Claire Benn - Marking Time

Spend a week with Claire exploring
slow, quiet, contemplative work
and a love of old cloth.

British artist, Claire Benn lives and works in a converted barn in Surrey. Inspired by remote and wild landscapes Claire's work is a visual translation of what she experiences through cloth, thread and pigments.

Her work is exhibited in galleries in both Europe and the USA , as well as here in the UK and Claire's work is featured in both commercial and private collections.

The appeal of hand work is the slowness, quietness and the rhythm and peace to be found in repetition. The appeal of old cloth lies in its (usually) humble roots, be that a bed sheet, tea towel, napkin, handkerchief, quilt, pillow slip or shirt. Old cloth is already marked by the passage of time and seems to have a resonance, it speaks to us. Colours may be faded by weather or laundering or there may be areas of wear and tear. These are things that offer a particular tactile experience, which can be respected and offer inspiration.

Many of us also respond to what can be found in the landscape (rural and urban) and as with old cloth, it’s often the decayed and time-battered items that seem to appeal the most; smooth pebbles, bent sticks and twigs, desiccated leaves, rusted, holed, bent and worn objects, weathered tiles, timber, brick and stone. All have been marked by time and often have qualities of purity, restraint, simplicity and humility. Time is also a crucial element for ‘active’ looking, the kind of looking that enables us to notice the small details and establish a sense of place and a feel for things.

This workshop is designed to enable students to:

take the time to actively look, notice, observe, contemplate and extract what personally matters.
engage and respond through the processes of collecting, hand stitching, mark-making, over-painting, writing, drawing, assembling, wrapping, binding, painting eroding and distressing.
discuss (one-to-one and as a group).
hold and experience silence and stillness.

A finished piece may or may not be the end result. Each student will ‘mark’ their time in their own individual way and the tangible results may only be revealed in the fullness of time.

This workshop is suitable for both beginners and those with more experience.

Click here for full details of this course, materials requirements and pre-course preparation.

Date: Monday 27th November to Friday 1st December (5 days)

Times: Monday: arrive for a 9.30am start, close at 5.00pm.
Tuesday to Thursday: 9am to 5pm.
Friday: 9am to 4pm.

Cost: £580, this includes a £20 fee for materials supplied by the tutor
Deposit: a £290 deposit will secure your place

The cost of the workshop includes morning coffee and homemade biscuits, a light seasonal lunch and a pot of tea with a delicious cake.

There are a few things you'll need to bring. Please click here for full course details (downloadable pdf)

Please note: Places are limited and are available on a first come, first served basis

Booking implies that you agree with our terms and conditions for in real life workshops.
You can read them here: The Small Print

To see more of Claire's work visit her website: www.clairebenn.com

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