my usual diary of this on the blog. I would really really welcome any constructive criticism as in the true spirit of blogging you, dear readers, can be my " tutors".

I am also going to carry on as usual with including any extra creative experiences I have or make and do on the blog. The blog title will slightly change to reflect the new way of working and hopefully encapsulate whatever new course or college I take on next. Thread wire & cloth will carry on creating.


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Assignment 5. Back from holidays.

I have returned from my idyllic holiday and have managed to finish three of the six pieces for assignment five whilst on the beach.




This is the appliquéd houses in the style of Janet Bolton. I was inspired to use the photograph of the houses on the beach at Aldeburgh. Little did I know how much inspiration I would get from this photo. Having spent a happy hour learning silk screen printing I would like to get that photo put on a screen - but more of that later......




The second piece I completed on the beach was the scene from Thorpeness mere which I had pinned out in an earlier post.







The final piece is the cut through piece which is inspired by the sunset photograph.


I dyed the material by hand using Dylon dyes and different amounts of dyes and dyeing times.








The bottom photo is showing the finished cut through appliqué piece with the hand stitched boarders. The photo was not very successful as it was taken at night and the piece unfortunately has a crease as I was rushing to get this post done. I will try and post a better picture eventually!!