Learn to Design Fabric Using Photoshop
Saturday, January 23, 2010 at 09:43AM I was extremely jealous when Denyse went to Portland to teach a wokshop last summer at the Pacific Northwest College of Art's Summer of Making Series. Portland has long been a favorite city of mine, every time I visit I start plotting a move to this lovely, artsy, green city.
So when I got a call asking if I would like to come and teach I was absolutely thrilled, especially when I learned that PNCA has a fully outfitted classroom with workstations that mimic my very own design process and its tools. I have been looking for an opportunity to teach basic fabric design for a long time. My process, which involves Adobe Photoshop and a digitizer, is straightforward and fun. For someone who is itching to turn their art (or someone elses art) into a repeating design ready to print onto fabric, these skills can really open up a whole new world. It goes without saying that until very recently a class like this would not have had much of an audience, designing and printing fabric was something that happened on a large and expensive scale. But now, thanks to my friends at Spoonflower, we can all design and print whatever we like, in whatever amounts we want. In fact, we are teaming up with Spoonflower for this workshop so that everyone can actually print some yardage after honing their new skills.
Ah, this brave new world!
You can check out PCNA's Summer of Making here, and register online for my four day workshop here. There is a Friday night lecture planned as well, which will open to the public. PCNA will even be offering a crash course in Photoshop just before my workshop, since familiarity with the application is a pre-requisite.
Oh, and there are two or three spots left in the August 7/8 Weekend Sewing Workshop at Blueberry Hill Inn, and four in the August 14/15 weekend, shoot me an email if you would like a spot!
Reader Comments (21)
Stuck in the center of the midwest, I'm sadly far away from either of your fun weekends. I would love to be able to download a Photoshop fabric class, though!
How exciting! I don't suppose you're coming down to Australia anytime soon? I'm sure people would flock from all over to attend a class by you.
Kelly :-)
the class of my dreams! i just signed up!
Heather- GROOVY socks!
Anyone who gets to take this class is blessed.
Oh I wish I could spend the money on your class! I would love to design fabric.
This would be a dream, but no way can I afford it. One day I dream of being able to make my own fabric. I have no clue how to use photoshop.
Looks like a wonderful class, wish I could join you.
How lovely. I so wish that your class was in my budget. I am sure it will be fabulous! Do you plan on an "appearance" anywhere else in town while you are here? Maybe a pop in at Bolt or Cool Cottons?
yes yes australia!
I think I will be able to make it! I have been dreaming of making my own designs. We live up in Seattle but Portland is my favorite city. My husband and I go down a few times a year just for the food & wine scene so let me know if you want any restaurant recommendations! Hopefully I will see you there Heather!
I almost fell out of my chair! I graduated from PNCA in 2007 with my B.F.A. in Illustration. Fabric Designing is something I would love to learn how to do.It would combine my two passions on sewing and Illustrating. Not to mention I am a huge fan of your work! he..he.. I am going to try and pull as many strings as I can to make this happen!
I am going to have to try and learn photoshop in the mean time. Yes,it is still possible to graduate art school and suck royally at the computer arts!
Hope to see you there! Thanks for the heads up!
lucky!!! come up to toronto! :)
Would love to see this on the East Coast, sometime in the fall. There has to be a college in NY or PA or in New England that would do well to call you up and hire Heather to do this. I would sign up in a snap! Anyone out there work for an eastern college or an alum of a design school? Come on folks, let's see what we can do!
OMG! I am signing up!!! Love it!
I just signed up for your course and I so very, very (very) excited about it! What a perfect reason to travel to Portland for the first time. I can't wait.
I would so love to come to this class... Sigh. It's just a bit too far from Sydney, Australia. I agree with the others, I would love to do an online fabric designing class (hint hint).
Greetings from Sydney, Stefanie
Crushing...just figured out how to make it up there for your class and it's chock full. I'm #10 on the waitlist. I know anything could happen but I guess I'll be waiting for another opportunity. Thanks for doing the class though, and if you plan anything for Santa Cruz I'm there! ~Devon
doggonit!! i abandoned designing textiles for Nordstrom Kids about 13 years ago. we used a clunky CAD system and to learn the ropes in Photoshop would be magnificent! i tried to get in but, alas, #11 on the waiting list. big demand! how about squeezing 11 more in there...wouldn't that be fun? ;)
Oh ... please say you'll be doing this again ... ??? east coast maybe though I'd love an excuse to visit portland
Can't believe I just missed this! Living in Portland, long time artist but new to crafting. I have been collection your fabric for a while now and just now getting around to making something with it and getting ideas as to what I might design. Definitely catching your class next time! And if you ever do move here, we would be thrilled to have you around! Ever think of making a Portland series of fabrics? That would be fun!
ingilizce kursu said thank you