Red Fish, Blue Fish, Not-So-Goldfish: Fabric Collage with Susan Carlson

“Not-So-Goldfish,” that’s the name I gave to my goldfish collage above, because well, he kinda went off into his own color scheme as he evolved. It happens—especially when I limit myself to using only using the scraps of fabric left over from other subjects. A fun way of working, you can read about it here, but that’s not what this post is about.

Nope, this post is about getting started, one of the toughest steps in any creative endeavor. Just a couple days ago, in our Throwback Thursday post, Tom and I finished our six-part Fabric Collage Review. Today, I demonstrate how to start putting those steps to work as I begin my own preparations for February’s New Fantastical Fish Class.

Click on any smaller photos to see them larger and to scroll through each gallery.

Carpe Carpem

Gulf Stream Traveler

Solstice Seranid

Peacock Bass

For various reasons, fish are quite inspiring subject matter. I’ve literally created hundreds of fabric collaged fish, and I’d happily create a hundred more. However, I’ve chosen a single goldfish as my “Fish of 2025” subject. If you end up attending February’s Fish Class, the choice is yours. Choosing your subject is technically the first step in any collage project, and for February, I’ve made that step a bit simpler for you.

February 6, 13, 20, 27, 2025 — 7 pm, Eastern Time

Fantastical Fabric Collage Fish Zoom Follow-Along

REGISTER HERE
Price: $78

As a registrant you will receive a code for a free fish pattern from my online shop (a few examples above and below) to follow along as you play with your own fabric stash—but you are welcome of course to use your own fish design, or just “go with the flow” of your fabric.

For February’s class, I chose a goldfish design since that lovely round body gave me a nice expanse to fill with a range of color values—the emphasis of this year’s Fantastical Fish Class. I’m focusing on one color range and demonstrating what to look for in your fabrics to blend from light to dark values—the sort of skill that can lead to more visual dimension in portraying a subject in fabric, or any other art medium.

Goldie—based on pattern by Susan Carlson

Getting Started—Fabric Collage Review 1 of 6: Choosing Fabric

As I was thinking what fish and what colors for my February 2025 Follow-Along subject, out came the oranges and greens—fabrics that last year’s February Fish would have perfectly blended into (below left, lower right corner). A reminder to myself, that I’m quite predictable in my color choices—immediately gravitating toward a certain group of colors for almost any new project. We can all have our favorites, right?

Looking around my studio for pieces that didn’t primarily contain oranges and yellows, my Betta Duo and Red Fish, below, caught my eye. Seems that I also tend to reach for aquas quite often. However, how about reds or blues? Since I already had a big ol’ red fish, I turned to my blue fabrics as a color choice for my new fish. Djinni Cat, above right, approved of that choice.

Heads Over Tails

Red Fish

Djinni also helped with the first edit (below) of narrowing down my initial pick of blue fabrics to work with—eliminating the obvious aqua blues—for the variation of color I had in mind. But then I got thinking, “a blue goldfish?” Is there such a thing? And yes, there is! A Blue Oranda and other “blue” fish are referenced below.

I even learned that there’s a word for the weird lumpiness on some goldfish—a “wen”—who knew? Blue fish also symbolize good luck and prosperity—not a bad project to begin the New Year. I usually research my subjects at least a little bit, though I’ll still change them to any color that strikes my fancy.

First edit of blue fabrics, sans cat, loosely grouped by values (above). Reduced to 36 fabrics, but I’ve found that getting it down to 15-20 helps cut down on that initial, “where do I start?” overwhelm.

Below is 20 fabrics, if you don’t count the “inspiration fabric” in the center. Yes, there’s still aqua, green, yellow, and orange to be found in this selection, but again, it’s a start. I can (and will) add more fabrics and more than likely change my mind along the way, once I see how my blue goldfish starts developing.

Getting Started—Fabric Collage Review 2 of 6: Creating a Palette

Now that I’ve got my pattern and some fabrics, what’s next? Cut a palette from those fabrics. Read the blog link above as to why I highly recommend NOT to skip this step. I always make a palette—it where the playing starts, a good way to begin.

Open up each piece of fabric and using the printed designs as a guide, cut out varied hand-sized shapes (one from each chosen fabric) for a beginning palette. Drop the cut pieces into light, dark, and medium value piles, like you see above. It’s fun to see how the fabrics start to work together, without even trying.

Once my fabric palette was cut, I got anxious to see what sort of color and value arrangements I could make with those pieces. I re-grouped the palette directly onto the enlarged paper pattern (below)—a preview of the possibilities! I’m loving the blues—this is going to be fun!

And that’s what you need to get started—pick a subject, pick a color (or colors), get lost in your fabrics and come out with a selection. Sort through those fabrics with your color, subject, and a variety of values in mind. Reduce to 15-20 fabrics and cut your fabric collage palette. Participants of the Follow-Along Class will get a more detailed checklist to prepare, but this is the gist of it.

Tune in to February’s Fantastical Fabric Collage Fish Zoom Follow-Along and follow along 😉 as I get going on my newest not-so-goldfish—then turn around and get going on your own!