Working in Series online with quiltuniversity.com which starts this Friday and is an exploration of what, when, why and how one should work in a series. It's a really different kind of class and one that can only be done online, for it involves research, and taking time to think deeply about where you are (artistically speaking!) right now. It's a perfect kind of class to take virtually. You have till Sunday to sign up for it! By the way this is the last class I'll be doing with Quilt University as QU closes at the end of this year - however....many QU teachers (including me) have signed up to continue teaching with Academy of Quilting.
Abstract Art for Quiltmakers in real 3D life! in Falmouth, MA This class runs for 5 full days from October 14-18. (please contact Linda Gallagher if you're interested, there are just 2 places left in the class).
This is a new class for me - I've been admiring and analyzing the many varied styles of abstract art made by female artists since early in the 20th century. Many of these women were attached to male artists who are much better known - however the women's work is just as good - sometimes better! It deserves to be studied and there is so much inspiration to be gain from such a study. This class is a design class with specific instructions on how to design many different kinds of abstract art. We're also going to dye the fabric! And construct 2 quilt tops! Plus lots of one on one instruction, even (with luck) a few witticisms from yours truly!
Advantages of Online Class: no travel, cheaper, easy to fit into your daily life, time to think between classes.
Advantages of Real Live class: one on one real contact with the teacher, getting immediate help and feedback, concentration: being able to (and compelled to!) focus just on making art for several consecutive days, meeting other quilt artists and learning from them.
I don't see these two different kinds of workshops as being either/or - there are some things and some points in your life where one approach will work better for you. comments?
Feedback! As I studied abstract art for the Abstract Art for Quiltmakers class, I made a number of small quilts based on my findings and you can see these below...I want to choose a couple of these ideas to develop into a series - so please let me know which you find the most interesting and engaging - and why! which are the freshest ideas? Which attract you the most?
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| Footfalls in the Memory |
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| Dancers |
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| Four Rooms with a Window |
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| Highlands, Fall |
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| The First Machine |
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| Brush or Scissors? |
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10 comments:
I just signed up for the Working in a Series class! So glad I happened to see this post. Can't wait to get started!
Okay, you asked. So these are just my thoughts - not having a great deal of art knowledge - especially abstract.
I think I like Dancers and The First Machine and would like to see those developed.
I like the movement in Dancers and they way it is up to the viewer to follow the movements and imagine the dance.
I like First Machine - and perhaps even more than Dancers- for similar reasons as above. I like the way the decorative aspect of the original source becomes a focus when it is split up, yet it causes one to go on and refocus/rethink conceptions about the original source.
First Machine appeals to me more than the Brush or Scissors piece which seems to use the same principles. I think this is because First Machine isn't as 'busy'. Brush or Scissors seems a bit frenetic!
I am not a fan of the chunks of colour abstract works like Four Rooms with a Window - although I know a lot of people are. But also so much of this chunky colour stuff and stripe based work is being over done at present. Maybe selfish, but I would prefer that 'Elizabeth Barton didn't get on that bandwagon! LOL
And the figurative stuff...no. I think it is a bit like Olga Norris' work. But you have a talent for helping the viewer discover the beauty in the manmade.
I think it would be a wonderful thing to discover more about mechanical/architectural things through your focus on them in an abstract way...sort of following on from your depictions of them in a abstracted pictorial way.
But you need to do what makes your heart sing, so all of the above needs to be filtered through that sieve!
Sandy in the UK
PS I meant to add that I like Olga Norris' work, but I think you should work to your strength and talent.
Sandy
Sandy thank you so much for your comments...and for the mention of Olga Norris whose work I didn't know. It's always great to have feedback - and I'll definitely think about all you wrote.
Margaret - so glad to have you in class!! Thank you for signing up.
thank you Moonsilk, LC and Kat!! It's REALLY helpful to know just what grabs a person's eye. when you're very familiar with the work it's hard to look at it with fresh eyes without burying it for a few years in the garden and then digging it up again!!
Didn't mean to leave an anonymous post. I've been in all of your classes as MaryHelen.
I'm going against the majority of comments and like Footfalls. That is most likely because I can relate to the human form, and the piece seems so personal. It got an immediate emotional response from me, and I kept on going back to that image again, and again when I was making my decision.
If I were you, I'd select the image that attracts you the most. You'll be spending a lot of time creating this series, and you're the only one who can decide which image sparks lots of "what ifs".
Diane
wow - thank you for wonderful comments! What's fascinating is that they seem to cover a wide spectrum of responses..I do appreciate you all taking the time! It's good, also, to learn of quiltmakers that I've not previously known. I'm cogitating!!
Footfalls... stands out for me. There is something very nostalgic in the style of the handwriting that does evoke memory. And the figures are not at first apparent and a rather nice surprise when you get past the writing to see them there. I love the feeling of a story being told here. Perhaps standing and reading all the writing would reveal the story, but perhaps not--just as well if not. I know the story is there and it is a reason to keep looking. I find this piece much fresher and personal than any of the others.
TErry - you got it just right!! I'm so glad it comes through - there is a LOT of feeling attached to that one. Thank you.
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