The 5 day workshop I’ve just attended with Isobel Hall at ContextArt in the Blue Mountains, run by TAFTA, was enlightening and I gained a lot of new skills – all of which need further practice, of course.
The course, entitled Working with Scrim, was based on her 2011 book, pictured here. The focus was mainly on constructing dimensional vessels but also concentrated on introducing the participants to a wide range of products (molding pastes, mediums, waxes, encaustic, paints, inks and more) which may not have been incorporated into their work before.
I have long had an interest in layering and incorporating mixed media into my textile work and have made many samples over recent years. However, I continue to find it difficult to unify pieces when plastics, paper and pastes are used, as concealing hard edges whilst building an art piece can be quite challenging. This course addressed many of those issues.
The Fragmented Word
Scrim, old thin Japanese book sheets, nettle yarn, various pastes & R&F oil stick.
Undergrowth
Scrim, colouring agents, plant & coconut fibre, beads.
Fragment
Builders scrim, fibrous paper, molding paste, paint & acrylic wax.
These pictures show a range of items made by the class during the week.
I have another vessel and a book cover yet to finish. A very worthwhile week, with an extremely enthusiastic and generous tutor who, although quite unwell, approached each day with a new range of demonstrations and technical information to stimulate and encourage us in our work. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend her to anyone thinking of doing a course with her.
TactualTextiles 
oh wow, I really enjoyed Isobels classes, and looks like you also had a wonderful time. sosad that this is her last trip downunder.
She says it is her last trip but her husband, Eric, isn’t so sure. I hope I have as much energy as they do when I get to their age.
She is publishing a new book to be released in August on the same day as a new molding medium is announced, as she has conducted all the trials with it. We got a sneak peek and it is going to be a big step forward for those working with these types of products. Very exciting.