Behind the Scenes with Anne Kelly: The Making of Collections and Cloth

It seems like a lifetime ago that we were in the charming town of Tunbridge Wells, in the United Kingdom, filming with the incredibly talented Anne Kelly. In reality, it was September 2023, during the tail end of what I learned to be an Indian Summer. Bliss!

Anne was such an incredibly organised tutor and the most wonderful host! Would you believe she made us a home-cooked lunch every day during filming? She mentioned that every time she has come to Australia, one of the things that struck her the most was our hospitality, generosity, and food, so she wanted to repay the favour. So, if you have ever hosted Anne in Australia before (Best Yarn Society and Timeless Textiles, to name just two…I’m looking at you!), Thank YOU! We really reaped the benefits.

Because Anne was so organised, we were ahead of our filming schedule, and the camera equipment and technology were on our side, which meant we were able to throw a creative spanner in the works. If any of our tutors are reading this, they would absolutely know those familiar questions that come up when I want to sneak something extra in. It goes something like, "Hey (tutor's name)… have you thought about…?" Or, "Hey (tutor's name), I was thinking it might be nice to…" "Hey (tutor's name), what about…?"

In Anne’s case, it was… "Anne, what do you think about adding a BONUS module on Portraiture? I think our students would love it, and it would complement your new Batsford book beautifully!!"
Now, Anne is a planner. She has everything mapped out months in advance, so I knew this wasn't a small request to plan in just a few days in between filming when we all know portraiture is a very challenging medium to work in. But Anne, being so generous, agreed, and we are thrilled that we could film a bonus module all about adding stitched portraiture to your textile artwork. Of course, we only scratched the surface of this technique, but the bonus module gives students a solid foundation to whet their appetite for what's possible with textile portraiture.

So, my hat goes off to Anne Kelly for her cooking, organisation, planning, and ability to jump outside of her comfort zone and bring a fabulous bonus module to her new Signature course.

Thank you, Anne! Bravo!

Of course, Anne’s course, Collections and Cloth, is an incredible opportunity to elevate your textile art to new heights. It doesn't include a home-cooked lunch, but it goes well beyond portraiture. 

The course is perfect for textile art lovers eager to:

Develop Themes: Discover how to draw inspiration from various collections, whether fabric, paper, people, or places. Learn how these can be catalysts for your creative work, helping you to develop rich, meaningful themes in your artwork. Create mood boards and mind maps to develop your themes, and understand how to funnel and choose themes that resonate with your artistic vision.

Tell Your Own Story: Learn to express your personal narrative through your art, allowing your unique voice and experiences to shine and resonate with others. Master Anne’s techniques for textile collage, covering objects, and the three types of stitching: architectural stitching, background stitching, and embellishment. These techniques make textile collage more accessible and allow you to build strong, detailed pieces embedded with your unique stories.

Refine Your Ideas: Gain the skills to refine and hone your ideas, transforming initial inspirations into polished, cohesive works of art. Explore simple printing techniques on paper and fabric to create iconic motifs for your work. Combine materials in mixed-media projects and delve into a special bonus module on Stitch Portraits to add depth and detail to your creations.

Anne’s course encourages experimentation and fun. You’ll have the opportunity to try different techniques, revisit projects, and continually refine your ideas.

If you’re ready to draw from Anne’s extensive experience and passion for textile art, let her insights and techniques ignite your creativity and inspire you to create your best work. 

Thanks for indulging in some behind-the-scenes stories. It’s an honour to create these wonderful textile art courses for you.

If you have any questions about the course, please don’t hesitate to contact our amazing team at Take Two - support@taketwoart.com.

Warm regards,
Angela and the Team at Take Two