Illustrated stitch: a masterclass with Rosie James
- Course Code: VX222
- Dates: 05/08/24 - 09/08/24
- Time: 18:00 - 21:00
- Taught: Mon-Fri, Evening
- Duration: 5 sessions
- Location: Keeley Street
- Tutor: Rosie James
Course Code: VX222
Duration: 5 sessions
Please note: We offer a wide variety of financial support to make courses affordable. Just visit our online Help Centre for more information on a range of topics including fees, online learning and FAQs.
What is the course about?
On this course you will get out and about looking at city life, through the lens as well as through drawing. You will focus on drawing and photographing people out and about and the architecture that surrounds them, looking at both figures and structure.
You will then reconfigure your drawings and photographs, printing off interesting elements and drawing from the photographs. You will learn how to use the sewing machine to draw with and how to transfer your images onto cloth. Appliqued fabrics and paper will be added using bondaweb and a series of samples will be made exploring different fabrics and papers together. Finally you will put together all you have learned to design and create a completed stitched artwork illustrating the city.
What will we cover?
Drawing, Photography, free machine embroidery, appliqué with bondaweb, designing/composing an artwork, using different fabrics.
What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...
All students:
- Take considered photographs of crowds and city details.
- Make drawings from photographs.
- Transfer a drawing/photograph onto cloth
- Use a sewing machine to do free machine embroidery
- Use bondaweb to attach fabric/paper to a background.
- Compose/arrange/design a finished piece using these techniques.
Students with experience:
- Develop considered composed work reflecting the city
- Add to drawing repertoire, bringing the urban landscape to embroidery.
- Improve and add to existing machine stitching skills.
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
This course is open to all from beginners to experts. If you are a beginner you will have time to practice your free machining skills. Whilst the more expert will have the chance to develop a more complicated piece of work depending on experience.
You should be able to follow simple written and verbal instructions to support demonstrations, hand-outs and for
health and safety information, and will be encouraged to take part in group discussion.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
Through practical demonstrations both to the group and to individuals. Group discussions and feedback are encouraged. You do not have to do any work outside the class, but you may want to work on drawings and ideas, and practice using your own sewing machine.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
Basic materials are included. You will need to bring your own camera (you can use your phone) to the first session. You will also need to print out the photographs you have taken which will incur some cost.
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
The techniques learnt on this course can be applied to many areas of Art and Design. City Lit runs a wealth of
courses in contemporary crafts and digital textiles for beginners through to advanced learners. Please browse the
website for upcoming courses.
General information and advice on courses at City Lit is available from the Student Centre and Library from Monday to Friday from 12:00 – 14:00 the 16:00 – 18:00.
Rosie James is a Textile Artist living and working in Kent, UK. She has a BA Hons Textiles degree from Surrey Institute of Art and Design and an MA in Textiles from Goldsmith College London. Rosie started off with a small business making dyed and screen printed fabrics, scarves, ties, cushions etc, but once she discovered that she could use the sewing machine to draw with, she found herself doing less printing and more stitching. She began creating larger and more one off pieces and brought back her screen printing skills to mix up stitch and print in large-scale illustrative pieces. People and crowds became her focus and particularly specific groups in particular places, such as art galleries or tourist spots. She gets in amongst them with her camera and then translates these photos into drawings and then stitches them using an old Bernina and black thread. Rosie has exhibited her work all over the world and has large-scale pieces in hotels and museums in the UK and the USA. Rosie has published a book called “Stitch Draw” which illustrates and demonstrates her techniques.
Please note: We reserve the right to change our tutors from those advertised. This happens rarely, but if it does, we are unable to refund fees due to this. Our tutors may have different teaching styles; however we guarantee a consistent quality of teaching in all our courses.