I’ve a phrase for the time in a collage—or any challenge for that matter—once you’re far sufficient into it to make a large number, however not far sufficient to see the sunshine on the finish. That’s the messy scary stage and it’s a given for the early levels of virtually each material collage, together with my very own endeavors. It’s when you have to simply hold at it and have religion that it’s going to end up alright in the long run.
It’s one of many causes that week-long lessons are factor. I’ve my college students lengthy sufficient to get by the messy scary levels to the place they’ll lookup from their collages, and smile. Within the photograph gallery beneath (click on on any photograph to enlarge your view and scroll by), there are splendidly messy scary collages in-progress, and flooring accumulating palettes of scraps. There are college students sharing their work (on a mirrored demo desk), and ones so immersed of their tasks they had been caught off guard after I had a digicam pointed of their course—however laughed at themselves and mentioned I ought to embody the photographs on this publish anyway.
This class had a variety of humor, visited and chatted with one another, exchanged numbers and, as I’ve heard, are conserving the category going by a messaging group since we parted two weeks in the past. One of many first messages to get handed round was the comedian, beneath left (very applicable as this group had a lot happiness). Our classroom appeared fairly empty and unhappy when everybody had packed up and departed, beneath proper.
Nevertheless, on the final day of sophistication, a plan got here collectively for a “Return to Bar Harbor” in September, 2025. Subsequent yr will really be a brand new form of providing—two consecutive weeks with a weekend break in between. Identical location, similar college students, similar class—ten days dedicated to material collage. This yr’s college students had been enticed by the concept. Are you?
When you’re a subscriber to my weblog, then you’ll have obtained my 2025 educating schedule as a separate publish through electronic mail, instantly after this one. It comprises dates and additional data for all of my subsequent yr’s lessons—each in-person and on-line—together with the 2 week class in Bar Harbor, Maine, with MISA
Subsequent yr can be my third yr at this Maine campus. Right here’s final week’s Half 1 publish. Right here’s what the 2022 “Bar Harbor Inaugural” class was like. MISA’s different campuses are in Tucson, Santa Fe, and Madeline Island in Wisconsin. In April 2025, I can be returning to their Santa Fe campus for one more week of sophistication. Info to register for that class will even be in at present’s second publish. When you miss it, the posts are at all times accessible from my web site at susancarlson.com.
You possibly can click on on any of the smaller photograph galleries to enlarge after which scroll by to view.
Donna Konigsberg
Donna Konigsberg of Fairfax, Virginia, has been a presence in a lot of my on-line choices, however not any 5-day class, till now. It was such a pleasure to lastly get to fulfill and work along with her. She is a instructor herself, of kindergartners, and had a helpful hand-clapping trick for when I discovered myself at a loss for how one can get my very own class’s consideration! Donna has clearly been paying consideration in her material collage research—her purple pup got here collectively seemingly effortlessly, with a splendidly lolling tongue to go along with that blissful colour and character.
Barbara Grant
I’ve recognized Barb Grant of Pacific Grove, California, for years and years. She’s been my pupil on and off, however largely good friend. She’s been telling me of her “Flutter-by’s” for fairly awhile, however I lastly acquired to see these superbly detailed little specimens when she introduced them to show-and-share at school (above, and once more beneath). For Barb’s in-class topic she discovered a design (used with permission) of one other artist’s paper-collaged rooster. This time Barb is working with excessive distinction black and white materials, and simply touches of colour. Her feathered fellow is growing fairly a character to crow about. 😉
Barb Grant’s Present and Share Cloth Collage Art work
Barb’s Flutter-by’s are such an inspiration to play with our materials—rearranging their colours and patterns to create distinctive and eccentric creatures.
Julie Valentine
Julie Valentine of Backyard Metropolis, Kansas, traveled to Tucson to take one other MISA class with me in January of this yr. There, she impressed me with how she interpreted her mostly-black canine with refined accents of colour right here and there from patterns in her materials. On this Maine class she had a form of “magical realism” going with how she cuts out and works with finer prints of florals and vines for the contours and values of one other particular pet.
Julie Valentine‘s Present and Share Cloth Collage Art work
Lynne Lott
Lynne Lott of Hamilton, Virginia, selected a photograph of her “Ellie,” based mostly on her fur-baby’s goofy expression—and he or she nailed it already. As you take a look at the in-progress photographs beneath, Ellie appears to emerge from the inspiration material—step-by-step—with every colourful facial characteristic added.On this photograph, you’ll be able to see how Lynn assembles an eye fixed on a separate mini-pinning board—usually a extra snug angle for working. She’s additionally using a terrific use of patterns from her materials to provide a whimsical aptitude to Ellie’s lovely eyes.
Stacey Starr
Stacey Starr from Jupiter, Florida, has a daughter who likes to journey and take photographs—the giraffe photograph that Stacey is working from is one in every of them. Her daughter additionally has a factor for lengthy eyelashes. When you take notice within the photographs beneath, the giraffe’s nostril and face could also be morphing and merging in colour and materials, however she at all times has (and apparently, at all times WILL have) fabulous eyelashes. Stacey is doing a really good job utilizing her material patterns so as to add visible texture, such because the ridges of highlights on both aspect of the bridge of the giraffe’s nostril.
Sylvie Aguilar
Sylvie Aguilar from Acton, Massachusetts, has been in just a few of my lessons—each in-person and on-line—and has turn into a good friend as properly. She loves colour and units herself studying challenges and targets for every of the animals she has collaged. For this sheep, she needed to work with clear and vibrant colours, making the ewe as various in colour as attainable.Earlier than she met Barb at school, Sylvie had already named her yet-to-be-started sheep, Baaaa-brah. The true Barbara might look a bit skeptical, nevertheless it’s extra about me asking to take a photograph of all three of them collectively. In any other case, Barbara mentioned she was happy to share her identify with Sylvie’s creation. Baaaa-brah is the second of 4 barnyard animal portraits that Sylvie has deliberate. Mooo-nique (pictured each above and beneath) was the primary, created within the 2022 Bar Harbor class.
Sylvie Aguilar‘s Present and Share Cloth Collage Art work
Dawn, Morning Walks with Espresso, Outside Cafes, and a Rescued Cat in Bar Harbor
I feel many of the photographs beneath can be self explanatory sufficient, being out and in regards to the downtown of Bar Harbor. Nevertheless, the guy pictured between Barb and I is Irv, her husband, a terrific man and fairly enjoyable to be round. The cat on the very finish, was scooped up from a busy highway because it ran to us on our morning stroll—then stored protected for just a few hours till reunited with their individual. All-in-all, good recollections to complete up our week collectively.
