Mixed Media house workshop at the open door

A new Arts Workshop venue, The Open Door, has opened in Berkhamsted in Hertfordshire.  Rolling out a series of workshops, talks and demonstrations, this venue is partnered with the Upstairs Gallery, an exhibition space which regularly features textile art and mixed media exhibitions.  Both are run as not-for-profit and all profits go to DENS, a local charity for Homeless people so it is very much worth supporting.

​I was lucky enough to be teaching the very first workshop at the new venue.  Running a Mixed Media House workshop with a full house (also very lucky that the pun was ready and available to me), we embarked on a new adventure together.  The group had a range of experience with mixed media techniques, some coming from stitch and textile backgrounds and others more painterly.  It was a real privilege to teach the group.  They embraced the techniques and felt confident enough to go their own way.  None of the finished houses were alike and a rainbow of colours were displayed at the end.

​There were seven stages to create a house in the style of the one I had used as my template and we managed to get through them all while waiting for some of the layers to dry.  It started off very neat and orderly; quite soon after, everyone got stuck in. 

​Using texture, colour, pattern, lettering and dimensional media, there was plenty of activity going on and I loved that everyone brought their own personality to their finished pieces.  They are all shown below.

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Above: Cathy, Caroline and Pat's Houses

Above, Frances, Farida, Jean and Julie's Houses

Above: Sandra, Halina and Julia's Houses

​I am hoping to be running the course again shortly and also to do a follow up with some different techniques.  If you are interested, please contact me via this website or find me on social media.
I too have been inspired by running the course and have since been working on combining texture with different papers and paint.