Secrets and samplers

The latest Old Art Room window has gone up, entitled 'secrets and samplers'.  The samplers hide the secrets and magic that is going on in the studio in January whilst it's closed - in preparation for the coming year, and trust us, it's a hive of activity here! The beautiful samplers were made on antique tray cloths which have been kindly donated to the studio over the years. These have been hand embroidered by studio team members, clients and friends and the thoughtful quotes were chosen by different people as well. We really appreciate everyone's hard work to make such an unusual window display and we hope you like it too! The video shows the work in putting the samplers together and the secret workings going on in the studio behind closed doors...Click the video picture link to watch!

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New workshops for February 2020

(click to enlarge)

A new year means new workshops! Whilst the studio is closed for preparation work and inspiration for the rest of 2020, we can share the list of February classes. Each class has an inspiration focus or you can do your own projects. We strongly recommend that you not only book classes but also pay a deposit to guarantee your place as classes are filling up quickly. This can do be in the studio or via Paypal online. Please contact us at the studio for more information: theoldartroom@gmail.com or message us on Facebook - Click HERE

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Jane recommends the following for inspiration with February's workshops:

Fractal Patterning colouring - HERE
V&A Chinese gardens wall calendar (art calendar) - HERE
Blackwork (Royal School of Needlework Essential Stitch Guides) - HERE
Charming Packs (42 x 5" Squares - Greys, White and Black) - HERE

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Enjoy more content from the studio and support the studio by visiting, joining or subscribing to:

Become a member of our online studio at Patreon. Click HERE

Follow and subscribe to our YouTube channel to see videos. Click HERE

Follow us on Instagram. Click HERE

Follow us on Facebook. Click HERE

Studio Dye Workshop With Procion Dyes

I have been using fabric which I have dyed myself for many years now and love to show

others how to use the different dyes and easy ways of doing them.

I started with a "Starter Kit' and had great results following the instructions and 

everything you need, is in the kit.

I have included a link to Amazon below, to a 

kit that is often used in the workshops. 

Especially those who have brought or been gifted one and they 

need confidence to use them:))

They contain 10gms of basic colours and they are good to mix aswell.

We set the studio with the colour dye charts to show mixing possibilities 

and the equipment we use.

This regular session I teach Procion Dyes using the microwave.

This makes it quicker to be able to use your dyed fabric and gets really good results.

I give the recipes for small amounts of dye mix and I use

other fixatives that are suitable for the microwave.

I have used these over the years and the textiles I have made are still as bright 

today as they were 17 years ago:))

You can see we really get immersed in dye and I show how it can be done

cleanly so it can be achieved in a domestic kitchen.

The link to get your own starter kit is below.

Shop with us on Amazon, 

it helps the studio to be able to 

sponsor students within the studio.

There were two Artist in Residence and Mollie in the studio on this session who were able to add this

Dye knowledge to their skill base.

Dye Workshops are normally on a Friday and can be booked by individuals or groups.

Support the Old Art Room and post your comments:)))

Artist in Residence

Hello one and all!

My name is Benedict Farley and I am a pencil artist. I currently study Animation and Visual Effects at Teesside University, up north in the town of Middlesbrough.

Drawing is a long-time passion for me, and the best part is always seeing people's reaction to the work I create. When I was younger, my parents encouraged me to draw to keep me quiet at church, and since then I haven't stopped. My favourite subject to draw is people and the human figure. All the proportions fascinate me, and always give a great challenge to draw. It astounds me how much beauty there is in ourselves, both inside and out. I also take commissions, often drawing pictures of people's loved ones. My aim is always to capture the essence of that person in a drawing. It can be easy to simply copy a photograph, but when we create art, I always feel that our soul is put onto the page as well as the ink, graphite or paint.

My best advice to anyone doing anything artistic is to practise, practise, practise! No matter how nervous you feel or how far down the artistic path you are, nothing beats making it.

Whilst I don't have a great opportunity to use drawing in my future career in visual effects, it will always be a favourite hobby, with the hope that I can always inspire and uplift with the work I create.

Here are the links to my websites, and don't hesitate to get in contact! I'll be at The Old Art Room all week this week. Pop in to say hello!

Facebook
DeviantArt Gallery
YouTube
The Journey is the Most Important Part
Vimeo - My university work

The Blue Window

This month the window is inspired by Peacock Blue.

It is in response to my business card which is based

on a peacock feather. 

made by embellishing and lots of embroidery and beading.

It is Norfolk Open Studios from the 

28th of May until 8th of June.

The Old Art Room Swaffham Studio will be 

open daily from 9 until 4pm weekdays and 

10 until 4ppm weekends unless stated.

There is lots of new work in the studio 

including work completed on 

The Ten Week Creative Textile Course.

Another course will be starting shortly if you 

are interested.

Thimble Wreath

As some of you know I am creating a Wreath each month to

celebrate what comes into the studio and add an unusual art display 

for The Old Art Room.

Old china thimbles, they were interesting to look at and was a challenge

to attach to the polystyrene ring.

See more of the wreaths and studio displays HERE

Painting Plums

Monday morning 10am until 12.15 in The Old Art Room Studio is Art, 

we cover many medias and many different subjects.

I give tuition as a group and individually as everyone has their 

favourite subjects.

I bring in different objects and materials are available in the studio to try.

See more information and work HERE

Speckled Shibori Fabric

Here are some of the photos of my Shibori dyed fabric.

Go Create Metal and Shimmer Workshop

'Go Create' Children's Art Club was on the Saturday10th of May 

and the inspiration is 'Metal and Shimmer' in the Studio.

They loved all the shiny card, metal, glitter, foils

and embossing metal with the Cuttlebug and drinks cans.

We also made 'Dragon Skin' by melting foil crisp packets and 

colouring them so them look so real!

The embossed and sparkle collages looked great.

The youngest was 4 this month and had a great time,

See more of what goes on at 'Go Create'

and the next dates HEREhttp://theoldartroom.blogspot.co.uk/p/go-create.html 

Keepsake Lace Pockets

I demonstrated how to make The Keepsake Lace Pockets this month and there have been so many variations, it is lovely. Here, Jo wanted to have a special place to keep her Mother and Father's Love letters inside of a box! What a wonderful thing to make to treasure such memories. Jo has been able to share these with her family and they have come to realise that they are more that personal letters they are a family archive of events and what was happening at the time. Jo made her pockets by recycling the lace from a linen table cloth and runner.

This year I am trying to encourage people to look out their treasures and store and archive them in a way to give them meaning. We all store so much bits and pieces and sorting them into a treasure or remaking them into something we can share means so much more.
See more of the pockets by clicking the labels below or visit my portfolio site to se my Lace Pockets and more Vintage Recycling HERE  

Sew Simple

On Wednesday Irene and I went to 

'Sew Simple' at Taverham so she could

spend her voucher, which was nealy at it's due date.

 I needed some pink fabric and backing to

make a cot quilt for Jenn's friend whose baby

is due in March.

They grew up together so I have a soft spot and

want to make a quilt for her, Jenn's going to do the 

binding and make a cushion.

As you can see it is very pink as we know the flavour of

the new arrival:)

It was lovely having a look at all the wonderful

fabrics and I keep saying,

"One day I will be able to have my own Fabric Shop",

Well, I do have a little selection of things in my

little shop area in The Old Art Room

but would love one of 'Sew Simple'.
In the afternoon when I got back to the studio I
laid out the fabrics and started cutting out.

Visit the online shop HERE 

My Indian Elephant

I just had to make my own elephant after seeing all the amazing ones around Jaipur. 

He is a toy pattern and I 'fussy cut' the 1960's fabric, so the patterns 

were in appropriate places. The whole elephant then got a

good smothering of gold glitter. 

For my inner child!

See more India Inspiration HERE 

Art Class Back For The New Year

It was great to get classes underway for the New Year.

On the 13th we started with Mixed Media Painting Class.

each week I start the class with a Tips and Techniques.

This first week it was Sketchbooks, images and how to collect and

 how to transfer them.

Ros had finished her Ballet shoes.

Week two it was "Preparing a Surface".

Orange Wall Pom Pom

With all the Printing material and carved wooden blocks I arranged

around the studio I decided to have a play and print some orange

tissue paper. I layered eight sheets together and made a half pom pom to 

display on the wall. 

Oh Kirstie would be proud!

India Inspiration Prep At The Old Art Room

Gill and I came into The Art Room on the 8th of January and laid out

all the Indian Inspired Textiles I have gathered, brought, made and borrowed.

It looked amazing and we could already see the studio full of

colour and sparkle.

I wanted to portray a little of what we had experienced on our travels but

also the sparkle of my sketchbook. 

See my India Inspired Sketchbook on my portfolio site

HERE

See more of Gill's  and my Indian Holiday 

HERE

The Old Art Room

I can't believe I have been at The Old Art Room for nearly a month now and it has been a fantastic journey so far. I will show the process of the developing month and the classes so far shortly but there is definitely a pattern of the art week here. It is becoming a busy and active art studio with a lovely creative atmosphere.

Monday Mixed Media Art in the morning session and Water Colour Painting in the afternoon.

Tuesday Textiles all day from Patchwork and Quilting, Gifts, Free Machining and Dry Felting.

Wednesday City and Guilds Creative Techniques. (In the process of being arranged).

Thursday Textiless all day from Patchwork and Quilting, Gifts, Free Machining and Dry Felting.

Friday Printing. Collagraphs, Lino, Block, Screen and Mono Types.

Saturday 9.30- 2.30 Demonstrations, Art Practice and once a month Children's Club.