Getting to work!

Howdy all!

As you may have noticed, I just posted photos from all of my color class projects. I still have to go back and fill in some details, such as how the project was made and how I "did" on each assignment.

I was one of those students that made more design mistakes than not, and boy, I learned a LOT in that class. I still have a lot of questions about color, and I have by no means figured it all out. But I have a better idea about how to look at things a little more objectively and that really helps.

After the color class finished, I took Heather's six-month design class. Much of the "homework"was very intimidating but I loved every minute of the classes. It was just exciting and fun and I learned SO much in exchange for overcoming my fear and diving in.

I would highly recommend this series of classes, the color class and the design class, for anyone in the area looking to make their own original art. Though Heather is a fiber artist, both of the classes had artists of all kinds in them: quilters, weavers, knitters, even sculptors. What Heather teaches applies to all of us who have that need in us to create!

There is another after the design class, the Series class. I had signed up but due to unforeseen circumstances, I just can't do it right now.

But that doesn't mean I am not making art!

I have had some ideas running through my mind for some time now and wasn't sure how to proceed, and frankly, didn't really have the confidence to even try.

Now I know, without a doubt, that it's okay if I fail. Because there is a pretty good chance I will- but I will learn while I do, so that's not really failure. I also know that I should only start out with an idea and let my work progress as it wants to, rather than having a stiff and unyielding plan. The pieces that you listen to and work with are always better than those you bend to your will.

I had the idea of making a series of the elements: water, fire, earth, and air or wind. I wanted a way to combine something I have drawn with fibers and other interesting things.

To start with, I took a face I drew a while back because she speaks to me right now. She seems calm and serene and is everything that I am not right now- but am striving to get to. She just naturally seemed to suit water, with it's soothing palette and gentle flow of things.

I copied my drawing onto Lutradur by cutting a piece of Lutradur to fit my printer and running it through. I did not treat the Lutradur with anything.

I colored her face using my Prismacolor pencils, which I LOVE, and then fused her face to a batik that looked like beautiful water to me.

I didn't have a specific plan for what came next, but I took an idea that I saw Tamara working on at the Golden Fiber Arts Studio just recently, and went to town!

Using both silk and wool roving, I tried to form her flowing hair. I used produce bags from the grocery store, some silk hankies, and some Red Heart Sashay "yarn"to make some base underneath her.

I made a mermaid tail with a piece of silk fusion. This is a technique I learned from Tamara at a class recently, and it suited this purpose wonderfully. I cut the rows of scales and attached them with some Wonder Under to tack it all temporarily and then I stitched it all, row by row.

When everything was where I thought it should be, I put a layer top and bottom of water soluble stabilizer, pinned the edges, and started quilting! I chose thread colors in the three main colors in the piece, violet, green, and blue green, and used them all over.

Lastly, I dissolved the stabilizer and now it is drying. I have no idea what it will look like when it is dry, and I am excited to see.

I haven't quite decided how I will finish this either. I want the series to be able to hang together and look cohesive, but I expect each one to be able to stand on it's own. Mostly because my 18 year old daughter Heidi has claimed this as her own already and can't wait to hang it in her room!