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Modern sampler project at Guildford House Gallery and Guildford Museum

The aim of this project is to encourage you to experiment with different decorative techniques by designing and producing a modern sampler.

This is a group project where, at the end, all the different pieces of work are mounted together to form a complete sampler.

First study the samplers on show at Guildford Museum.
Decide what can be learnt about the people who made the samplers - usually the sampler itself identifies the person's age, the era in which they lived and their position in society. (Samplers were done to demonstrate the best possible work in both design and technique, often incorporating morality elements such as severe verses from scripture as well as depicting a welcoming scene of home).
Study the modern sampler on show at Guildford House Gallery taking into consideration the techniques and styles used, noting the similarities and differences between the modern sampler and the earlier examples.

Your tutor will form you into groups of approximately 10 students who will all work separately but at the end will combine their work to make a single sampler.
Start your designs remembering to reflect the society in which we live today.
Put together a portfolio, with samples, of the different techniques you are going to use in your final design.
Your group of students will need to get together to discuss and decide on the colour scheme and layout of the sampler as a whole, so that everyone's work looks good together.
Students and tutors together will discuss the project and decide which sampler that has worked best.
The winning sampler can then be displayed at Guildford House Gallery. Staff at the Gallery would be happy to demonstrate the techniques, skills, materials and styles of modern-day students.

Sampler by Francis Agate of "Cranley"