Ruthin Craft Centre
The Centre for the Applied Arts

Make a contemporary Love Spoon with Claire Cawte

Working with natural shades of welsh wool, you’ll learn how to bond the delicate fibres to felt a contemporary love spoon – formed on a lichen or thorny twig. You’ll be able to give your spoon its own unique twist by embellishing it with foraged materials such as moss, seeds and grass.
All tools and materials will be provided.

Suitable for those with no previous experience 

Aelwyd exhibition linked workshop – sponsored by Nythu

1 day embroidery workshop with Kate Barlow

The 1 day embroidery workshop will include traditional counted patterns and outline stitches in red thread to create a lovely scarlet work celebration design. You’ll then embellish the piece with gold work techniques using chipping and purl pearl wires to add sparkle.

Create a bespoke Papercut with Helen Flynn

Helen will lead you through the process of creating a bespoke papercut to celebrate a special occasion. Inspired by textile ‘samplers’, you’ll create a unique artwork incorporating personal details alongside traditional symbols and motifs. You may wish to bring a photograph of your home or lines from a poem or song to include in your design.
All tools and materials will be provided.

Suitable for those with no previous experience.

Aelwyd exhibition linked workshop – sponsored by Nythu

Weave a ‘Ring Nest’ with Rosie Farey

During this one-day workshop Rosie will introduce you to basic rush weaving techniques including check weave, pairing and weaving a track border – giving you the skills and confidence to make your very own ‘ring nest’, decorated with bulrush flowers.
All tools and materials will be provided.

Suitable for those with no previous experience.

Aelwyd exhibition linked workshop – sponsored by Nythu

3 day Papier Mâché workshop with Julie Arkell

In this 3 day workshop you will make animal creatures and construct environments for them to live in. Using paper, glue, cardboard, wire and the techniques of Papier Mâché to form their bodies and fabric, paints and wool for their clothes and features.

Due to popular demand, bookings for Julie Arkell’s workshop will take place from 10.30am on Wednesday 3 July 2019 via phone only. Please call 01824 704774. Bookings will be taken on a first come first serve basis.

Summer Art School 2019 – FOR 14–18 YEAR OLDS

The Summer Art School is back and this year we have a ‘pick and mix’ of workshops for young people aged 14–18 who have a particular interest in the visual arts and would like to develop their artistic practice further.

Throughout the summer holidays Ruthin Craft Centre will be hosting workshops with 3 different artists: 

Block 1: Angela Chalmers
Cyanotype workshop 
Monday 29 & Tuesday 30 July 

Block 2: John Grayson 
Enamel Automata workshop
Monday 5 & Tuesday 6 August 

Block 3: Kate Barlow 
Textiles/Embroidery workshop 
Monday 12 & Tuesday 13 August 

During these sessions the artists will share their expertise, introduce new techniques and discuss your work and ideas supporting the development of your own personal portfolio towards your Art and Design studies.

You can pick and choose between 3 blocks; each 2-day block is £20 or attend all 3 blocks (6 workshops) for £50.

For details on how to book your place call 01824 704774.

Portfolio – block 1: Angela Chalmers

During this summer’s art school workshop you will learn how to make photograms using one of the earliest 19th century photographic processes. Cyanotype prints were invented in 1842 and are distinctive for their rich Prussian blue tones. They are often referred to as ‘blue prints’ or ‘sun prints’. A photogram is a photographic image made without a camera.

By using a variety of found objects you will explore the cyanotype process, and produce creative blue prints using natural light and water to develop the print. Please feel free to bring any object or foliage that you would like to use in your designs.

On the second day of the workshop you will develop your skills further and make a series of prints on paper or fabric. You can experiment by transferring your own designs from acetate drawings and paintings or make your own creative stencils. 

Please wear old clothes. Gloves and aprons will be provided.

For details on how to book your place call 01824 704774.

Portfolio – block 2: John Grayson

This summer’s art school workshop focuses on exploring simultaneously illusionary and real movement, through the creation of a small enamel automaton. You will be shown how to make mechanisms to create movement within a sculpture and a range of expressive gestural mark making techniques in enamel.  

Day 1 will focus on the design of a simple automaton, the making of a copper base to hold the mechanism and the embellishment of the copper with enamel, exploring different techniques to create abstract dynamic patterns. 

Day 2 will concern creating the mechanism and assembling the enamel and mechanical parts to complete the automaton.

For details on how to book your place call 01824 704774.

Portfolio – block 3: Kate Barlow

During this summer’s art school workshop you will create a series of stitched fabric samples inspired by the Basketry – function and ornament exhibition. On the first day you’ll look at the exhibition to get ideas and inspiration for your work. Then learn a variety of hand embroidery stitches including running stitch, back stitch, couching, brick stitch and trellis work to create woven effects.

A variety of threads, yarns, ribbons and fabric strips will be used to create different layers and textures. You will also have the opportunity to look at ways of pleating and gathering fabrics to give more 3-dimensional results, before embellishing them with stitching. Creating between 5 and 10 samples throughout the 2 day workshop, and will be shown different ways on how to mount and display the finished samples. 

For details on how to book your place call 01824 704774.

Portfolio Tasters – FOR 11–14 YEAR OLDS

Following the success of our Portfolio Taster sessions last year, we are again offering 1-day Taster workshops this year with professional makers for young people aged 11–14.

block 1: Charles Gershom
Experimental Photography Workshop
Wednesday 7 August
11.00am – 4.00pm

block 2: Kate Barlow
Textile/Embroidery Workshop
Wednesday 14 August
11.00am – 4.00pm

block 3: Juliette Hamilton
3D Willow Sculpture Workshop
Wednesday 21 August
11.00am – 4.00pm

You can pick and choose between 3 blocks; each 1-day is £10 or attend all 3 blocks (3 workshops) for £25.

For details on how to book your place call 01824 704774.

Portfolio Tasters – block 1: Charles Gershom

Starting with a process of dismantling analogue film cameras, attendees will learn the mechanics of photography, including how the shutter works, why speed is important, what aperture is, and how these concepts translate to digital photography technology. Using the dismantled parts of film cameras and some digital cameras, attendees will create a new hybrid digital camera made from a variety of reclaimed parts.

For details on how to book your place call 01824 704774.

Portfolio Tasters – block 2: Kate Barlow

During this workshop you’ll create a stitched portrait of yourself or of someone you know, or maybe even someone famous! This will be a fun and light-hearted workshop that will introduce the basics of sewing and hand embroidery skills; including running stitch, back stitch and chain stitch to create outlines and satin stitch and long and short stitch to fill areas such as lips and eyes. As well as the use of couching, appliqué, gathering and pleating to create different textures and effects for areas such as hair and eyebrows. Once the portrait are complete you will be shown how to neatly display your finished embroidery in its hoop.

For details on how to book your place call 01824 704774.

Portfolio Tasters – block 3: Juliette Hamilton

During this workshop you’ll make a large majestic bumble bee out of willow. Using different colours of willow to create the stripes of the bee and different sculptural techniques for its body parts giving you a range of experience with willow weaving. Come prepared to work hard but it will be worth it!

For details on how to book your place call 01824 704774.

2 day workshop with Anne Kelly

In this two day course with author, artist and tutor Anne Kelly you will be working from your choice of house or place (building) that holds a special memory for you. We will start by using basic but effective techniques taken from her books. Anne will show you how to create a mixed media collage using items from your collections and charity shop finds. Your piece will be embellished and richly decorated to create a special souvenir or gift. It can be added to a larger piece at a later date if desired. A full list of materials and equipment will be sent to you prior to the workshop. Sewing machines are helpful but not essential.

What to bring? Materials List
A selection of plain and printed fabrics (small pieces relevant to the theme)
Plain fabric (cotton mix or calico), small pieces – no larger than 40×40 cm
Scalpel and cutting mat
Ribbon or lace scraps – small buttons
Pritt/glue stick
Pencil
Paper scissors and an A4 sheet cartridge paper
Printing blocks
Acrylic or fabric paint (small amount) and small pieces of sponge
Sewing kit for hand stitching
Fabric Scissors
Pins
Sewing machine and selection of sewing machine thread

To book your place please call 01824 704774

Come and learn at Ruthin Craft Centre with wonderful, knowledgeable tutors in a relaxed learning atmosphere.
With lunches available from Café R with courtyard terrace and plenty of free on-site parking – it really is a wonderful environment to meet like-minded people and study. Courses are non-residential however excellent accommodation abounds in Ruthin and nearby. View the Visit Wales website for details. www.visitwales.co.uk

Unless otherwise stated, all talks, events and workshops must be 
booked in advance. Fees are required to be paid in full at the time
 of booking. Cancellation of a place by a course member does not
 automatically qualify for a refund. Some courses may be altered
or cancelled if there are insufficient enrolments.