The last painting class

Tuesday was my last 'creative painting in water based media' class and I am glad that it is over. I found that creating lessons that introduced the three media (ink, acrylic, watercolour),covered basic and innovative painting skills PLUS pushed the participants towards their personal voice was really difficult.I've been stitching for the last few years, not painting.I thought that teaching painting would inspire me to do more of it, but I only painted when preparing to teach. These are some of my recent demonstration or preparation watercolours. The most I will say about them, is that they are different from the way I used to paint.

art quilting class

Lucie's block prints. Dorothy's bleach experiments, reverse applique, and block prints.
Linda's block print and embroidery, Rachel's collection
Rachel's 'Queen with necklace' made from ties

This is just some of the evening class's so-called "homework". I wish I had thought to photograph what the morning class had brought in. Next time.

teaching

One of the things covered tonight in art quilting was bokhara couching. (pictured above)
Another was to brainstorm about ‘what is a quilt’. Even if artists choose to challenge the tradition, being more aware of what a quilt is (or is thought to be) can make one's work more essential. Here are some myths or truths about quilts.
Quilts are:
Layers
Recycled cloth
Protection
Heirlooms
Love

Quilts are made for:
the bed
weddings
babies
utility
friendship gifts

Quilts are made from:
old clothing
fancy saved dresses
free fabric like sugar and flour bags
the newest trend in fabric

Words that came up in the class discussion: on a bed, on a couch, work, art, colour, not necessarily traditional, emotional, concerned, layers, shapes, tactile, history, soul, love, beauty, warmth, gift, sacred, restful, prayer, connecting, spiritual, comfort that lasts.

I am

At the art quilting class tonight I talked about Nancy Crow. Her approach is inspiring to me because she takes herself and her aspirations as an artist so seriously. She has several studios with colour correct lighting, rows of tables and plentiful pin walls.

In her 2006 book she says "Never ever do I think about what others expect or want, but rather I look at my time in the studio as a process of discovery. It's all about being alone, in solitude, so that one can think and feel deeply, without interruption."

My Watercolour class

We started with plants in the water colour class I'm teaching. They are a good subject for learning how to handle the brush and what is a good ratio of paint to water. A bonus is that they are fairly easy to draw.
Grace's painting is at the top. Then Doreen's is in the middle. The bottom one is Bonnie's.

art quilting class

I am teaching art quilting once a month this fall and winter through the local community college.

Siska's
It is the first time that I have ever taught such a course, and the group of women who gather are very talented.

Rachel's
I asked their permission to post some of the
'homework' from last month.

Linda's
Apologies for some out of focus work, my camera was running low on battery.

Karen's
I wasn't able to photograph all of them because of the low battery.

Jane's
We looked at Quilt National catalogs for inspiration. We used the stem stitch.

Connie's
I am blown over by the creativity shown by everyone, including those not pictured here. Their turn will come.

Carmen's

discover watercolour

I am spending the afternoon preparing to teach "discover watercolour" for the Manitoulin campus of Cambrian College tomorrow morning. One of the reasons I agreed to teach watercolour again was because I want to return to painting for a while. I have not painted for months and feel a need.

Cardinal Flower

I put information about the watercolour courses starting up this week through Cambrian College into my updates.