LINES, CURVES, SHAPES, FIGURE/GROUND COMPOSITION: PART II - Machine piecing workshop
• Length: 5 days
• Level: Intermediate to Advanced (students must be practiced in free-hand cutting and construction and expert at machine-piecing)
• Sewing machine used
DESCRIPTION
An energizing and thought-provoking (different from those in PART I) group of design exercises have been developed for this new workshop with the intention of strengthening one’s understanding and practice of figure/ground composition. Students will work freehand, cutting by eye all the parts of each compositional exercise. All sewing will be done in direct machine-piecing. A variety-and-number of sewn-together compositions will be created that will incorporate lines, shapes, and curves with emphasis on geometric line and shape configurations. Fabrics of choice will be a broad palette of hand-dyed or commercial solids and values.
Students will be given TIMED EXERCISES that explore classical design concerns such as COLOR, VALUE, PROPORTION, SHAPE, CURVES, and LINE
RELATIONSHIPS. SEED IDEAS will be GENERATED that could be used for working-in-a-series. One-on-one and group critiques will be integrated into the class.
• MAKE SURE YOU BRING A GOOD SKETCHBOOK (not a yellow lined pad of paper), DIGITAL CAMERA and SMALL PRINTER!!!
• Do not come with an agenda! Be open to experimentation and working quickly!!
Presentations:
Optional but important: Each student may bring a digital presentation or actual works, and be prepared to make a short (3-5 minutes maximum) articulate presentation about their work. The Crow Timber Frame Barn provides use of a slide projector and a digital projector, but cannot provide a laptop or desktop computer. Participants may be able to share another participant's computer for digital presentations.
SUPPLIES
Sewing Machine
Swing-Arm Lamp
Digital Camera and Printer
Multiple Outlet Power Strip/Adaptors
Glue to Adhere Snapshots into Sketchbook
Iron/Iron Cleaner
Heavy Duty Extension Cords
Small Spray Bottle
4’ x 8’ Batting/Flannel (White) on which to pin work
Ball-Head Pins (very fine and regular size)
24" x 36" Cutting Mat/Extra Large Rotary Cutter and Blades
Scissors/Needles/Thread/Rulers
Sketchbook/Pens/Other Supplies You Want
Packing Tape if shipping boxes
Optional Books:
> CROSSROADS, 2007, Breckling Press (new catalog from one of Nancy’s exhibitions) - available at Crow Barn
> NANCY CROW, 2006, Breckling Press (new book covering Nancy's work from 1989-2005) - available at Crow Barn
Unfortunately, the following titles are out of print, but your local library may have them or order on Amazon.com.
GRADATIONS: FROM THE STUDIO OF NANCY CROW, Quilt House Publishing
NANCY CROW: WORK IN TRANSITION, American Quilters’ Society
NANCY CROW: QUILTS AND INFLUENCES, American Quilters’ Society
NANCY CROW: IMPROVISATIONAL QUILTS, C&T Publishing
Fabrics:
5 yards each of:
• SOLID BLACK and SOLID WHITE (Pimatex by Robert Kaufman is wonderful quality)
At least 1 yard* of each color:
• FLAT SOLID COLORS (commercial or hand-dyed) the widest range you can afford to bring and be sure to include both warm and cool colors - 80 to 100 different colors (1 yard or more of each color)
• OFF-WHITES tans, warm white, cool white, creams (1 yard or more of each color)
• GRAYS 5 to 9 in light, medium, and dark (1 yard or more of each color)
• We will use everything listed above so do not decide to leave anything out
• We will use a lot of solid colors so bring a good range that includes darks, medium and light values of Browns, Blues, Greens, Reds, Golds, Yellows, Oranges, Purples, Violets
• Do not bring any prints.
• Do not bring marbled solids.
• Please wash and shrink all fabrics!
NOTES REGARDING FABRIC SUPPLY LIST
Yes, the rumor is true!!! Yes, I do ask that each student bring lots of fabrics. My personal theory embraces the belief that one will be freer to be creative if one has many fabric choices available in class. After 25+ years of teaching, I consider each class I teach to be on a graduate level and therefore I expect students to arrive prepared with all necessary supplies. In that regard, I have outlined those fabrics we will use in this class. For some students, my fabric supply list will seem overwhelming in quantity and variety, while for other students, the selection they bring will never be good enough.
About solid colors--the more shades you have to work with, the more you will learn about how to work with color. Color is Joyous!!! Color does not cause pain!!! Take DELIGHT in color!!!
Working in color does not mean only using BOLD colors or HOT colors; working in color means learning to be versatile in all types of colors.
Overall during the class, we will use many solid colors. When choosing solid colors to bring to class, be sure to bring both warm and cool tones.
I caution you to not bring mostly middle value solids, rather bring a wide variety, including:
• Light values
• Medium light values
• Medium values
• Medium dark values
• Dark values
Any color can be warm or cold.
Warm tones: Any colors that are mixed with yellow and which have a glow coming off the surface.
Cold tones: Any colors that are mixed with black and which have a dullness and subdued nature.
Many students arrive with their own hand-dyed solids or stacks they have purchased from other dyers. By all means, bring hand-dyed if you want.
But flat solids (dyed commercially) are equally acceptable.
I usually work with flat colors or my own subtly dyed flat colors. My own palette includes approximately 500 shades.
Bring 1 yard of as many colors as you can afford and shorter lengths for the rest. Remember, we will be working selvage to selvage.
> Close this window to return to the main site or click on a link below
Nancy Crow | Home | Art Retreats | Craft Tours | Exhibitions | Workshops | Books | Gallery | Itinerary | Biography | Contact & Links
Copyright © 2002-2012 Nancy Crow, llc | Site designed by Nathaniel Stitzlein | Art Grange Studios
Notice: All images & materials on this site are protected by copyright law and may not be reproduced in whole or in part without the express written permission of Nancy Crow or the artist.
