This course includes 5 days of drawing, painting and silk screen printing on natural fabrics and/or paper. Simple techniques will be taught and Carole encourages the development of personal projects inspired by the beautiful surroundings to make artworks, experimental textile pieces, and/or scarves as you prefer. No textile experience is required, just a love of colour and play!

Carole Waller is a well known painter and textile artist whose paintings, painted clothing and scarves are inspired by colour and light. Her course ‘Colour into Cloth’ introduces the use of dyes as a painting and screen print medium to extend your painting and drawing skills onto cloth -inspired by this lovely Italian hilltop town. The course includes 5 days of drawing, painting and silk screen printing on natural fabrics and paper. Simple techniques will be taught and Carole encourages the development of personal projects inspired by the beautiful surroundings to make artworks, experimental textile pieces, and/or scarves as you prefer. No textile experience is required, just a love of experimentation, colour and play! The course intends to be informative and instructive but mostly inspirational for you as an artist or as a complete newcomer to the medium. We shall go for morning walks to explore and take photographs, meandering in this atmospheric place. The first couple of days will include taught sessions to introduce approaches to painting and screenprinting with dye - and then as the week evolves you can work on personal projects with Carole’s guidance. You will leave with an understanding of how to take these techniques and media back to you own studio or kitchen table! Painting onto unprimed fabric such as silk is a unique way to make marks - as the dye penetrates the yarn and weave to produce its own special characteristics of which the painter is only partially in control! Prepare for surprises and have no expectations. Screen printing is more controlled - and allows the introduction of your own drawn imagery to your art projects in a simple and exciting way. We can make a screen at A4 size using your artwork during the week as part of the workshop – using sunlight to expose the images to create stencils. The week ends with a mini exhibition in the gallery to which the public are invited – something which has proved very popular with both students and the local community who love to see what students at Quattro Archi have produced. The course is restricted to 9 participants and will be very much aimed towards your individual development and fun. Prices per person include welcome drinks on the first evening, breakfast on the terrace every morning, accommodation, the course, dyes, some sample silk, papers we shall need, and processing. Personal drawing materials or fabrics are not included. Pre-hemmed white silk scarves in crepe de chine can be ordered and purchased from Carole ahead of time.

Join us for an immersive 6-day retreat in the heart of Tuscany. This workshop offers a unique opportunity to develop your skills in Silk paints on fabricwhile surrounded by the inspiring beauty of medieval Barga.