Monday, July 31, 2006

Lessons FROM my little sister
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1. If one maintains a teachable spirit one can learn even from those younger and less experienced than oneself.
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2. Work with a limited color scheme while designing.
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3. Use a repeated element as a focal point.


4. Keep several design constants as parameters, changing only small items for each study in the series .
O Yes, I have said these things to my students many times in class.
O Yes, I thought I was doing this myself.
But, no, I was not.
As I wandered back into the studio during the days that Brooke was making the 8 pieces in her series I watched, dumbfounded, at how simple it was for her. Not realising that I have been struggling with this concept for lo these many years, she just followed my direction, did the work and boing! Great designs happened.
So I got out of my teacher skin and into the student mode and took up my notebook. I will choose a size and color scheme and one idea and make it. Then I will change one thing, and make it again, same color and size. And then do that again. And again.
This method for designing series work is what I will be teaching in all my extended workshops in the next year at the Hudson River Art Quilt Workshop, Art Quilt Claremont, and Quilt Surface Design Symposium.

5 comments:

  1. Anonymous2:07 PM

    Sounds like a plan Melody! Now are you definitely down to teach at QSDS in 2007? I'd like to make attending your class there something which I can use as a goal for the upcoming period...you see you thought your blog was all about you, but really it's all about me!!!!


    Hee hee,

    Anne on Pender Island (who just spent way too much money at Artfabrik, and has to justify it by actually making some fibre art)

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  2. Melody

    Do you think that it's a bit like kids and computers - they don't even consider that they can't do it - they don't agonise, fret, worry and work ourselves into a state like us adults/artists and so we get ourselves bogged down... and they don't and get fabulous stuff done.

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  3. You crack me up! I love checking in on your light bulb moments.

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  4. Love the glee on Glory's face, and the joy coming out of your post. The light bulbs are bright alright!

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