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

It’s time to rethink your approach to creating colour and surface design and understand the eco-friendly method of using raw earth pigments on cloth using soya milk as the binder to:

Create abstract, contemporary fibre artworks… Sustainably!

DESIGNED AND DEVELOPED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH:
WORLD-CLASS TEXTILE ARTIST, AUTHOR AND TUTOR, CLAIRE BENN
AND COURSE-INDUSTRY LEADER FIBRE ARTS TAKE TWO

Enrol Me Now

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

It’s time to rethink your approach to creating colour and surface design and understand the eco-friendly method of using raw earth pigments on cloth using soya milk as the binder to:

Create abstract, contemporary fibre artworks… Sustainably!

DESIGNED AND DEVELOPED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH:
WORLD-CLASS TEXTILE ARTIST, AUTHOR AND TUTOR, CLAIRE BENN
AND COURSE-INDUSTRY LEADER FIBRE ARTS TAKE TWO

Enrol Me Now

Claire Benn is that rare thing as a teacher - a combination of in-depth technical and creative knowledge, with an ability to listen and to explain things clearly. Claire is able to appreciate where each student is on their artistic journey and stretch them appropriately. I love Claire's classes and always come away immensely satisfied, confident I have a clear view of the direction I am heading. - Sinéad Smith

Learning a new approach and expanding your boundaries into new media can be a daunting and time-consuming experience.

You’ll need to consider: 

  • What tools you’ll require  
  • What cloth is the right choice for your needs
  • What other materials need to be purchased or collected
  • The recipes and ingredients to use
  • Why your results aren’t always predictable and consistent
  • Determine what variables there are and spend time testing them

Fortunately, it doesn’t have to be this hard. It can
and should be a time of:

Learning a new approach and expanding your boundaries into new media can be a daunting and time-consuming experience.

You’ll need to consider: 

  • What tools you’ll require  
  • What cloth is the right choice for your needs
  • What other materials need to be purchased or collected
  • The recipes and ingredients to use
  • Why your results aren’t always predictable and consistent
  • Determine what variables there are and spend time testing them

Fortunately, it doesn’t have to be this hard. It can
and should be a time of:

Deep learning and connection, where you get the opportunity to let go of the outcome and develop patience, commitment and intention, to create work that truly reflects who you are.

And there’s nothing like creating together with a group of like-minded people under the guidance of an exceptional tutor to share the journey. 

Is the call to create a more sustainable art practice with a slower, considered approach to making intentional fibre work resonating with you?

Enrol me now

Deep learning and connection, where you get the opportunity to let go of the outcome and develop patience, commitment and intention, to create work that truly reflects who you are.

And there’s nothing like creating together with a group of like-minded people under the guidance of an exceptional tutor to share the journey. 

Is the call to create a more sustainable art practice with a slower, considered approach to making intentional fibre work resonating with you?

Enrol me now

Introducing…

A contemporary approach to working with the world's oldest
source of colour.

Perfect for people who consider themselves artists and explorers, setting out to unearth new media and find their way into a deep and satisfying creative process working with environmentally friendly materials with spectacular results on cloth.

Watch this Video

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Enrol Now. Places are limited

Generous with her time, knowledge and expertise, Claire inspires, challenges and drives her students to develop into more thoughtful and creative artists. Caring and intuitive, she motivates each individual to find their own voice and sing their own song. A rare talent indeed!
- Bobbie Frances

Professionally filmed at Potters Farm, Claire’s studio in the UK and for the first time online, Claire Benn will share with you the results gleaned from hundreds of hours of exploration into Earth Pigments, Soya and Cloth
so you can..

  • Enjoy the freedom natural media provides. No more acrylic binders, washing out your cloth and messy clean-up procedures! All the products are natural (unless you need to use the occasional synthetic pigment), and leftovers can be put down the drain or on the compost heap in the case of soya bean pulp!
  • Relish in a slower process to explore and take risks whilst letting go of the outcome. Using soya milk to bind pigments to cloth is a slow process due to drying and curing times, so you’ll need patience during the learning process. Outcomes – or intentional work – can be achieved once you have some familiarity and experience with the process, and Claire has allowed time for this to happen.
  • Find a deeper connection to your work by unearthing your own colour. Claire will show you different methods for processing dry and wet pigments and all you’ll need to know about processing your own collected soil.
  • Learn new application methods using soya paint and thickened soya milk. Taking 20 years of experience working with surface design, Claire will guide you through a variety of application processes for both liquid and thickened soya paint on cloth.
  • Make great contemporary, abstract art of any size by discovering how to approach intentional work. Once the groundwork is done, you’ll be ready to create intentional work. You’ll also uncover the essentials of composition and the role stitch plays in Claire’s own work and enjoy learning the various options for finishing and presenting your art textiles.

“Ultimately, it takes discipline to learn process, and it takes discipline to learn media, and once you’ve dug deep into every single process, then you can set out to make intentional work.

That’s the start of your journey, not the end!

That’s when you discover things I haven’t even thought of and make the artwork you want to make.” Claire Benn

Here’s a look into what you can expect
from Claire…

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Here’s how your Out of This Earth journey will unfold once you step into Claire’s world of raw earth pigments, soya and cloth…

Module 1: Cloth & Pigment

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.

Module 2: Soya Beans to Milk

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!!

Module 3: Making Soya Paint

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!

Module 4: Basic Application Methods

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!

Module 5: Using Absorbent Thieves

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.

Module 6: Using Non-Absorbent Resists

In this module, you will explore different types of resists that can be used both over the top and under the cloth when applying soy-pig paint.

  • You learn how to layer colours and their different effects and discover what type of resists work best and why others may not be suitable for use with this media.
  • Experiment with Indigo and how it responds over soy-pig coloured grounds.
  • Enjoy the versatility of this media and how bleeding is almost eradicated.

By the end of this module, you will have uncovered two new ways to use surface residue and different resists to move your work and your learning along.

Module 7: Exploring Textural Surfaces

This module is for the adventurer who wants to get outside and seek out texture! It’s for the ones who want to instil place into their work beyond just colour.

  • Claire will take you out on location and share the essentials tool kit for working remotely.
  • Learn processes such as picking up surface textures from places such as stone driveways, rusted scrap metal and brick walls.

But be warned, by the end of this module, you won’t be able to walk past a grungy surface again without dreaming of the possibilities!

Module 8: Cloth to Cloth Transfer

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!

Module 9: Adapting the Media & Other Approaches

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.

Module 10: Final Processes

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.

Module 11: Composition & 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.

Module 12: Finishing & Displaying

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.

Module 13: Learn & Burn

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.

Here’s how your Out of This Earth journey will unfold once you step into Claire’s world of raw earth pigments, soya and cloth…

Module 1: Cloth & Pigment

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.

Module 2: Soya Beans to Milk

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!!

Module 3: Making Soya Paint

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!

Module 4: Basic Application Methods

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!

Module 5: Using Absorbent Thieves

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.

Module 6: Using Non-Absorbent Resists

In this module, you will explore different types of resists that can be used both over the top and under the cloth when applying soy-pig paint.

  • You’ll learn how to layer colours and their different effects and discover what type of resists work best and why others may not be suitable for use with this media.
  • Experiment with Indigo and how it responds over soy-pig coloured grounds.
  • Enjoy the versatility of this media and how bleeding is almost eradicated.

By the end of this module, you will have uncovered two new ways to use surface residue and different resists to move your work and your learning along.

Module 7: Exploring Textural Surfaces

This module is for the adventurer who wants to get outside and seek out texture! It’s for the ones who want to instil place into their work beyond just colour.

  • Claire will take you out on location and share the essentials tool kit for working remotely.
  • Learn processes such as picking up surface textures from places such as stone driveways, rusted scrap metal and brick walls.

But be warned, by the end of this module, you won’t be able to walk past a grungy surface again without dreaming of the possibilities!

Module 8: Cloth to Cloth Transfer

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!

Module 9: Adapting the Media & Other Approaches

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.

Module 10: Final Processes

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.

Module 11: Composition & 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.

Module 12: Finishing & Displaying

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.

Module 13: Learn & Burn

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.

Here’s How Everything In This Course Comes Together:

Once enrolled, you'll gain instant and lifetime access to the following lessons & training:

  • 13 modules, over 12 hours of beautifully filmed video lessons that you can access through our easy-to-use Fibre Arts Take Two learning platform; pause and rewatch at any time.
  • Download Claire’s comprehensive Resource Guides and Action Tasks that follow the course curriculum to further support your learning and exploration.
  • Exclusive access to the Out of This Earth worldwide community, a place to connect, feel inspired, and learn from. Lifetime access includes meeting all upcoming future cohorts, giving you an encouraging space to engage and feel even more supported as your journey with earth pigments continues.

Here’s How Everything In This Course Comes Together:

Once enrolled, you'll gain instant and lifetime access to the following lessons & training:

  • 13 modules, over 12 hours of beautifully filmed video lessons that you can access through our easy-to-use Fibre Arts Take Two learning platform; pause and rewatch at any time.
  • Download Claire’s comprehensive Resource Guides and Action Tasks that follow the course curriculum to further support your learning and exploration.
  • Exclusive access to the Out of This Earth worldwide community, a place to connect, feel inspired, and learn from. Lifetime access includes meeting all upcoming future cohorts, giving you an encouraging space to engage and feel even more supported as your journey with earth pigments continues.

Enjoy an invaluable 8 weeks of interaction with Claire in the following ways:

  • Tap into the decades of experience Claire brings to the table as she helps bring clarity and direction to your days ahead by joining the student community. Share your work and ask questions gaining further guidance with daily feedback from Claire and the Fibre Arts Take Two team.
  • Enjoy exclusive weekly updates from Claire herself addressing your most frequently asked questions.
  • Participate in two live Q&A sessions where the goal is to ask questions, troubleshoot, share ideas, and receive more personalised feedback to help you move forward. (And we make the tech for these calls super easy, ask questions in advance, and they are recorded so you can rewatch them at any time!)
SECURE YOUR PLACE HERE

Enjoy an invaluable 8 weeks of interaction with Claire in the following ways:

  • Tap into the decades of experience Claire brings to the table as she helps bring clarity and direction to your days ahead by joining the student community. Share your work and ask questions gaining further guidance with daily feedback from Claire and the Fibre Arts Take Two team.
  • Enjoy exclusive weekly updates from Claire herself addressing your most frequently asked questions.
  • Participate in two live Q&A sessions where the goal is to ask questions, troubleshoot, share ideas, and receive more personalised feedback to help you move forward. (And we make the tech for these calls super easy, ask questions in advance, and they are recorded so you can rewatch them at any time!)
SECURE YOUR PLACE HERE

Claire’s unique way of teaching textile and mixed media art has given me the opportunity to develop my creative practice - invaluable as I had no previous art background or training. - Susan Sami

Pricing Options

Claire Benn invites you to go on a journey with her into the world of earth pigments, soya and cloth to create contemporary art textiles.

Today's Price
$398The doors to this amazing training open once a year and places are limited.
  • Currency - USD
  • Payment plans available at checkout
I’M READY- ENROL ME NOW!

I have been taking courses with Claire Benn for many years. She is a wonderfully creative, thoughtful, and positive tutor. Her demonstrations of techniques, and her strategies and enthusiasm for new ideas and work in progress for her students, are second to none. - Cherry Vernon

This Course Is For You If You’re Ready To:

  • Embrace learning and let go of the outcome.
  • Enjoy a slower approach and develop patience, commitment, and intention.
  • Ask yourself ‘what if’, take risks and fail.
  • Take responsibility for your own learning, take notes, and explore the media thoroughly.
  • Gain mastery of specific media and specific processes
  • Acknowledge that there is no end…this is the beginning of your journey.
  • Create work that genuinely reflects who you are.
I’m ready to start

This Course Is For You If You’re Ready To:

  • Embrace learning and let go of the outcome.
  • Enjoy a slower approach and develop patience, commitment, and intention.
  • Ask yourself ‘what if’, take risks and fail.
  • Take responsibility for your own learning, take notes, and explore the media thoroughly.
  • Gain mastery of specific media and specific processes
  • Acknowledge that there is no end…this is the beginning of your journey.
  • Create work that genuinely reflects who you are.
I’m ready to start

Our Promise of Excellence

A Message from Fibre Arts Take Two

You’re here because you’re searching for a new sustainable path towards creating art textiles – to learn deeply about new media and processes under one of the world’s best fibre art tutors to guide you on the path to creating the intentional work you want to make. It’s our promise to deliver you nothing short of that.

It’s important you know that the Fibre Arts Take Two production is professionally delivered with the highest standard – giving you an audio-visual experience that’s second to none. In doing so, we value collaborating with some of the most impressive thought leaders in the fibre and mixed media industry. We value and respect the lifetime worth of knowledge and intellectual property they pour into this creative and educational development for you. It’s our hope to attract the type of creatives who hold these same values in return.

That is also why, to protect the integrity of our community, all purchases for Out of This Earth are final sale. Please know that our supportive and always available team is here to answer questions – before, during, or after your investment- to ensure you get the best experience as a member.

If you have any questions, never hesitate to reach out to our dedicated customer service team at support@fibreartstaketwo.com. We are always happy to help!

Meet Claire Benn

Based in the beautiful region of Surrey in the United Kingdom, Claire Benn has been a professional tutor and artist for over 20 years. Having travelled globally, teaching and working with fibre-reactive dyes and complex cloth for many years, it wasn’t till Claire discovered the work and writings of artist Agnes Martin that she began to truly make the work that she wanted to make. 

The work that made her heart sing, and she’s never looked back. 

Taking inspiration from the wild and remote landscape she visits, Claire’s work is quiet, distilled and potent. Claire is one of the few artists today who have dedicated their entire creative practice to working with raw earth pigments, soya and cloth. 

For Claire, working with earth pigments is a direct connection back to the land and comes with many environmentally friendly benefits. 

Stitch is the slowest process she uses. The finishing touch that helps express her reverence for her adored wild landscapes through added subtle colour and texture.

She looks forward to sharing her in-depth explorations and process with you and seeing what you create with a medium that is literally, Out of This Earth!

Meet Claire Benn

Based in the beautiful region of Surrey in the United Kingdom, Claire Benn has been a professional tutor and artist for over 20 years. Having travelled globally, teaching and working with fibre-reactive dyes and complex cloth for many years, it wasn’t till Claire discovered the work and writings of artist Agnes Martin that she began to truly make the work that she wanted to make. 

The work that made her heart sing, and she’s never looked back. 

Taking inspiration from the wild and remote landscape she visits, Claire’s work is quiet, distilled and potent. Claire is one of the few artists today who have dedicated their entire creative practice to working with raw earth pigments, soya and cloth. 

For Claire, working with earth pigments is a direct connection back to the land and comes with many environmentally friendly benefits. 

Stitch is the slowest process she uses. The finishing touch that helps express her reverence for her adored wild landscapes through added subtle colour and texture.

She looks forward to sharing her in-depth explorations and process with you and seeing what you create with a medium that is literally, Out of This Earth!

Watch this video to learn more about Claire.

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Here Are Questions That Other Artists Have Frequently Asked Prior To Joining…

(If we haven’t answered yours, feel free to reach out to the Fibre Arts Take Two team at support@fibreartstaketwo.com and ask away!)

Our goal of working more sustainably is echoed within the course materials list. For most, there will be the requirement to invest in some linen and some black and white earth pigments, which are readily available and inexpensive. You will likely find the remainder of the tools and equipment in and around your home. If you would like a copy of the complete requirements list before enrolment, please email us at support@fibreartstaketwo.com, and we’ll send it to you ASAP.

Great question, here’s what Claire had to say…
’This course is focused on the use of earth pigments, soya milk and cloth.  But that’s not to say it’s a limited or exclusive learning opportunity.  Good paper (particularly hand-made paper) is usually made from either paper pulp, which is a cellulose fibre, or rag.., also usually cellulose.  So, although I’m not a paper user, there is absolutely no reason why many of the approaches in this course shouldn’t work with paper.
Some approaches may not be so effective, specifically things that exploit the weight or specific gravity of the pigments that send them down and through the weave of a piece of cloth.  Some paper will simply be too dense for that to happen and as paper users, you’re likely to know which substrates are ‘looser’ and will allow this sinkage. But, similar results can be achieved on paper by starting with what I’d call a ‘wet monoprint’; using liquid soya paint to do a monoprint that will set up initial texture and colour onto the paper, which you can then build on.
I don’t wash the cloth after I’ve used the soya paint.  Over a period of time (about 4 weeks), the protein in the soya milk de-natures and stabilises, fixing itself permanently into the cloth.  As a result, it doesn’t smell nasty and as long as you’ve followed my guidelines for certain processes, neither will it rehydrate nor get mouldy.  The same should be true for paper.  Over the next couple of weeks, I’ll do my best to undertake some paper experiments but in the meantime, I do think a great deal of this workshop will work for paper users – just go for it!

Out of This Earth has been meticulously organised to help serve all walks – even for those who aren’t overly tech savvy. (One of the biggest differentiators we continually hear about; is how well organised and easy it is to consume the course; plus, how top-notch our customer service is!) So, know that we make it simple for you to get what you need – and we are ALWAYS just a message away. You can also access everything wherever you feel most comfortable – your computer, phone, or tablet.

YES, YOU DO! You will get Claire’s personal feedback and support as you work through the class through a private Facebook community. Claire has generously agreed to use Facebook as this is the most user-friendly option for sharing artwork, questions, and knowledge with a cohort of students. You’ll also get two LIVE Q&A sessions, where Claire will answer your questions on the spot. Everything will be recorded and yours to keep for future access.

Not at all. This course was created with you in mind – the creative who wants to watch in their own time, hit pause, rewatch, take a break, and then come back for more! You will receive live support to cheer you on and troubleshoot the variables bound to give you unpredictable results in the beginning. Know that there is no set schedule to complete this course – plus, you’ll have all the material for life!

Not at all. You will have full access to the course via your online portal. We stream live Q&A’s on YouTube and give regular email updates of the most FAQs from the group to those not on Facebook to ensure an inclusive experience.

It is important to note that we offer a closed Facebook group for enrolled students only to connect and share their journey for a lifetime.

Being a member of the group allows the opportunity to gain further insights and guidance from Claire and other students. This group is not compulsory but is highly recommended!

As a global company with students from all around the world – we have geolocation set up to try and accommodate where we can! Therefore, we currently accept USD, AUD, GBP, and NZD … with more to come! If your currency isn’t mentioned, your bank automatically converts it to your local currency once the charge goes through. 

(On the topic of being international, Fibre Arts Take Two course producers are based in Australia… hence the spelling of things like fibre, realise and enrol!)

Of course! From the moment you join us – you will receive the entire 13-module course, which includes 74 separate videos and over 100 pages of comprehensive notes, for you to download and print. You’ll also be welcomed into our online community, where you can introduce yourself and meet all your other new, aspiring, and growing artists. Once you’re settled into your new digital home, you will meet Claire with your classmates for two live Q&A sessions held within the first 8 weeks of your enrolment – We can’t wait to see you there!

Absolutely! The course content is fully responsive, so it will work regardless of whether you’re on a computer or mobile device. All you need is an internet connection.

Good question! You’ll be able to post your questions about the course in our private Facebook group; either someone from the community, Fibre Arts Take Two or Claire herself will be able to help you.

If you have more technical questions or cannot join the student group, please don’t hesitate to reach out to support@fibreartstaketwo.com.

“I have been in classes with Claire many times. She is one of the most generous teachers I’ve had the pleasure to learn from. Her teaching is clear and to the point, she listens to the student and she is honest when giving feedback, which for me is the way to grow as an artist.” - Amelia Leigh

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$398The doors to this amazing training open once a year and places are limited.
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I’M READY- ENROL ME NOW!

Create with purpose.
Connect with your materials and
create the artwork you want to make!

Out of This Earth is an intensive online course designed for people willing to take risks, ask ‘what if’ and above all, let go of the outcome.

It is a deep dive into the media of earth pigments, soya and cloth and the various application methods Claire Benn uses to create her contemporary abstract fibre art.

Everything is provided for you; to be able to move forward confidently in making your own intentional artwork ready for exhibition.

But remember… once you’ve gained a level of independence from this course… this is just the beginning of your journey and not the end.

This is when you get to go out and make the artwork you want to make, knowing that with lifetime access, you have this course to fall back on when you need it.

Create with purpose.
Connect with your materials and
create the artwork you want to make!

Out of This Earth is an intensive online course designed for people willing to take risks, ask ‘what if’ and above all, let go of the outcome.

It is a deep dive into the media of earth pigments, soya and cloth and the various application methods Claire Benn uses to create her contemporary abstract fibre art.

Everything is provided for you; to be able to move forward confidently in making your own intentional artwork ready for exhibition.

But remember… once you’ve gained a level of independence from this course… this is just the beginning of your journey and not the end.

This is when you get to go out and make the artwork you want to make, knowing that with lifetime access, you have this course to fall back on when you need it.

A FINAL NOTE FROM CLAIRE

“Being an artist, I have the ability to communicate the things that matter to me, the things that resonate with me, that make my heart sing.  The proudest moment for me was when I gave myself the permission to make the quiet, reductive, minimalist work I wanted to make. 

For the past 12 years, my work has been a reflection of landscapes, specifically the wild, remote places I love to visit.  And it is great to be able to go out and gather materials directly from the landscapes that inspire my work. 

Working with earth pigments is a direct connection back to the land.  I believe that by spending time with your work to sit and look to sit and contemplate and you get more considered work, and I think you actually put more of yourself into it and somehow that shows up in your artwork. 

Stitch slows me down, and when I hand stitch it is a meditation to experience any given moment. 

The greatest joy for me is to see people grow, that’s ultimately what teaching is about. It’s the ones who really commit, that really push themselves, who have real intention to try and make artwork that is a true reflection of themselves, as a tutor when you see someone succeed at that, it’s amazing. 

I’m really looking forward to seeing what you create with this media and these processes. What different things you are responding to, and ultimately how you take it forward to make the artwork you want to make.” 

Claire

Are you ready to commit?

Yes I’m Ready

A FINAL NOTE FROM CLAIRE

“Being an artist, I have the ability to communicate the things that matter to me, the things that resonate with me, that make my heart sing.  The proudest moment for me was when I gave myself the permission to make the quiet, reductive, minimalist work I wanted to make. 

For the past 12 years, my work has been a reflection of landscapes, specifically the wild, remote places I love to visit.  And it is great to be able to go out and gather materials directly from the landscapes that inspire my work. 

Working with earth pigments is a direct connection back to the land.  I believe that by spending time with your work to sit and look to sit and contemplate and you get more considered work, and I think you actually put more of yourself into it and somehow that shows up in your artwork. 

Stitch slows me down, and when I hand stitch it is a meditation to experience any given moment. 

The greatest joy for me is to see people grow, that’s ultimately what teaching is about. It’s the ones who really commit, that really push themselves, who have real intention to try and make artwork that is a true reflection of themselves, as a tutor when you see someone succeed at that, it’s amazing. 

I’m really looking forward to seeing what you create with this media and these processes. What different things you are responding to, and ultimately how you take it forward to make the artwork you want to make.” 

Claire

Are you ready to commit?

Yes I’m Ready

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