Skip to main content

Why are workshops good for you?


workshop 19/1/14 
Today was my  first workshop for 2014 -  a stick art dolls workshop ... This was a repeat of a workshop offered  quite a few times recently , so I started thinking  why do creative people love workshops and why they  are good for you.  Here are 10  reasons I've thought of ... I am sure you may have others?  

1.  An inspiring  workshop tutor can motivate to improve your work, change the direction of your work or try something new and different.
 2. A workshop offers a supportive and encouraging environment where you can learn a new skill (s)  and/or  experience  different approach ( either from the tutor or fellow participants) 
workshop 19/1/14 
3.  Being with other artists assists you in finding solutions to problems as well as making new contacts and friends.
workshop 19/1/14
4. A workshop allows you to experiment and try  new/ different genres, media, products and equipment. .   
workshop 19/1/14 
5. During a workshop, you have the time to "think" about your own art and the "what, where, how and why" of your creative processes as well as how to apply new skills.
6. You will,  in most workshops,  have a completed creation/product to take home and admire.   
7 . A workshop is fun! 
8. In a workshop, you discover that you are able to offer advice as well as receive it. 
9. A workshop nurtures the "inner child" - appeals to curiosity, creative play and expression. 
10 .  The best reason for investing the time and money to a creative workshop is that you will feel great  - positive, inspired and motivated, having spent some time with like minded people.  
workshop creations 19/1/14  
Today's workshop , I hope,  fulfilled what each artist had hoped for. Congratulations to all - beautiful original  textile art works created!  If you couldn't attend this workshop, here is a 3 minute video  of the workshop samples to compensate 


and here are some links to some more  amazing workshops /creative retreats to be held in 2014. 
1. Timeless Textiles
2. Contemporary Craft Retreat
3. Sydney Jewellery School 
4. Anne's Glory Box

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Too Precious to Waste

 Stitched tea bags/ old doily "tea lights" - Wilma Simmons  More than a year ago, a decision was made.  The annual exhibition of NCEATA ( Newcastle Creative Embroiderers and Textile Artists) 2015-2016 will have the theme "Mottainai". Mottainai in Japanese refers to more than just physical waste (resources). It is even used to refer to thought patterns that give rise to wasteful action. Grammatically, it can be used in Japanese as an exclamation ("mottainai!") or as an adjective phrase ("it feels mottainai"). There is no plural form. The collection of mottainai things could be called mottainai koto ( もったいない事 ? ). As an exclamation ("mottainai!") it means roughly "what a waste!" or "Don't waste." [2]  A simple English equivalent is the saying "waste not, want not." A more elaborate meaning conveys a sense of value and worthiness and may be translated as "do not destroy (or lay waste to) that

Fish and Sticks : Art Dolls

This week I've been working on fish and sticks ....  The sticks are the message stick art dolls which were very popular, attracting some attention and a few orders at the Wise Women exhibition. Each of the message stick dolls are from the Wise Women series, each with her own personality and  message of wisdom, handwritten on a handmade timber tag. I gather the sticks during my walks around my neighbourhood and the tags are made from special bits of timber, some collected by me or  my husband or from off cuts gifted to us  from another doll making friend whose husband makes bagpipes. These dolls start off very simply with a wrap around a stick, in the general shape of a body. 'Naked" message stick dolls - strips of wadding wrapped around found sticks.   Then I usually wrap other layers of fabric, wool, and/or fibres, over which I do some simple embroidery. I sculpt  or mould small face masks for these dolls. I really like using "sari ribbon" as wrapping str

May I Present Mrs Chalumeau...

Finally Mrs Chalumeau takes a bow …She is a Pearly Queen … 695 buttons on the doll and 10 on the journal.(I think – could be more). I would like to thank Paula from Antiques and Collectables here in Hamilton, Newcastle and Raku Buttons ETSY seller for supplying me with about 500 of the vintage mother of pearl buttons, and the rest I had in my stash. I think they look great on my pearly queen, but I am truly tired of sewing on buttons. It made me think however, how many buttons must be on the elaborate clothes of the real pearly Kings and Queens! I drew my inspiration from the lovely lady pictured here, and the following description from Wikipedia. ... A Pearly King ( feminine form Pearly Queen) is a person dressed in a traditional Cockney costume covered in mother-of-pearl buttons. These costumes were treasured heirlooms, hand made and sometimes representing much of a family's wealth. .... This doll is all cloth – a little different from most of my other dolls which generally h