The trees are shedding leaves with all of the heat and the world around us is gearing up for fall. Whether you are creating new quilts, fibre art projects or taking your work in an all new direction, some inspiration and commitment are required. Gathering new fabrics, stocking in supplies and thinking seriously about your fall learning opportunities should all be on your end of summer agenda.
FIBREWORKS KINGSTON is all about inspiration and studying with the very best of the best Instructors we can bring to the classroom for your benefit and enjoyment. This year we have a line up that is sure to make your inventory of new techniques and skills with fabric, paint, paper and auxiliaries like discharge paste and disperse dyes inclusive and lots of fun!
As you gear up for creating new work this fall, whether for a series of new work or for a few small pieces that will stretch your creativity, working along with a group of like minded friends in a weekend workshops format can be inspiring and uplifting. Each of us has that need for support, encouragement and creative networking, and FIBREWORKS offers just that. It is also a terrific opportunity to make new friends in the fibre world and stretch your "opportunities" inventory through meeting new people with similar interests and sharing YOUR work along the way.
A few tips for getting started with all new "home-work" this fall appeared in ROBERT GENN's newsletter August 21st edition (and we hope you will go to the Robert Genn website and subscribe to his blog feed for inspiration with his twice weekly newsletter targeted to painters, but SO valuable to every artist):
From this week's Robert Genn Newsletter:
Speed,
it seems, short-circuits the right brain to the (artist's) painter's hand. By not
passing through the theoretical shoulds, coulds, and woulds of the left
brain, the results are more likely to be "artistic."
For
homework, we suggest our workshoppers, no matter what their personal
styles, hang out with the "37 Club" every morning for a month and do a
quickie 8" x 10" or 11" x 14". After all, some folks do yoga, or
meditate, or they worship at the altar of Facebook. We can pretty well
guarantee that the first few exercises will be disappointing, but many
blockages will eventually fall away like blue jeans on a nudist beach.
The big payoff is to be happier in your work.
Esoterica (great advice) :
We recommend cutting up a pile of small primed panels (fibre backgrounds/bits and pieces). Once a day, take
a panel off the deck, place it on your easel and squeeze out. Take a
minute to "center yourself," and think ahead to what you want to do. Set
your timer (a kitchen timer will do) to 37 minutes, breathe deeply and
go for it. If you're not pleasantly surprised after a month, please
consider chartered accountancy.
Back to FIBREWORKS: Ready to get started on a new season of creative work in fibre?
You will find the very most exciting inspiration and "quick start" playful exercises, tips and techniques from our two outstanding fall Guest Artists, PAMELA ALLEN, October 18-20th and KAREN GOETZINGER, November 15-17th at St. Lawrence College. Visit the artist pages and registration information on the sidebar here at the blog, or email Fibreworks Coordinator, Bethany Garner for your pdf copy of the FIBREWORKS 2013/14 Brochure: fibreworkskingston@gmail.com
Enjoy the rest of summer! See you in the fall...
Bethany