The Memento Mobile - Hand Lettered Fabric Hanging $125

Lisa Engelbrecht

“The palest ink is better than the best memory”- Chinese proverb  

In this workshop the artist will create a unique mobile structure combining hand lettering, photos and memorabilia. Our artist’s life is a rich source for text that could be used in our piece. Digging deep is a good place to start a piece and memories, photos and letters provide a great background or focal point for this hanging artful piece. The artist will be introduced to various tools, media and letterforms for this purpose. Lettering on paper and then fabric gives us plenty of elements that can be incorporated into our pieces. Photos, mementos, symbols and amulets from the past or present can inform our work and will be integrated into our designs. Collage techniques combined with design will be presented and the emphasis will be directed to the awareness of the white space and the placement of elements. The student will be introduced to various styles of lettering on fabric - no previous calligraphy experience required! Wash techniques will be presented using permanent acrylic inks as a backdrop to our photos, ephemera and memorabilia. I will demonstrate all types of letters and lettering styles to label your photos or add text. These letters can be used also in your journals. I will provide the student with many exemplars of calligraphy for future reference. Additional images, charms, and amulets that speak to us will also be added or sewn. Three or five individual pieces will be hung from branches or other types of rods to hang freely, spin and twirl in the air.

Materials fee of $10 payable to instructor at class time includes: canvas to practice on, acrylic inks, metallic powders, Metallic and Embroidery thread, Yes Glue, graph paper, freezer paper and many other doodads to share

Supply List:
One to two yards of unprimed cotton canvas-sometimes called cotton Duck -look for small brown dots on your fabric
Fabric and paper scraps with various surfaces, textures, different Colors - $1.oo rack at Goodwill
FW Liquid Acrylic Ink and Pearlescent Ink -usually found in the airbrush section -a couple of colors
Speedball Calligraphy nib C5 and holder
Disappearing ink Fabric Marker - fabric stores and WalMart
Any fabric paints you already may have -I will provide a lot of paints to try
Old Brushes-hairy, flat, pointed watercolor
Micron markers, Pitt pens, Sharpies, gel pens
Small container of PVA or Yes glue
Zig Calligraphy marker (available at target or memory stores)
Plastic palette-6 well
Fabric Scissors
Ruler
Photos transferred to inkjet fabric

Optional:
mementos, symbols, charms, beads, quotes and inspirational words, amulets that speak to your memories
Ribbon, trim or twine to hang your pieces from their rods
4 or 5 hanging devices-these could be branches, dowels, thick wire, rods, scrap metal rods ...be creative! (and some way to trim what you bring)
Iron (your hotel room will probably have one)
hair dryer and towel for press cloth

Your mobile can be assembled in class and then disassembled for the plane trip home.

Questions? Email: lengelbrecht@earthlink.net website: http://www.lisaengelbrecht.com