Thinking about assessment and sending work to the OCA head office is an anxious time for students. You have worked so hard over a long period of time, pushing yourself out of your comfort zone and taking knock backs from your tutor. So it can feel very much like crunch time when you are thinking about […]
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In this blog post I will be discussing what to look for when examining textile works, these may be art works, pieces of design or engineering. The way you look at textiles is extremely important for a number of reasons. The purposeful examination of your textile research enables you to gain a depth of understanding of individual textile pieces. This analysis is evidence of your academic thinking and a vital component to studying at degree level. Added to this the considered study of individual works assists you in developing an eye for looking at a broad range of work.
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The OCA course material and the assessment criteria ask and are looking for developed student work. But what does this mean? Frequently in student feedback I am drawing students attention to the concept of development. As a textiles tutor I find that often students mistake development for planning or design. So in this blog post […]
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On Sunday 2 April 2017 OCA tutor and programme leader Rebecca Fairley will host a study visit to The Hepworth Gallery Wakefield to see the Disobedient Bodies exhibition.
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Often textiles students struggle with drawing and mark making. They come to their studies with a strong skill base in textile techniques like embroidery, weaving and knit that they have practiced over many years. These will have been learnt from mothers, grandmothers (I am yet to meet a student taught by a male member of […]
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Nina O’Connor, an OCA Textiles student has recently completed the fifth and final part of Textiles 1: Mixed Media for Textiles. This course takes the student through a wide range of materials and techniques many of which are on the periphery of what is considered textiles. I have chosen to show Nina’s work here because she clearly demonstrates the process in which creative decisions are made and how this pays off in pleasing and engaging works.
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As OCA textiles students you will have a growing awareness that the subject of textiles is wide and varied. It encompasses fine art, decorative textiles for fashion and interiors and also more functional textiles designed for medical and engineering purposes. The OCA is not in the position to expose you to the practical aspects of innovations in textile technology but having an awareness of the area will help develop your thinking and textile practice.
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During the Christmas break I had the pleasure of visiting The Hepworth Gallery for a family Twixmas day out in Wakefield. I had heard quite a bit about this new prize for sculpture but had not investigated the artists or their work so arrived open minded and ready to learn.
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Earlier this month I had the pleasure of doing a textiles study visit to Manchester. I had arranged for the students to see two quite different but related exhibitions.
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For this blog post I am looking at the world of fashion, in particular designers who create garments that are pushing the boundaries of what clothes can be. My impression of this corner of the fashion industry is that as it crosses over into art there is freedom to take risks and make creative discoveries in engaging and meaningful ways.
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