Painting with Cloth

This slide lecture shows my development from early paintings through traditional quilts up to the present contemporary wall quilts. I will show early traditional quilts, Mandalas, Three dimensional quilts, Isometric quilt, Fractured Landscape quilts and my new Ghost layer + color washes. Includes: inspirations, funny stories, mistakes and foul-ups and design techniques, question and answer session to follow. 1 hour

Quilts and Quilts Trips

Not necessarily your normal slide lecture. A combination of slides from my quilting trips and the unusual things I found there, and the beautiful quilts from quilters all over. A more humorous look at the world from a quilters point of view. 1 hour

Art Quilts

A compilation of the top quiltsmakers in the world, and their views and inspirations for their work. Having transformed her training and talent as a painter to painting with fabric, Katie will talk about her work, current trends, and accomplished artists with whom she has worked with as the President of the national organization of Studio Art Quilt Associates. Also a good sampling of my work and my inspirations. 1 hour

The cost of the lectures is $500.00. Katie will provide a power point projector for the presentation.

Transforming the Still Life

We will work from a white still life, drawing it in many different ways to learn about value, shadows, texture, highlights and different kinds of perspective. This is a drawing class so don’t be afraid if you can’t draw, we will learn how to draw together by learning to really see through blind contour drawings. We will add color, exploring many different color schemes and their impact. Then images will be projected on to the still life to create color, texture and drama. Several abstract drawings for quilts will be the end product of the class.

Materials list:

Some thing(s) that are all-white to add to the all-white still life
18" x 24" pad of white drawing paper pad
pencil and sharpener
black and white water color and plastic plate for palate
Different size brushes 1", 2", whatever else you have
Pigma .01 micron black pen, large black pen for filling in large areas
water color set ( if tubes, bring red, yellow, orange, blue, green, violet and white)
Paper scissors
Rotary cutter for paper, and matt and ruler
Glue stick and tape

Easel and board if you have one or two pieces of 20" x 30" foam core to make a table easel (we will do this in class)
Big clips to hold drawing paper to easel
Large pad of drawing paper, 18" x 24"

Materials fee of about $5 or so depending on how much acetate or my supplies that you use.

Abstract and Non Representational Quilt Design

This workshop will show you how to start with an original photograph or line drawing and create a departure from its reality.

We will do 6 + different exercises to explore the abstract and non-representational designs, these include, shape, line, blind painting, “cubing”, zooming, abstract still life.

Composition, color schemes and a well thought out plan will be emphasized. A quilt design will be fully realized. Many different techniques will be discussed to help you create your quilt such as appliqué, piecing, fusing, collage, and painting and stamping on the surface.

Materials list:

Pad of tracing paper
Pencil with eraser, grid drawing ruler, compass
.01 Micron pigma pen
Scotch tape and glue stick
Rotary cutter, rotary ruler and small matt
water color paint set and medium paint brush
Paint brush, 2" and 3/4" flat size 7 small round
Inexpensive large tubes of Acrylic paint. Pick a color scheme from the following. Achromatic, Monochromatic, Analogous, complimentary, Split complimentary, dual complimentary, cool colors, warm colors, triadic, or rainbow colors. Colors that you would want to work with for a future quilt.
Paint shirt
Paper plates (3) for palate and water container
Paper towel or paint rag
Paper and fabric scissors
A variety of photographs for inspiration, (flowers, animals, still life, anything that you would like to abstract into a quilt design)
Notebook
View finder, buy a medium matt for framing a picture 11" on one side or larger and cut it on the diagonal in the two opposite corners

A folder or portfolio for your designs.
Masking tape

There is a $17 fee for supplies needed for the designing part of the class.

For the longer class you will need fabric in the color scheme that you have chosen in full value range, (7 values from light to dark, several pieces in each of the 7 value steps for each color) enough fabric to start your design. A sewing machine with a free motion foot, iron and ironing surface, threads and needles. Spraystarch, washcloth, stiletto (available in class) monofilament thread, stapler and staples. Ball point pen, pencils for marking on fabric.

I will have sulky stabilizer and poster board needed for the pattern. If necessary we will have our designs enlarged for our templates this is an additional cost of anywhere from 20 to 30 dollars depending on what the copy shop charges.

Value

Color and Value, learn to work with a full range of values to create depth and illumination. Discover the importance of the light-lights and the power of very darks and how to make the colors in-between enhance their impact. We will work with Grays, Black and White Prints and color

1 or 2 days, all levels

Materials list:

paper and fabric scissors, pencil and ruler, iron and ironing surface, glue stick
Fabrics and inspiration will be included in the kit. All fabrics will be fused and ready for use

Cost of kit is $35.00

Composition

Work with two different interpretations of composition.

First we will Identify the “9 patch of compositions”. Using a picture from magazines we will associate its composition with one of the nine compositional elements, enhance that composition and work with one of the nine color schemes, create a piece that is one step from reality and a second piece that is more abstract.

A kit for 25.00US,m that includes all fabrics needed for the exercises, all fused and ready to use. Inspirational photos, paper and color wheel.

Materials list:

paper and fabric scissors, pencil and ruler, iron and ironing surface.

Color and Composition for the Creative Quilter

Through the use of color and composition we will explore exercises on the following:

How to create transparencies, how to create and actually use a color wheel and gray scales, seeing and drawing, composition, proportion, viewing paths, cropping and zooming in.

Work with 9 different color schemes, including monochromatic, analogous and complimentary.

The class samples will be small fused works. The goal is for the student to leave with several ideas for future quilts and a better understanding of art principles as they relate to quilt artists.

75.00 US Kit fee encludes all fabric needed for the class fused and ready to use.

Katie and Brett Barker’s book on this class is now in your quilt shops.

Designing Abstract Quilts

This workshop will show you how to start with an original photograph or line drawing and create a departure from its reality. 2 days for design additional days may be added if you would like to start a piece and learn sewing techniques.

We will do 6 different exercises to explore the abstract and non-representational designs, these include, shape, line, blind painting, “cubing”, zooming, abstract still life.

Composition, color schemes and a well thought out plan will be emphasized. A quilt design will be fully realized. Many different techniques will be discussed to help you create your quilt such as appliqué, piecing, fusing, collage, and painting and stamping on the surface.

Ghost Layers and Color Washes

1. A photograph is used for the base design.

2. Add a Ghost layer or floating design, (transparency) complimentary or in opposition to the first layer.

3. Add additional colors by following a painted water color wash (a painting on paper)

These three layers combined will create an in-depth and illusionary design.

A small quilt sample will be created the first day and then a larger masterpiece will be started for the balance of the class.

Supplies:

I will supply the paper products needed for a materials fee of $11.00.

2" brush, 3" foam brush (art supply or hardware store) a small palate, (can be foam meat trays or white picnic plates), container for water, 3 small tubes of water color paint from these colors, (choose 3) red, yellow, orange, blue, green and purple. 3 colored pencils to match the colors you choose.

Pencil for drawing - pencils for marking on fabric - ruler - compass - fabric and paper scissors - rags and/or paper towels - tape - washcloth, spray starch, iron and ironing surface and extension cords, (workshop coordinators, we need one iron for every two people. Stiletto, also available in class.

Standard stapler that opens up flat and lots of extra staples, .01 fine point pigma pen.

Optional: Sewing Machine, we only need 5 or 6 machines for a whole class to share; if you would prefer to use your own machine, bring it. If you are traveling by airplane, plan to borrow someone for the small amount of time we use machines.

Fabrics in the colors you want to use, (3 different colors that match the 3 tubes of paint you have chosen for the water color layer) sorted into 7 different values of each. Make separate piles of each of the steps, step 1 being white and very pale shades of the color, step 2 being a little darker, on through all of the steps to step 7 which will be black and very dark shades of the color. Have several pieces in each of the steps for each of the different colors you choose to work with. That would be a minimum of 3 in each step times 7 steps for at least 21 different pieces for each of the different colors times 3 different colors for at least 63 fabrics. The more fabrics you have to choose from the easier it will be. You will not need very much of any one color fat eights or thirds of a yard should be enough. Keep these in the separate steps by putting a paper spacer between them in a shoe box or transport them in zip lock bags. Sorting is the most time consuming, please bring them sorted and I will help fine tune the steps in class. If you like working with black and white prints bring them in the seven steps as well.

For the two day class bring photographs that you would like to make into a Ghost Layer and Color Wash quilt.

For the three or longer day class, we will go to Kinkos with our drawing for a big piece and start on the quilt, so bring photographs that you want to make into a quilt. More fabric in your choosen colors. Tracing paper

Fractured Landscapes

Create a beautiful landscape using a photo of a “special place.” Find your personal, stylized version of reality. Fracture the finished drawing to create different shapes for color choices and add a surrealistic quality. Work with a stabilizer or foundation, blind machine applique, machine satin/straight quilting in a quilt-as-you-go format. Easy techniques that create a complex looking landscape.

Supplies:

Tracing Paper, Pencil. Ruler. Compass, scissors: paper & fabric, masking tape and scotch tape, threads to match fabrics, monofilament thread, fabric pencils, pins, spray starch, black MICHRON 01 Pen

Sewing machine: zig-zag, iron and ironing surface, extension cord, glue stick, wash cloth

These things will be available to use or purchase in class:

Stilletto, acetate, sulky totally stable, books

Ideas:

Bring an 8" x 10" (or larger) photo of landscape.

Or a photo from a magazine, book or calender) This will be what you will use to create the landscape drawing part of the quilt. If you can’t get an 8" x 10" of your photo use a good color Xerox to enlarge it, only as a last resort and only if they can do a good clear reproduction.

Fabrics:

Bring fabrics that relate to the photograph or picture. Sort your fabrics into 7 seperate steps, step 1 being white and very pale shades and step 7 being black and very dark shades of all of the colors in your photo. Steps 2 thru 6 are gradations in-between. Have several fabrics of each color in each step.

For the two day class please:

Bring a cellutex, or builders board approximately 36" to use as a pin up wall, and a stapler and lots of staples. Or fabric for pin up wall with lots of pins and scotch tape. Once we draw our design, we will go to Kinko’s to enlarge our pattern. There will be a fee for these enlargements ($18.00-25.00), but we will keep the cost at a minimum.)

Machine Quilting

Have you seen the new Quilt-as-you-Go, Fractured Landscapes that Katie Pasquini has been making? They were included in the 1995 AQS show and won her a first and a second!
She uses "satin/straight" stitch quilting. The satin stitching is done in free motion from the thicker satin stitch to the thin straight stitch while sewing. These varying width in quilting stitch adds texture and depth to any project. Katie's beautiful, large, Fractured Landscapes are quilted in small sections (Fractured pieces) and then assembled in a quilt-as-you-go fashion, using a strip of fabric to cover the seams on the back. She will also let you in on her "spray" basting for these smaller sections. You will need a machine that has the darning foot or a big foot attachment, and that does a varying width zig zag.

1 Day 3 Hours

Materials needed:

Two pieces of fresh fruit
Sewing machine that does a zig zag and a darning or big foot attachment in good working order
two pieces of 18" square solid fabric
two pieces of 18” square of white solid fabric
an appliqued or pieced block with a backing. (This block should contain different types of printed fabric. Stipes, checks, visual texture. You could put together different fabrics in squares or a more random pattern like a crazy quilt. Or a landscape or anything you can imagine.)
I will supply the batting.
Several spools of thread that match and contrast with your chosen fabrics and black thread.
Bobbins
A Stiletto. I will have these in class for use and or purchase

Little thread scissors
The normal things you use to clean your machine.
Fabric pencil, ruler
Sewing machine needles for quilting or embroidery

Color Theory

Color and texture, warm and cool, reflective and absorbing, all the properties and moods of color in fabric will be explored using actual fabric swatches to design a color wheel and color study wall hanging. Learn to use color more freely, following what looks right to you, not what the text tell you should be. A more emotional way to work with color. The color swatches consist of all types of fabrics, from cottons and blends. To satins and lamé, everything!

1 day class, 6 hours. Each student will bring fabrics from home to combine with each others, to create a color wheel and several studies.

Materials:

1/2 yd of fabric to use as a 4pin-up surface. (muslin, batting, felt, etc.), pins, glue stick,

fabric squares: go through you fabrics and cut two, 2 1/2 inch squares of each color. Cut as many squares as you have time. (You will personally use at least 100 squares) One set of squares will be for you and the other set will be added to the group pile. Use fabrics of all colors and all fiber contents. The one with the most squares wins a great door prize!!

Binoculars, reducing lens or door peep hole.

Isometric Perspective

Isometric perspective is the picture of an object adrift in imaginary space. Using Isometric graph paper you can create many interlocking designs. In 3 dimensional perspective a vanishing point is used and you draw things as you actually see them, a road seems to narrow in the distance, parallel lines converge on the horizon, but in Isometrics, all parallel lines remain parallel, creating an optical illusion of dimension. One of the oldest quilt patterns iws based on isometrics, baby blocks. Inner city is also based on isometric graph paper. We will carry these patterns further to create dimensional interlocking designs.

1 day 6 hrs, all levels

For a two day class the second day the students will design their own quilt, learning how to enlarge and make templates and to work with color to create more dimension.

Supplies:

Several small pieces of fabrics in light medium and dark.

Scissors, pencil, eraser, compass, tape, small gridded ruler, needle and thread, template material, pins, pad of tracing paper 8 1/2” x 11” or any size you have available.

For the longer class, more fabric and more template material and a sewing machine

3 Dimensional Design

Discover how to achieve three dimensional effects on a two dimensional surface. In this design class we will learn to work with one and two point perspective, diminishing surfaces and circles, spheres, boxes, planes, walls and much more.

The student will learn to see things as they truly are and how to interpret that reality on paper and then with fabric.

There is time set aside for group discussion of individual projects brought from home. Be sure to bring something you have done that is dimensional IN DESIGN OR COLOR CHOICE.

1 day 6 hours. For the one day class, we will work all day drawing different dimensional lessons, with a discussion of the students quilt. The last hour is spent designing individual dimensional quilts.

Materials:

Tracing paper ( at least 10 sheets of 14" x 17")
one sheet graph paper, pencil and sharpener, ruler, compass, protractor, a quilt or work in progress that has some dimensional quality to it, whether it be color or design that makes it so, if available.

We will use 3 Dimensional Design by Katie Pasquini as a text, and will have books available for use or purchase in class.

Mandala

The mandala is created by designing within a wedge that is then rotated around a center to produce a kaleidoscope type design. Learn to design in this simple format, to make templates, cut fabrics accurately and piece on the machine so that everything fits together perfectly.

Material list 1 day for the two day each student will build their own Mandala

We will all design our individual Mandalas, then choose 1 from the entire class. This one design will be enlarged, templates made and two different color ways will be made. The class will break into teams to work together to complete the mandala. A drawing will be held to determine who will take it home.

Several sewing machines will be needed:

Fabrics, all types and color, these will make up the pool we will draw from. Scissors and pins, fabric marking pencils, compass, tracing paper, pencil, ruler, eraser, protractor

A 6 hr. workshop is $700.00 and a 3 hr. workshop is $500.