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DRPS : Course Catalogue : Centre for Open Learning : Creative Arts

Undergraduate Course: Textiles: Exploring Fabrics (LLLA07233)

Course Outline
SchoolCentre for Open Learning CollegeCollege of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 7 (Year 1 Undergraduate) AvailabilityNot available to visiting students
SCQF Credits10 ECTS Credits5
SummaryExplore the creative possibilities of fabric manipulation as a creative and expressive fine art medium.

Course description Students will explore the creative possibilities of fabric manipulation, using a range of traditional and experimental materials and techniques to change the surface, texture and shape. Using techniques such as pleating, gathering and tucking, students will take an experimental approach to creating a series of samples, which will be used build a body of research, enabling the students to develop a personal project.

Outline of Content: The course teaching is typically delivered over weekly class sessions of around 3 hours each and totaling 30 hours. Alternatively, the course can be delivered more intensely or as a block if required.

Over the class sessions the course will cover:
Introduction to Fine Art Textile and fabric manipulation
Surface manipulation - pleat, folds, tucks
Gathering, scrunching and dying
Deconstruct / re constructing fabrics
Developing a personal language through sketch books
Developing a personal project
Presentation, editing and selecting work

The Learning Experience: The teaching will be based and delivered in specialist art and design studios or workshops and will typically include a range of practical exercises, introductions to techniques, processes and concepts, and set projects which lead to more focused and personal exploration. Over the course, student progress will be monitored and supported by the tutor. Teaching will include practical demonstrations, one to one tuition, group discussions and critiques.

For work required to be undertaken after the class hours are complete, the course tutor will set students a 'directed study plan' which can be undertaken without the need for specialist workshops or access to models.

Directed study will include research into a range of suggested artists and their associated movements to engender a contextual awareness. Students are expected to demonstrate how their research has informed their work through annotated sketchbooks, a visual digital journal and practical outcomes.

The Directed Study Plan will include preparing evidence of research and practical work to form an appropriate presentation for assessment.
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements None
Additional Costs Unless otherwise stated, all students on this short course pay a published course fee per enrolment.
In addition to the learning and teaching resources and content, this fee also includes:

Basic sewing kit
Sewing machines
Heat tools
Iron / ironing boards
A range of offcut fabrics

In addition to the course fee, students are expected to provide the following list of indicate tools, materials and equipment:

Basic sewing kit.
Needles and pins
Fabric Scissors and small embroidery scissors
A quick un pick (essm riper - small sharp device for unpicking stitching)
Threads for hand and machine stitch (black, white, gray with one or two colours)
Embroidery hoop - 22cm approx
Some plane white / cream cotton fabrics, muslin, calico, and lawn
Approx 30cm. fabrics can be recycled, shirts sheeting etc. as required.
Selection of sewing machine needles and bobbins
Basic art design kit
Hard backed sketch book.
Some drawing materials, pencils, charcoal, pastels, inks,
Scissors / craft knife
Glue - Pritt stick, PVA
Course Delivery Information
Not being delivered
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  1. Research, context and ideas (33.3%): Demonstrate a range of working practices and strategies for recording and developing ideas through a visual journal or sketchbook that will inform and develop your creative awareness of fabric and textile as an expressive art form.
  2. Practice, skills and techniques (33.3%): Show a confident and enquiring use of materials and processes to create a range of textile samples that reflects your visual research.
  3. Selection, presentation and reflection (33.3%): Demonstrate appropriate judgement to document, select, edit and present a coherent a range of samples and finished works which demonstrate a creative an informed use of textiles.
Reading List
Suggested Reading:
Monem, N., ed., 2008, Contemporary Textiles - fabric of fine art, London: Black Dog Publishing.
Various, Art Textiles of the World series, Telos Books.
Millar, L., and Astrida B. 2007. Cloth And Culture Now. Canterbury: University for the Creative Arts. Print.
Textural Space. 2001. [Surrey]. Surrey Institute of Art and Design University College, Print.
Wolff, C. 1996. The Art Of Manipulating Fabric. Radnor, Pa.: Chilton Book Co. Print.

Journal and periodicals:
Selvage, Crafts Magazine, Embroidery

Web sources:
http://www.textileartist.org
http://www.edge-textileartists-scotland.com
http://www.62group.org.uk
http://www.worldofthreadsfestival.com
Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills Show understanding of creative process.
Undertake research.
Develop a reflective practice.
Project planning and documentation.
Presentation.
KeywordsTextiles,Fabric,Stitch,Fibre Art,Drawing,Sketchbook,Research
Contacts
Course organiserMr Oliver Reed
Tel:
Email: Oliver.Reed@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMs Kameliya Skerleva
Tel: (0131 6)51 1855
Email: Kameliya.Skerleva@ed.ac.uk
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