Drawing with Threads and Textiles

In this creative short course, students will explore the fusion of textiles and drawing through various experimental techniques to achieve individual results.

Led by Armando Chant, the course delves into the intimate connection between drawing and textile techniques, encouraging students to transform surfaces using sketching, painting, staining, weaving, and embroidery on paper and textiles.

Through hands-on tasks and guided exploration, participants will discover how materiality can shape creative expression. Armando introduces students to influential artists working with textiles, expanding their understanding of how line, gesture and thread can merge with drawing to produce imaginative and unique works.

This 5-day course provides an extended period for dedicated guidance and mentorship by Armando, emphasises an explorative approach, and invites participants to embrace a personal and experimental approach to creating imaginative artworks using drawing and textile techniques.

During the course, students will transition from learning new techniques and ways to expand mark-making possibilities using textile techniques to create an artwork or series of works that reflect their interests and approaches.

*Short courses are open to students of ages 16 years and over.

* Drawing and painting short courses may be held in upstairs studios. If access to stairs is not suitable, please contact us at short.courses@nas.edu.au

* What to bring? Please refer to the list of required materials in the Art Materials field below.

Within Australia, Armando has participated in exhibitions in Sydney and Melbourne that have been part of arts festivals such as Sydney Art Month and Head-On Photography Festival.

Armando has also participated in major regional gallery exhibitions, such as the Tamworth Textile Triennial 2015, where the gallery acquired the work for its collection and its 2020 edition.

In 2023, his work was selected for the Hazelhurst Arts on Paper Award 2023 and the biennial Dobell Drawing Award 2023, Australia's premier showcase of contemporary drawing in all its forms. In 2024, Armando was a finalist in the Art Gallery of New South Wales Wynne Prize and Jacaranda Drawing Prize at Grafton Regional Gallery and was awarded the Highly commended prize at the Gosford Art Prize.

Internationally, Armando has participated in curated and solo exhibitions, installations, and symposiums in Florence, Finland and Paris.

Students must supply their own art materials, please refer to the list below.

Buy materials at Spotlight, Morris and Sons, Mitre 10, Parker’s Fine Art Supplies or bring materials from your own home supplies.

• A3 cartridge paper pad
• Pencils – 2B, 4B and 6B
• 1 rubber eraser
• 3 sticks willow charcoal
• 1 bottle of water-based black ink
• Selection of cheap paintbrushes – wide, mid and narrow sized brushes
• Acrylic paint – cheap student grade tubes in black, white and two colours of your own choice
• Scissors
• Retractable cutting blade
• Masking tape and sticky tape
• Fabrics – 1 meter of calico or white cotton, 1 metre of coloured or patterned fabric of your own choice, inexpensive
• Range of fabric pieces, scraps or offcuts if you have them.
• Threads – range of threads e.g. sewing, embroidery, wool etc
• Needles – range of sewing needs of different sizes
• Bottle of PVA glue
• Beads, buttons and sequins – if you have them

* Other materials will depend on individual students’ interests.

Enclosed footwear is essential in all studios on campus.