• Notice What You Like
• Part 2 - Making and using a viewfinder
• Draw a Scene
• Draw a Leaf or Flower
  • Introduction
  • What is a viewfinder?
  • About the exercise
  • Getting started
  • Suggestion - what next?
• Make Felt
• Felt Making Video
• Stitching onto Felt
• Stitch Doodles
• Stitching Video
• Glossary

Introduction

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What might this exercise offer?

Draw a leaf or flower exercise:

• Helps us to concentrate on our own creative view of the world

• Gives us time to focus on ourselves, and find out what interests us

 

If you’re following the course:

• Observation and drawing are a good way to generate a range of ideas that can be developed into your textile design

 

How long will the exercise take?

You can spend as long or little time as you like on the exercise.
It’s split into stages so you can complete them over a period of time, whether that’s a morning or afternoon, or a week or longer. We suggest you make yourself a tea or coffee and enjoy the time to yourself, immersed in the exercise of your choice. Take as many breaks as you need. Remember it’s a good idea when doing a creative exercise to have a break from it and come back to it with fresh eyes.

 

You will need:

• A leaf or flower, or anything detailed – as you won’t be able to pick flowers in a park - select one that’s close to a bench 

• A sketchbook, or paper and something to lean the paper on while you’re drawing

• Pencils, crayons or felt tip pens,

• Eraser

• Plastic carrier bag to sit on if it’s been raining

• Viewfinder - A viewfinder is optional, but helps you to choose which part of the subject you’re going to draw. See our ‘Making and using a viewfinder exercise’ for how to make one