Less is More – Amanda Clayton

Imagery, concept and narrative; developing ideas and challenging your own creative practice through a series of paper and stitch/cloth exercises.  We will be exploring line, tone and qualities through compositional ‘play’. You will be encouraged to manipulate imagery…move elements around and produce creative solutions for piecing and patching. Stripping work down to its purist beginnings we will be working in neutrals and monochrome. This workshop is useful for anyone who wants to produce their own individual work within textiles, suggesting lots of strategies for starting points and inspiration.                          
Student requirements
Day 1.
Please bring usual art materials to include:

Cutting board or a newspaper
Scalpel
Pritt stick
Masking tape
Graphite pencils
Small piece of a clear wax candle
Putty rubber
A variety of papers  consider  texture, weight and colour.
Camera if you have one.
Metal tablespoon
A sketchbook/notebook/studio diary to record thoughts and ideas during the day.

*I will provide still life objects and the grounds to use.
Day 2.

Fabric of different qualities especially transparent and translucent (at least 10 different kinds- each 30 cm square approx- and smaller scraps….) Please limit yourself. White, neutrals, and/or grey/black monochrome.
Threads of contrasting qualities…..shiny, matt, twisted, floss, fine, thick..
Any favourite personal bits you can’t live without.
Needles, pins, scissors, embroidery scissor.

Try to fit everything for the two days into one large box or basket
*Please do not go and buy anything especially.
I will bring some of everything and I am sure we will manage between us.
Biography  Amanda Clayton Website; click here.
My creative practice is my life. It intertwines with my friends, family, home, garden, and travels…
For an artist practicing in any media the starting points are the same; looking, selecting and interpreting using the love and medium of drawing, which was instilled in me from a young age. The confidence that I had in the ability to be an individual was encouraged along the way.
Enlightenment came when I was 14. The most influential person in the development of my art philosophies and standards was my wonderful secondary school teacher Anwar Shemza. An artist in his own right, he made me understand how cloth and stitch was another justifiable media to follow through my ideas. My response to a borrowed small DMC embroidery book became so much more tangible as I became aware that I could formally study embroidery and put together my love of art and needlework.
There are many phrases that Anwar said along the way. ‘You are only as good as your next piece of work’ was one of them; as well as the fact that a piece of work takes more than the time you spend making it…. it also reflects a lifetime of experience.
I am still learning, challenging and I am never satisfied. This drives me forward to my next piece. Creativity is my life.