fashion inspiration class II

What a wonderful taste of the world of fashion those that are attending Melanie's classes are receiving - there is a flurry of creativity in the inspiration-packed hour - worth running the class longer I think! It is so wonderful to provide an opportunity for students to glimpse a creative career like fashion design through the eyes of a wonderful teacher and designer! Here are some of Mel's words from this week...

The time flew by quickly on Tuesday as we explored Fashion Illustration – some students for the first time!
I was really impressed with how much gusto they attacked the task.

Drawing to some rather interesting fashion mannequins, we looked at proportion and shape and tried to sketch quickly.
It was hard to pry the erasers off those who like to get it perfect!

After a few attempts we picked our favourite and transferred it to watercolour paper to begin the final presentation.
Then it was a flurry of tracing and outlining, watercolours/oil pastels/black outlines and finally a signature on our finished work!

Don’t forget to bring both your folders back in next week when we look at Colour/Fabric and start designing our own range…

fashion inspiration series begins

Well it was a flurry of bookings at the last minute that carried us over the line and into the beginning of our wonderful afternoon inspiration series at Riverbend, focused on fashion design.
I can't say enough about the benefits of this short course for teenagers considering fashion as a career or perhaps just loving to draw + be inspired by the world of fashion! Mel brings a wealth of expertise and has filled out the course with loads of 'take-home' information for those who want to expand their knowledge further!
In her words, a short summary from Tuesday afternoon's class:

What a lovely group we had today as we explored Fashion Trends!
We talked about what inspires us and how this can infiltrate our designs.
We shared where we like to shop and what influences our purchases.
We discussed what and who makes Fashion Trends and how we can predict what will come into fashion.
Then we got down to creating a Mood Board (inspiration board) which we will use in the coming weeks to design to.
I was amazed that my suggested themes were quickly replaced by inspired creativity of their own!
Themes came forth such as :Vintage Ballet > Sunday > Gothic Glamour > Darkness into light > Sunset and Romance!
When asked, a few thought we would spend our time drawing sketches of fashion - it was wonderful to see these children pull back and begin to put a framework together on how to design - I sensed they were all proud of what they began to build!

I am looking forward to three more weeks of being inspired by these young designers!

Exciting Fashion Class overview!

[image by Belinda Chen]

We are really excited and privilaged to have Melanie Finger running a Fashion Design series commencing next Tuesday afternoon at Riverbend Books + Teahouse, Bulimba.
Her experience would be invaluable to a child considering Fashion as a career or with a creative interest in this area.
Come and join us on Riverbend's stunning tree-enclosed deck for this wonderful experience - you won't be dissapointed!
I wanted to include an outline of the course just to peak your interest:

- Introduction to Fashion Forecasting and Trends including create a Mood Board for Design
- Introduction to Fashion Illustration/ figure drawing
- Elements and Principals of Design / ideas for your own ‘brand’
- Introduction to Colour and Fabrics/ Designing Fabric Prints
- (If time) Vintage clothing inspirations, small hands on design project.

The class will involve 10-15mins of theory and Q&A chat time, then 45 minutes of practical Work.

It is important to be in class for each week as students will complete a folio of designs over the 4 weeks.

Included in the price will be a folio for working in, all art/fabric/colour materials and inspiration.
Students will be encouraged to work in their folio in-between lessons. (but it is not required)

Melanie will also be providing a list of books that can further their experience.

Don't miss out! Places are limited and now filling fast!
The course will cost $100 for the four weeks, including all materials and inspiration.
Email melissa@guyatt.net for more information!

For the budding fashion designer

We are very excited to branch into new collaborations at WEAVE+WONDER and our first is with local fashion designer, Melanie Finger.
Melanie has years of high profile experience in the fashion industry and has agreed to run a four week workshop to inspire young designers!
At WEAVE+WONDER we are passionate about nurturing creativity and recognise that creative expression can take many forms. We are working toward running creative workshops that experiment with different media and avenues of creativity.
If your child is a budding fashion designer or you know someone who is - this workshop could be just the inspiration you've been looking for!

diorama delight!

I love how this last class in our inspiration series truly reflected each child, their interests and imagination!
With a treasure-trove of media from ocean creature sketches to pompom anemonies to clay clam shells + boats, the children gathered and wove a story from their own imagination to support their 3D wonderland!

Even though we ran through some particulars of diorama making, taking particular note of elements in the backgound, mid and foreground and using the 'tab' technique on card elements to make them stand, each child showed a preference for their own unique embellishments.

I loved how this project became a wonderful reflection of each personality! One beautiful girl wanted her diorama to be 'elegant, glittery and beautiful!' and wrote a poem to accompany, another wrote a delightful tale of deep sea-adventure on a 'deep sea scroll' to tell her story, another still had 'moving parts' in her narrative!

It has been a truly magical journey through the inspiration 'under the sea'....the intimate group were a delight to teach and we all found it a wonderful way to weave creativity into our weekend!

weekend wanderings

Wow! These children are fantastic!
We worked on abstract backgrounds for our diorama's this week in our third Saturday morning inspiration series class at Riverbend.

Abrstract painting releases such freedom and boldness in children! Realising there is no 'perfect' way to represent their own unique interpretation of 'under the sea' the colour flowed!

And with time to experiment with a few different techniques from aquatic forms to spatter painting...they had several works to choose from for their final piece.

These Saturday mornings are so much fun and wonderfully relaxed..a perfect way to kick-start a creative weekend!

Our family rolled on into a sensational aquatic-themed-party on Sunday afternoon - grey skyes looming and all - when it comes to water - children will take it any way it comes!!

weekday weave

:: Remembering the magical creations our Saturday morning class made in 'kinetic sculpture' and 'wearable art' inspired by Alexander Calder and Maryann Talia Pau.

:: Taking time to celebrate an anniversary

:: Reminding my children how to treat one another and delighting that art is how they choose to be reminded.

:: planning a much anticipated splash-fest for a recently-turned-8yr-old!

:: Immersing ourselves in circle+oval shapes

:: Enjoying new designs

:: having these props arranged + re-arranged by my curious little helpers as we plan our two weeks of diorama's in the Saturday morning inspiration series!

:: Loving the feel of this wool between my fingers at any available moment!

weekend wanderings

I love this 'underneath' space at Riverbend books + Teahouse - just perfect for a children's art studio - light + airy, plenty of room to spread out and make a bit of mess + noise!

We had a wonderful beginning to our underwater inspiration series 1 on Saturday morning! The children were a delight and with a smaller group, there was much group banter, discovering things in common, lots of sharing stories and chatter! Working with our now-familiar log-pedistal as a platform for sculptural masterpieces, the children formed magical underwater gardens using their favourate sea creatures hidden in textured finger coral!

We had a visual feast of natural sea treasures, energised with fluro accents - just perfect to conjour a vibrant coral playground!

We read 'the hidden forest' by Jeanie Baker - a wonderful catalyst for conversation about scary, slimy and sensational underwater creatures!

And can you believe, I was so engaged with the children and their amazing creations that I completely forgot to take some pics of their work - will need to request some shots from parents I think! I just know you would love the amazing octopus + turtle + creatures hidden in a giant shell that they came up with - the result of imagining big + taking the time to create what they see with their mind's eye! An excellent first morning all round!

inspiration

In the depths of underwater magic preparing for our first Inspiration Series for the year, I thought I would share some of the enchanting current of colour+wonder sweeping us along as we prepare our first class for this Saturday...

:: Isn't the art of Jennifer Maestre (above) and Tobias Tovera (below) just stunning - thinking 'spikey' coral and dreamy water!

:: Artwork from Ida Ekblad inspiring our diorama backgrounds!

:: Dreamy vintage underwater images found at Geninne's Art Blog.

:: This website is fantastic for free vintage printables!

:: And some wonderful ceramics + fluro colour found via Kimmel Kids.

We're so looking forward to this creative adventure and all that the children will dream up! - see you this Saturday morning, 9.30-11.00am at Riverbend Books + Teahouse!

first classes for 2012!

WEAVE+WONDER
art+craft+books classes presents in 2012!

When siblings are running off to sport or dance on a Saturday morning, WEAVE+WONDER would like to offer a creativity class with a difference! Partnering with Riverbend Books + Teahouse:

Four week inspiration series exploring sculpture, jewelery+mobile making, painting + diorama. We have taken our inspiration for this series from summer at the beach + the barrier reef – we will be creating an underwater wonderland!

Commencing Saturday morning 9.00am-10.30am 3rd March 2012
For ages 6-12 [$100 for four week series]
Hurry and book this creative experience now, places fill VERY quickly!

Coming up for WEAVE+WONDER
Our ever-popular school holiday workshops!
Easter theme exploring mixed media, including painting+sculpture+3d modeling+weaving!
Two wonderful venues! Dates and bookings to be released soon!