The top of the yr positive appears to hurry up, doesn’t it? Seemingly on the heels of 1 on-line class got here one other, each 5-day workshops, one in October, the opposite ending final week in November, simply in time to prep for Thanksgiving. Hope you had (or are nonetheless having) a great time with particular folks over this lengthy weekend.
November’s On-line class was geared towards those that have taken not less than one or two prior courses with me and are at that “intermediate-advanced” stage, previous the fundamentals in any case. It permits us to maneuver alongside a little bit quicker and dig a little bit deeper into the material collage approach—at all times a lot extra to be taught! That’s what I really like about what I do—at all times extra to find about working with material collage—for my repeat college students, akin to Cathy Holmes with the in-progress portrait of her grandson (picture above)—and for me as properly.
Having this newest on-line class so recent in my thoughts made me all of the extra grateful for the chance to show this fashion—no touring. I’m not antagonistic to journey, I’ve performed it lots, however when time begins dashing up it’s positive good to not need to pack something, or to catch any mode of transportation, or to heft any well-packed carry-on into overhead storage, or to attend with fingers crossed that my two checked luggage will seem on the prime of the bags carrousel—one with class supplies, one with my “educating” garments—earlier than I’ve to heft them off that transferring contraption.
Oh, I’ll be doing all that once more quickly sufficient—as soon as I get to the place I’m touring to, I do take pleasure in myself—nevertheless it’s positive good to have the steadiness of each in-person and on-line courses as a part of my yr’s schedule.
For me it’s largely the considered what’s concerned with journey that makes me most appreciative to have the ability to train whereas staying at dwelling. For my college students, it looks like what’s most appreciated is the flexibility to dip into their material stash as wanted. Plus having their fur-people round them. I agree with that as properly—who wouldn’t need their cat slowly stepping throughout the pc keyboard as they’re making annotations on somebody’s picture?
Let me introduce you to 4 of the scholars on this class (in alphabetical order by first title) and their material collage “topics of the week.” I’m positive many faces in at this time’s and subsequent week’s posts shall be acquainted to a lot of my long-term readers. Sit again and benefit from the present, and be astounded.
As at all times, click on on any smaller picture to view bigger and to scroll via that exact picture gallery.
The Present and Share quilts you’ll see are people who have been despatched in for our “Class Night” the place we simply go to (probably drink wine) and share previous material work to get know one another higher.
Try 2025 Material Collage courses with Susan—each in-person and on-line courses (together with our 4-week Work-Alongs) are scheduled and open for registration. Click on the 2025 hyperlink under for extra data, together with dates, charges, and descriptions.
2025 Dwell On-line and In-Particular person Material Collage Courses
Additional Susan Carlson Studying Sources: Susan Carlson Quilts web site, patterns, weblog (typically), YouTube movies, Spiral eWorkshop, Patreon, and our February Fantastical Fish and Summertime’s Fascinating Bugs and Butterfly Work-Alongs
Becky Manske
Becky Manske from Eau Claire, Wisconsin, has taken a pair courses with me at Woodland Ridge Retreat, simply “down the highway” from her. She started engaged on this double portrait of her grandchildren in November 2017, adopted up in November 2021 with additional progress. I used to be impressed to be taught that within the interim, Becky has taken drawing and portray classes in portraiture—so she got here to this newest class with a recent understanding on the place she needed to make modifications on her earlier work. Working in “drafts,” Becky made delicate but cumulatively big variations within the ranges of completion of those portraits over the course of the week. When you look intently on the child’s faces above, you’ll be able to see the delicate shading Becky achieved with black tulle—particularly across the eyes and mouths.
From Becky:
Natalie and Kasey are 2 of our grandchildren. This picture was taken in the course of the time I watched them each. They positive turned nice buddies. I felt the picture mirrored that point they spent collectively making recollections.
Becky Manske Present and Share
Cathy Holmes
Cathy Holmes logged in from Lewistown, Montana. In September 2021, and a pair months later in one other on-line follow-up class, Cathy started and continued engaged on a gorgeous deer. You might wish to try her feedback on the faun’s progress, and the way she made the spots, in these class hyperlinks, above. Cathy has continued to work independently on different topics since then, however this week was her first portrait collage and she or he made nice progress on all these fundamental parts of her grandson’s face and hair—taking his joyfulness into a colourful and fantastical realm.
From Cathy:
I labored on a portrait of my grandson Dexter at age 7 rolling in a leaf pile. His pleasure is infectious and displays the blessing he’s in my life. With Susan’s assist, I feel I’ve began to seize that pleasure in my work. As a trainer, Susan is outstanding. Not solely is she an completed artist, however she is ready to get college students to see the delicate modifications in form and worth that make up a topic. Plus, she has a particular means of encouraging us to interrupt via preconceived containers. For me, that was giving my towheaded grandson blue inexperienced hair! So enjoyable! And he’s going to like it.
Cathy Holmes Present and Share
Grace Crocker
I’ve now misplaced depend as to what number of material collage quilts that Crace Crocker of Chico, California, has now created. I do know she has already handed #20 as she begins this newest household portrait—her daughter, greater than 50 years in the past. When working with previous images as Grace does, you gotta work with what you will have, and although Grace could have hit a wall or two with this portrait, she saved proper on going and labored issues out. Grace was certainly one of three college students coping with child tooth in grinning mouths—and so they all made it via that (generally) painful-to-collage facial function fairly properly. The costume that Grace is setting up for her daughter’s portrait is from material that Grace’s mom embroidered many years in the past, for her granddaughter, Laurie.
From Grace:
I struggled greater than ever earlier than to get Laurie’s eyes—the picture was darkish and I couldn’t see them. Lastly Susan advised me to do them “precisely like I see them.” She additionally confirmed me how one can coloration the attention with shaded material, no distinct pupil. Aha!
Grace Crocker Present and Share
Jean White
When Jean White from Kingston, Ontario, Canada, is completed with this portrait of her daughter, she can have collaged an almost life-sized portrait of a mermaid as properly—merging real-life and fantasy. In my view, the toughest half is completed—Cherie’s facial options. Referencing the “tooth” video from my Facial Options eWorkshop, Jean was capable of recreate her daughter’s smile step-by-step. It could have taken just a few hours, nevertheless it’s now performed, and performed properly. Any further, Jean can play together with her material and take as a lot inventive license as she needs on any decisions she makes for the mermaid physique, who’s to say in any other case? Cherie’s hair is already taking up a wavy “floating” high quality.
From Jean:
Cherie, my daughter, had at all times been fascinated with the idea of a mermaid. She has at all times had a ardour for water (synchronized swimming, diving as a teen and now scuba diving as an grownup). It solely appeared pure that the portrait must be her with a mermaid physique.
Jean White Present and Share
Come again subsequent week—similar collage-time, similar collage-place— for Half 2 of the names, faces, and fabulous material collage work of the second half of my November 2024 Dwell On-line Class.