The Art of Creative Costuming with Figurative Artist/Instructor Adele Sciortino Cortona, Italy June 2-9, 2012
In this week-long series of workshops you will have the opportunity to learn or improve many aspects of fine art-doll making. During the coarse of the week we will delve into many areas including: the art of needle sculpting the faces of your dolls; selecting fabric for your costumes; pattern making and designing without prepared patterns; the art of draping fabric; head dress design; learning to make and improvise props; ribbon work, bead and costume techniques; Brazilian embroidery and beaded embroidery techniques; shoe making and finishing techniques. And, since we are in Italy, where since the year 1268 masks have always been a central feature of the Venetian Carnival, you are in for a treat because we will be making a wonderful creative mask out of paper clay or leather with paint, feathers, and embellishments of beads and crystals! We will be based in Cortona, Tuscany, also known as "the City of Art". Cortona is a city filled with history, medieval architecture dating back to the eleventh century, and “art” in its many forms. "Art" as the process or product of deliberately arranging elements in a way that appeals to the senses or emotions thrives in Cortona and is present in music, literature, fashion and culture. Traditionally, the term art was used to refer to skill and mastery. Therefore we propose to capitalize on the expression by showing our skill, imagination and creativity during our exclusive costuming and trim seminar together in relaxed and sensual Tuscany. This program has been purposely arranged during Cortona's Archidado Festival...a week of medieval-themed and costumed festivities and events. Not only will we be able to observe...but also be inspired!
Aside from the self-rewarding learning experience of creating your own costume designs, the week will include: A day trip to Florence for a day of shopping & visiting the costume gallery at the Pitti Palace; Local museums in Cortona; surprise gifts handed out during the week of classes; daily wine tasting opportunities and fine delectable Tuscan lunches and dinners. We will also enjoy a Tuscan cooking class and dinner!
There will be a required kit fee of $40.00 US Funds All kits will be shipped to participants one month prior to classes.
Picture Yourself...
among the sights and sounds of beautiful and romantic Tuscany: olive groves, vineyards, centuries-old buildings, winding streets, texture and vibrant sunlight.
Feel Yourself...
in the warm ambiance of Cortona, overlooking Lake Trasimeno and the Val di Chiana, originally fortified by the Umbrians, claimed by the Etruscans, touched by the Renaissance, almost unchanged for centuries, one of Tuscany's jewels.
Experience...
the joy of creative costuming in a relaxed and inspiring atmosphere with the expert instruction of a nationally know artist and instructor and the camaraderie of a small group of learners.
Enjoy...
great Italian food, delightful wines, new friends, breath-taking vistas, history and the hospitality of the people of Cortona.
All-inclusive* workshop includes: Escorted group travel Florence to Cortona June 2, 2012**** Instruction in the classroom and on location Seven nights accommodations in historic Cortona** (Private room & bath) Local Etruscan Museum & Museo Diocesano All meals*** (Italian breakfast, lunch and dinner) Daily wine tasting opportunities Day shopping trip to Florence & Costume Gallery Visit to a fabric shop and La Passamaneria Valmar Tuscan Cooking Class & Dinner A farewell wine tasting dinner **Included with "Casa Santa Margherita" plans only. See details. ***Included with "Group Meal Plan" only. Italian breakfast is simply coffees, brioche, toast, cheese, juice. ****Specific departure time from Florence airport only; time to be announced, return train ticket to Florence provided (not escorted) *Air travel and ground transportation to/from Cortona is not included and is the responsibility of each participant. *Required Kit fee not included
Note: Toscana Americana reserves the right to alter this itinerary. All times are approximate. Note: Transfers are provided only for programmed meals and activities away from the hotel. Note: All guests are responsible for handling their own luggage/baggage....we suggest to pack light. Note: No refunds are given for any unused aspects of the itinerary or for any activities outside the above itinerary.
NOTE: Program may vary to accommodate Archidado activities. Saturday – Arrival in Cortona Sunday – Cortona 9:00 – 1:00pMorning Session Mask Creating and Preparation Orientation of the classes for the week – starting with instructional manuals handed out and reviewed. This morning’s workshop will comprise the creating of a doll mask from Air Dry Paper Clay. Learning how to mold the mask to the face of the doll and adding decorative textures. 2)Preparing a pattern to create a mask from leather.Molding the leather to fit the doll face and learning to make your own leather mask. -1:00pLunch -3:00 – 6:00pAfternoon Session Now getting to the fun part where we learn to embellish the leather and Paper Clay masks with different techniques of painting, stenciling and foiling. You will also venture into the art of sculpting the faces of your dolls with needle and thread to create features uniquely your own, this is called “Needle Sculpting” At which time too, you will learn the correct proportions in selecting facial features. By the end of the day, you will have learned how to choose the best fabrics for your costume.Not only learning how to select your fabric, but you will learn the correct scale of the trim to adorn and enrich your costume.All this in preparation to proceed to designing and constructing you very own one-of-a-kind costume the next day.
Monday – Cortona -9:00a – 1:00p – Morning Session Here you will learn the “art” of “Draping fabric” by creating and designing your own pattern.This method will dispel any myths that one has to have a prepared pattern in order to create a costume. Working from the inside out, all the proper underclothes will be made in order to start the layering process of the costume. -1:00pLunch -3:00 – 7:00pAfternoon Session In this time period, you will start the process of cutting out your costume from the pattern you designed.Here too, you will learn the techniques on how to properly fit the costume on the doll. You will be given the chance to work with different fabrics and ribbons to create the effects you are trying to achieve. And from some of these fabrics you will learn the technique of how to make beads from the fabrics themselves.
Tuesday – Florence Day trip to Florence with lunch provided 4:09p Train to Cortona
Wednesday – Cortona -9:00a- 1:00p Morning Session The art of stenciling, painting and foiling will be the agenda to continue the embellishment of the fabric itself.You will continue to workout the design you have in mind for your costume and start the process of creating a head-dress using different fabrics; manipulating fabrics; adding feathers and other exciting techniques new to the market place. Learning the proper scale for props and the way to use a proportional wheel, will be useful later when selecting or searching for already made items to use.This is an important part of showcasing the final overall look of your doll when fully costumed. -1:00pLunch -2:00 – 5:30p Afternoon Session Costuming techniques such as beading and French seaming will be taught and applied to your costumes.Learning the finishing techniques on your costume will be featured so that it enhances all the elements of balance in color and texture in your fabrics chosen. We will review and discuss the new products on the market to help make your costumes more dynamic with other techniques to enhance your costuming efforts for future projects.Detailed handouts will be given of each technique shown in the workshop. Aside from beading techniques that will add that extra texture to your costume, you will enter into the world of “ribbon-work”; the proper scale of silk ribbons to use and hands-on to make your own ribbon flower roses by folding and using a “Victorian Wooden Spindle”, creating dimension and texture and all the extra little touches that takes your costume from exceptional to extraordinary!
Thursday – Cortona -9:00a – 1:00pMorning Session You will learn the art of “Brazilian Embroidery” to aggrandize your costume.Like all other embroidery, Brazilian Embroidery, uses stitches that have been known and used for hundreds of years.The difference is that stitches are chosen for their dimensional qualities, and that most work is done with Z-twisted rayon threads.Rayon thread has long been the preferred thread for this style of embroidery because of its sheen and smoothness.Most dimensional stitches, especially the bullion stitch, are easier to make with it because of the thread’s smooth texture. Bead fringe edging to add additional texture to your costume will be taught. From here on you will continue to work on the construction of the costume bringing in all the techniques that you have learned over the week. -1:00pLunch -3:00 – 7:00pAfternoon Session During this session, you will work on any unfinished areas to complete your costume; beading, embroidery, ribbon work and the head dress.
Friday-Cortona -9:00a – 1:00pMorning Session You weren’t thinking of leaving Italy with a barefoot doll, would you?Well here is where you will learn how to make leather and Paper Clay shoes. We will review once again all that has been covered and time will be set aside to recapitulate any techniques that you might want to enquire further about. -1:00pLunch in Cortona at La Loccanda del Loggiatto -3:00 – 7:00pAfternoon Session After a long and very eventful workshop it is time to put all the final touches on the costume to prepare for the big evening event. Yes, we will display your beautiful costumes at dinner and even have the opportunity to wear your very own carnival masks. -8:00pFarewell Wine Tasting Dinner in Cortona Saturday – Cortona Morning check-out & departure from Cortona.
Participant Supply List
Supplies Students to Bring
Small package of paper clay
Small water tray – disposable
Paper towels – big square approximately 20
Paper scissors for cutting leather
Acrylic paints – Gold & Silver & two accent colors to match costume theme – Make sure you wrap masking tape on the tops and put them in a double zip lock
Styrofoam wig head cut length wise in half for easy packing.
T-pins
1” Sponge paint brush
Assortment of small paint brushes
7” needle for needle sculpting
White quilting thread
Small sewing kit – sewing needles, straight pins, thread to match your costume colors, pin cushions
Fabric scissors
Rubber cement
Beads – Seed beads (#11’s) and Delicas – Beads are to match costume
Trim to match costume color
Extra embellishments for costume and headdress
Gauge (18ga) cotton coated wire
Small White Fabric Glue
Additional information will be sent for selecting the fabric that will be required to bring to the workshop.
About Cortona...
Cortona is one of the true jewels of the Tuscan “hill towns.” Cortona, which is often called the “City of Art,” has its origin as an Etruscan city that pre-dates Roman times with sections of its walls dating back some 2500 years. As is typical of Tuscan hill-towns, Cortona is a walled city that, for purposes of defense, was built atop a prominent geographical point. The stone buildings and streets not only have the romance, style, and charm that are particular to Tuscany, but also speak of the lives and times Cortona has witnessed. An encounter with Cortona is an encounter with music & art, with history and with spirituality. Getting to know this timeless city is a real rediscovery of our past. Cortona offers testimony to its history as well as an enchanting view of the landscape enclosed by Lake Trasimeno and the Apennine mountains.
Travel with fellow artists, family & friends! In addition to Non-participating guest options, did you know that other workshops are offered this same week! Enjoy the experience together while immersed in different topics! View calendar for details!
