This week we finish up with collage images from the students in my October 2023 Live Online Class. This week’s group were in the self-named breakout room, Tom’s Devils. I hope you saw last week’s first installment of work by Susan’s Angels. If not you can find it here. This class as a whole was made up of experienced fabric collage students, who have become familiar with the technique of fabric collage and thus didn’t need my guidance on the basics of gluing or cutting. Instead, these students were more interested in further applying the technique in an artistic way. They each of course had particular subjects in mind.
The choice of subject is usually a very personal one. But sometimes the subjects they bring to class are more personal than other times. For example, Liz Chronister chose her subject of the flying pig mainly because she found it humorous. In contrast, Kelly Godbout’s quilt of a pack of therapy dogs will be a gift to a friend who started an organization that helps children after losing her own son to cancer. And mother and son, Ray and Judy Schryver, teamed up on a collage (detail above) remembering their lost-too-soon daughter, and granddaughter, Brooke.
Does it make a difference whether you choose a random image or one with great personal meaning? Sometimes, if only in terms of a student’s commitment to finishing the piece. But in reality, in such cases, the piece is not so much about fabric collage or art and more about therapy and healing, when such can be found.
As I prepare for my parents’ celebration of life this weekend, I think about how they gave me the gift of an artistic spirit and how I and others can find comfort there.
Registration Open for Live Online Classes and Fly on the Wall: Susan Carlson Studio Watch
For more details about these fabric collage learning opportunities, visit this link.
February 26-March 1, 2024—Live Online Class: All Levels, Animals Only
June 3-7, 2024—Live Online Class Intermediate and Advanced Levels, Any Subject
November 9, 2023—7:00 p.m. Eastern Time—Fly on the Wall: Winfrieda Third Draft Wrap Up—Free Event
November 16 & 30, December 7 & 14, 2023—7:00 p.m. Eastern Time—Fly on the Wall: African Fabric Leopard
February 1, 8, 15, and 22, 2024—7:00 p.m. Eastern Time—Fly on the Wall: Quilter’s Trophy Fish
October 2023 Live Online Class—the Angels and the Devils
This was a lovely combination of creative folks and very supportive of each other. For the most part, they “followed me” from one breakout room to the other in order to hear the feedback on every project—but if more concentration on their own project was desired, they could hang back and have a quieter space to work.
We got some nice comments at the end of the week about the general set-up of these online classes: from Ray, “We had a few interesting chats that added insight into how others work. It also enabled us to focus on work when we needed to in our room”; from Nancy, “I really enjoyed the ability to move between rooms. Loved them. Just enough visiting mixed with quiet time to work. I also felt this was a really great group in general.”
Tom’s Devils
While last week’s breakout room was named after a particular 1970’s crime drama series, “Susan’s Angels,” this week’s group decided to be the nemeses of the Angels, “Tom’s Devils.” They were really much sweeter than their self-chosen name implies. There was nary a pentagon or cauldron in the batch for raising up demons. In fact, you may find their work heart-warming and their progress over the week inspirational.
Liz Chronister
Liz is from Columbia, Missouri and in our pre-class coaching said the words I love to hear, “I want to work with bold and colorful fabrics!” Alright, let’s go! She surrounded herself with great prints and colors and is well on her way to her wish for a “happy and exuberant and carefree” creature with her fantastical Elvis.
From Liz:
I wanted to do something happy and exuberant and carefree that would allow me to use bright colors and learn how to blend more. I love the idea of hiding things in a collage and plan on doing some more of that as well (one of the things I love about Susan’s work).
I was raised by parents who grew up in the boot-heel of Missouri and as a result came to love the little sayings that are common to hear in the south. “When pigs fly” is a very common one so when I saw a past student’s work of a pig flying I knew I wanted to attempt that.
I started out cutting too big of pieces and was frustrated because the nuances of the pig weren’t showing up. Don’t know if that makes sense? Once I ripped the face off and started focusing on the details I was much happier.
Though I tend to discourage students from “ripping the face off” of any of their projects, I can’t argue with the result that Liz achieved in the before and after photos above. (Click on photos to see them larger). It got her through the “messy scary” wall she hit and gave her a better understanding of the collage process—using smaller pieces of fabric adds more interest and definition to your subject. Note the blending from pink to green on Elvis’s rump—and the cutest tail ever!
Show-and-Share Fabric Collage Quilts by Liz Chronister. About halfway through the week, we find an evening when I and most if not all students can hang out for a couple hours after class finishes for the day. It’s a relaxing way to get to know each other better, kick back and enjoy a beverage of choice, and also share photos of past projects.
Liz began Lowell the fox, below in a May 2023 online class. You can read his story and see his progress in this post.
Kelly Godbout
From Kelly:
My best friend in Tokyo lost her son to cancer at age 2. She created a non profit in Tokyo called ShineOn Kids!, to helps the families going through cancer to make their lives a little better. About 10 years ago she bought her first therapy dog named Bailey. Dogs had never been allowed in a hospital in Japan, let alone a children’s hospital. Now there are 6 therapy dogs with contracts for more. All the children’s hospitals want them. I am making this quilt for her as a surprise that she can auction off to raise money or hang it in the original hospital.
Having taken two in-person classes, and a few online coaching sessions for a double portrait, Kelly already knew she picked an ambitious project with these six very similar dogs. But the big thing she has going for her is that they aren’t her dogs—the pressure is off to create the exact expression and likeness that we want to see in a portrait of our own fur-baby.
So she has begun a very methodical and sane plan to approach this multiple portrait in taking it step-by-step. First, the noses, which you can see in place, above. Then she picked and added a color to each one, which adds some fun and playfulness at the very beginning of the collage—a good incentive to keep going, with a wonderful goal to work towards.
What do you see as the biggest benefit of the online format of this class? When Susan spends independent time with you and writes on your picture to show you what she thinks. You get a lot more attention with the online class, plus the mark ups help when you are working on your own.
Show-and-Share Fabric Collage Quilts by Kelly Godbout (Click on any photo to see them larger)
Nancy Hayes
Nancy from Princeville, Illinois, arrived with the orioles from September’s class, above, for finishing thoughts and background ideas before she plunged into her much larger bird portraits of swans, below. There will eventually be two adult swans, each about four feet nose-to-tail, constructed separately then joined together on the background.
From Nancy:
I wanted to start a really large project with some advanced techniques. I finished the Orioles (mostly) and was able to move onto the swans.
The Orioles were to brighten an otherwise long winter. We have Orioles at the feeder every year, but the population is growing, and they have stayed longer this year than in the past. The Swans were pictures taken at a nearby marsh area. This spring many swan pairs and cygnets [baby swans] were visible and from a relatively close place. I took a variety of photos to create the pattern as I did with the orioles.
Nancy is doing a lovely job working with light values, but still getting some color into the mix. When she gets contrasting color into the background, this will be a stunning.
These online classes have been such a boon for me. I love the format, the help, the inspirations from others and the ability to share ideas with each other. I feel these classes allow the best of both worlds. The annotation process allows for keeping the suggestions straight and available, and I have access to all of my own fabrics.
Show-and-Share Fabric Collage Quilts by Nancy Hayes
Nancy has become an expert on how to collage a golden retriever—you can see the individuality and love in each of these portraits. Click on any photo to see them larger.
Ray and Judy Schryver
Ray and his mom Judy, live on opposite sides of the country, have a love of quilting and collage in common, and often work together on fabric projects. I first met them in a January 2022 online class as they each worked from their own homes on two versions of Ray’s original butterfly design. For this past class week, Judy joined Ray in California to work on this very special collage quilt.
From Ray:
This photo of Yosemite valley was taken by our daughter Brooke in 2017. We lost her last year so this will be a remembrance of our annual trips to the park that began before Brooke was walking. Adding her taking the photo has been a challenge but also a good bit of therapy and healing. Susan made several lovely comments that resonated with me and my mom related to Brooke guiding us in our collage experience.
Brooke’s figure is based on a mural that was done in her honor at Cal Poly Humbolt where she was a student. I had permission from Claire, the primary artist, to use that image.
When asked if he achieved the goals he set for himself in this class, Ray replied:
I would say that getting an understanding of how to approach a landscape for the first time was accomplished with many good pointers from Susan. This class was at a higher level since it was advanced students so I was able to pick up more tips without as much repetition on things I had already mastered.
As both Ray and Judy grieve the loss of Brooke, it made sense that they would work on this impressive landscape together. At least for the course of this week, Ray began on the left side of the valley with the sheer cliff face of El Capitan, while Judy took on Bridal Falls and the steep, shaded, and snowy terrain that cups it. The fabric they had collected for this is perfect with just enough visual texture (but not too much) to depict the scale and distance of the rock formations and vegetation. Already they have done a beautiful job and tribute to Brooke.
Many interesting ideas were explored for how to made the collage more interesting with expert guidance from Susan. Adding the waves of colors coming from the camera came from a night of dreamwork.
Show-and-Share Fabric Collage Quilts by Ray and Judy Shryver (Click on any photo to see them larger)
It is so much fun to see these end of class blogs. I was part of the class and appreciate each person’s feedback. Congratulations to all!