WEEK 1  DESCRIPTION

This workshop begins with an intense study in the “creation of line(s) and their spatial relationships” when grouped together with other line(s). All lines will be cut freehand while sharpening one’s eye to stronger proportions. These initial exercises will be done in solid black and solid white. Many small sewn-together compositions will be created. It is hoped that participants will begin to see line as a very important element in quilt-making.

Afterwards, this workshop will begin to address other kinds of geometric shapes such as curves and circles in machine-pieced compositions while moving into color and more degrees of values. These new design exercises will investigate evermore sophisticated relationships within a composition.

All work will be done in direct machine-piecing using a broad range of solid colors (commercial or hand-dyed). NOTE: Marbled fabrics are not appropriate for this class nor are splotchy
hand-dyed fabrics.

Students will be given timed exercises that explore classical design concerns such as COLOR, VALUE, PROPORTION, SHAPE, CURVES, CIRCLES, AND LINE RELATIONSHIPS. Lots of SEED IDEAS will be GENERATED.

WEEK 2  DESCRIPTION

An energizing and thought-provoking (different from those in PART I) group of design exercises has been developed for this new workshop with the intention of strengthening one’s understanding and practice of figure/ground composition. Students will work freehand, cutting by eye all the parts of each compositional exercise while learning to better engineer the construction of a composition. Lines, shapes, and curves will be used to develop geometric configurations.

There will be a STRONG EMPHASIS on geometric LINE AND SHAPE CONFIGURATIONS…plus…the USE of FLAT & GLOWING COLORS/VALUES. In this workshop, a variety of sewn-together compositions will be created that will incorporate percentages of FLAT & GLOWING COLORS/VALUES making it very important that each student bring appropriate fabrics. Fabrics of choice will be a broad palette of hand-dyed or commercial solids and values. NOTE: Marbled fabrics are not appropriate for this class nor are splotchy hand-dyed fabrics. All sewing will be done in direct machine-piecing.

Students will be given TIMED EXERCISES that explore classical design concerns such as COLOR, VALUE, PROPORTION, SHAPE, CURVES and LINE RELATIONSHIPS. SEED IDEAS will be GENERATED that could be used for working-in-a-series. One-on-one and group critiques will be integrated into the class.

• MAKE SURE YOU BRING A GOOD SKETCHBOOK (not a yellow lined pad of paper), DIGITAL CAMERA and SMALL PRINTER!!!

• Do not come with an agenda! Be open to experimentation and working quickly!

PRESENTATION

Optional but important: Each student should come prepared with a digital presentation/laptop or 3-6 actual quilts and be prepared to make a short (3-5 minutes maximum) but articulate presentation about their work including future goals. MISA provides use of a digital projector connected to a laptop.

*La Posada lodging options for this workshop begin on Sunday, June 7, with a check out on Friday, June 19, weekend lodging included.  Please note the workshop space may not be available over the weekend. 

Images  ©Patricia Guthrie and ©NancyCrow