The world needs more sustainable art practices, but we shouldn't have to compromise on
quality and colour.

In this early stage, you’ll be put at ease as Claire encourages you to let go of the outcome and enjoy this time of learning and experimentation. You’ll see examples of Claire’s work and learn how she approaches intentional work so you’ll know what’s possible when your time comes.

• You’ll be encouraged to think about your own source of inspiration and what it is you want to visually communicate through your art’
• Learn what type of cloth can be used and how to best prepare it to achieve good results with the process.
• Understand pigment properties as Claire guides you through the pros and cons of working on pre-coloured cloth vs plain cloth and demonstrates how to process foraged pigments using the dry processing method.

By the end of this module, you’ll have a solid understanding of the cloth and pigments and move forward with confidence knowing that the pressure to create a masterpiece during this learning phase will have been dissolved.

Knowing how to make your own soya milk is fundamental to this process. In this module, you’ll tackle two specific topics related to soya milk, both important in terms of getting good results using pigment:

The Soya Bean: why choose soya as the protein source? Why make your own soya milk vs buying ready-made?
Making soya milk: soaking the beans, turning beans into milk, and longevity of the milk.
You’ll learn how to pre-size your cloth using soya milk and discover the tools that make the process enjoyable and effective. At the end of this module, you’ll clearly understand the entire process and be ready to make your soya pigment paint… affectionately known as Soy-Pig!!

As with any colourant, the depth and saturation required of a colour is very personal, and no standard recipe exists – that will ultimately be down to you. However, this module will enable you to understand the fundamental principles and make your own soya paint by:

Guiding you to a starting point on how much pigment to use (soya milk to pigment ratio)
Mixing soya milk with pigment to make liquid soya paint 
Learning the value of generating colour swatches 
Explore the difference between mixing synthetic and raw earth pigments
You’re now ready to begin the basic application methods used by Claire to lay down some colour!

It’s time to lay down your first layer of colour!

• Learn a general approach to laying down colour on damp and dry pre-sized cloth, the importance of drying time, and many other variables that will affect your outcome.
• Observe and examine the different effects, taking note of your preferences for smooth coverage or a more organic textured look.
• Be comforted that nothing is wasted as you soak up every bit of colour through a surface residue method.

You might choose to develop a piece of cloth produced through this first application method. It is up to you. We do know for sure that you’ll get more ideas as you work through the other application methods that follow!

By now, you’ll have a basic understanding and awareness of how the specific gravity of any pigment will affect your artwork, and in this module, you’ll learn how to exploit this process by using what Claire has coined as “thieves”. 

Using pre-sized damp uncoloured cloth, you will undertake three to four key explorations using thieves.
You’ll learn that this approach is very rewarding, but it may need to be adapted according to humidity, adding to the list of variables to uncover.
Your desire to lay down colour and create unique design elements within your work will be quenched by learning this unique approach.

This module will enable you to exploit the specific gravity of the pigments even further, and how, when worked in, they sink down to a base layer of cloth.

• You’ll discover the exciting benefits of using a double stack of cloth, where the pigments can give surprising results.
• Find out what cloth works best, which ones to avoid for this process, and why weather conditions are an essential part of this process.
• Enjoy combining your learning and incorporating previous methods to enhance your individual style and outcomes.

When Claire first discovered this process, it was so exciting she made 9 samples! Some of which have been exhibited and sold!

Let’s be honest. It wouldn’t be a Claire Benn course without a section on mark marking! And although we don’t want to consider this course a surface design course, it’s exciting to know that anything is possible with soy-pig paint.

• It’s time to let loose, experiment and play using a wide variety of mark-making tools.
• See the similarities your soy-pig cloth has to paper and learn to exploit the benefits!
• Learn how to thicken the soya milk into a paste to make thickened soya paint.
• Relish in the amazing results when it comes to working with fine lines, thermofaxes and silk screens.

Whether you’re a representational artist, trained calligrapher or non-objective mark maker, this module’s results will be varied and playful, and we can’t wait to see what you create.

As the wet processes have now been completed, you have some decisions to make…

• You’ll need to decide whether to wash your cloth or not.
• To post-size or not
• How long to cure your cloth and test for colour fastness.

But don’t worry, Claire covers it all, leaving you ready to tackle what some artists consider the most challenging part of all: composition and working with intention.

This is your opportunity to refine your work and process, and begin to make the artwork you want to make with intention.

• Claire will discuss the importance of reviewing work-in-progress, spending time with your work, and what we are looking for in good composition; Balance, Contrast, Relationships, Cohesion and Content.
• Get an inside look into how Claire uses stitch to complete her pieces and unify her overall designs.
• Learn to consider your source, inspiration and subject to clearly understand what you’re trying to communicate with the work and make design decisions to reflect that.

Your confidence will be high, and you’ll have a clear path forward to make an intentional piece using any of the approaches covered to date or any combination of them.

Ultimately the work of an artist is to have their work exhibited and enjoyed by the public. Claire hopes you, too, have this opportunity, so it was important for her to include this module.

• Learning how to display art textiles and the pros and cons of different framing techniques.
• Learn to stretch your completed artwork around a canvas and drop it into a box frame.
• Discover Claire’s techniques for backing her art textiles and how to store and deliver them professionally to a gallery ready for display.

Ultimately, you’ll be confident to frame or hang your artwork with immense pride.

Claire completes your online experience with a learn-and-burn gratitude ceremony, reminding us that time is always well-spent as long as we learn!

We encourage you to devour this conclusion and parting words of wisdom that beautifully summarises this experience, reminding us that nothing is a failure – as long as we learn.