Foundation Textiles

Foundation Textiles is split into five sections. Each part concludes with an assignment which you’ll send to your tutor for feedback.

Part One: Line

Part One aims to introduce you to new ways of drawing which lend themselves to the more expressive ways of working in textiles.

Part 2: Collage

Part Two will allow you to creatively explore drawing through collage and imaginatively explore colour, form, line and tone using a variety of plain and patterned papers.

Part 3: Materials

Part Three will allow you to creatively explore material properties as sample ideas, taking your inspiration from secondary imagery and with reference to contemporary practitioners.

Part 4: Sketchbooks

In Part Four you’ll work in a variety of sketchbook formats and take inspiration from the work of other artists to prompt new approaches in conjunction with the drawing techniques you practised earlier in this course.

Part 5: Textile solutions

In this final part of the course you’ll be developing textile ideas based on your visual vocabulary and using a sketchbook to creatively build on a previous.

By the end of this course you should be able to: 

• use a variety of conventional and unconventional tools and media
• develop observational skills in expressive, non-representational drawing
• explore the use of unusual colour and pattern combinations within found papers
• discover the properties of your chosen materials using exploratory construction and manipulation techniques relevant to textiles
• understand the importance of simple, design-led sampling to create fabric ideas
• expand your visual vocabulary through drawing, collage and manipulation techniques within a sketchbook
• explore textile techniques appropriate to visual translation
• develop your analytical and evaluative skills

• Access a set text of course materials and resources on our virtual learning platform, OCA Learn.
• Enhance your core learning by signing up for additional webinars, workshops, and study groups through the Textiles Department, available on OCA Learn.
• Submit an assignment at the end of each section of the course for review by your tutor, and receive either written or spoken feedback.

• A minimum of 10 study hours per week. 
• Access to a laptop or desktop computer with internet access.
• Good standard of writing, listening, reading and speaking English language skills*.
• Good IT literacy.

*Please note, if your nationality does not feature on the majority of English speaking countries list [linked here] you will need to provide evidence of your English language skills. 

We recommend gathering materials as and when you need them throughout the course, but here is a general list of supplies you may find useful throughout the course. 

• Sketchbook(s) of your choice
• Sheets of cartridge paper: A5, A4, A3, A2, A1
• Graphite pencils (HB to 8B)
• Coloured pencils (optional)
• Black and white wax crayons
• Selection of black pens, fibre tips, fine liners, brush pens, etc.
• Coloured felt pens (optional)
• Selection of drawing materials and tools for experimentation (graphite stick, dip pen, etc.)
• Range of soft and stiff brushes for ink
• PVA glue/glue stick
• Black water-soluble ink
• Small glass or plastic jars with lids
• Pieces of stick, old toothbrushes, sponge, cotton wool, pieces of rag, old paint brushes, etc. for constructing drawing tools
• String, rubber bands for binding
• Masking fluid
• Small and large scissors
• Hole punch (optional)
• Scalpel (optional)
• An assortment of found papers
• An old book to customise – ledger book, diary, phone directory, exercise book, etc.
• Gouache paints
• A4 file (with loose plastic sleeves – optional)
• Between 8–14 sheets of A2 thin white card (for presentation)
• Needle and white/clear thread (for mounting)
• Double-sided tape and masking tape (for mounting)
• Fastening devices (tapes, paper clips, tags, pins, etc.)
• 1–2 metres each of two single-coloured or neutral materials.

The cost of resources for a foundation can vary depending on how you choose to explore the tasks and assignments, allowing you to manage the expenses accordingly.

OCA Accessibility Statement

The OCA Accessibility Statement covers the OCA website, which you may use to access course or unit information, or OCA policies.

Mode of study

All of this unit’s study materials are available online. 

Online materials

Online learning materials set out the unit’s content and activities. These comprise of text, images, documents, links to external resources and videos. These can be accessed via a PDF document.

Visual content

The learning materials for this unit contain some diagrams, illustrations, photographs and audio video content (15 minutes in length). We provide descriptions for all visual content and transcripts for videos.

Library resources

You will be required to access library resources as part of your unit. Any essential reading is provided electronically.

Projects

This unit contains reflective writing activities and practical making tasks. These can be submitted digitally as written documents.

Tuition strategy 

Support is provided by academic staff through formative feedback. Tutorials are delivered through online video conferencing with optional captioning and/or recordings. Feedback is provided through written documents or as a tutorial with notes, depending on student choice.

Working with Others

This unit does not encourage working with others.

Assessment

Assessment is not required for this foundation unit, a summary appraisal is provided by the tutor.

Study tempo

Students are able to define a part-time study tempo that works for them within the overall timeframe deadline for the unit. Guidance and support on study skills and time management is available online through the OCA Student Handbook on the VLE. 

You have 12 months to complete the course from the start of your Induction. 

Understandably, sometimes there are unexpected mitigating circumstances that affect your ability to study. In these instances, students can apply for an extension or deferral. We encourage students to seek support as early as possible in such circumstances.

On completion of the course you should have gained sufficient skills and enough confidence to go on to further study with the Open College of the Arts, as well as have begun to create a portfolio of work, and be able to decide on the nature and direction of your future studies and art practice. 

Review our undergraduate courses here. 

Foundation courses are not accredited, meaning the courses are studied for personal development and they do not carry any UCAS points, however upon receiving your final assignment feedback you can request a certificate of completion.

Please review the Foundation courses fees linked here. 

Eligible students are welcome to apply for a Learner Support Scheme bursary to help with the cost of course fees and resources. Information on eligibility and how to apply is linked here. 

Foundation courses are not eligible for Student Finance.

There are several intakes throughout the year students can join. The intake dates and deadlines are linked here. 

Submit an enrolment form below to select your intake. Once submitted, your enrolment form will still need to be reviewed and confirmed as eligible to progress. Please allow 10 working days for your enrolment to be reviewed once submitted.