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 multitude, 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’ll end up alright ultimately.
It’s one of many causes that week-long courses are a great factor. I’ve my college students lengthy sufficient to get by the messy scary levels to the place they will search for from their collages, and smile. Within the photograph gallery under (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 once I had a digicam pointed of their path—however laughed at themselves and stated I ought to embrace the photographs on this publish anyway.
This class had loads of humor, visited and chatted with one another, exchanged numbers and, as I’ve heard, are protecting 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, under left (very applicable as this group had a lot happiness). Our classroom appeared fairly empty and unhappy when everybody had packed up and departed, under proper.
Nonetheless, on the final day of sophistication, a plan got here collectively for a “Return to Bar Harbor” in September, 2025. Subsequent 12 months will really be a brand new type of providing—two consecutive weeks with a weekend break in between. Similar location, identical college students, identical class—ten days dedicated to material collage. This 12 months’s college students had been enticed by the thought. Are you?
When you’re a subscriber to my weblog, then you should have obtained my 2025 instructing schedule as a separate publish through e-mail, instantly after this one. It accommodates dates and additional data for all of my subsequent 12 months’s courses—each in-person and on-line—together with the 2 week class in Bar Harbor, Maine, with MISA
Subsequent 12 months can be my third 12 months 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 may even be in at this time’s second publish. When you miss it, the posts are all the time obtainable 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 satisfy and work along with her. She is a trainer herself, of kindergartners, and had a helpful hand-clapping trick for when I discovered myself at a loss for methods to 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 joyful shade and persona.
Barbara Grant
I’ve identified Barb Grant of Pacific Grove, California, for years and years. She’s been my pupil on and off, however largely a great good friend. She’s been telling me of her “Flutter-by’s” for fairly awhile, however I lastly obtained to see these superbly detailed little specimens when she introduced them to show-and-share in school (above, and once more under). 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 shade. Her feathered fellow is creating fairly a persona to crow about. 😉
Barb Grant’s Present and Share Material Collage Paintings
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 12 months. There, she impressed me with how she interpreted her mostly-black canine with refined accents of shade right here and there from patterns in her materials. On this Maine class she had a type 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 Material Collage Paintings
Lynne Lott
Lynne Lott of Hamilton, Virginia, selected a photograph of her “Ellie,” primarily based on her fur-baby’s goofy expression—and she or he nailed it already. As you have a look at the in-progress photographs under, Ellie appears to emerge from the inspiration material—step-by-step—with every colourful facial function added.On this photograph, you’ll be able to see how Lynn assembles a watch on a separate mini-pinning board—usually a extra snug angle for working. She’s additionally using a fantastic use of patterns from her materials to offer a fantastic aptitude to Ellie’s stunning 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 among them. Her daughter additionally has a factor for lengthy eyelashes. When you take be aware within the photographs under, the giraffe’s nostril and face could also be morphing and merging in shade and materials, however she all the time has (and apparently, all the time 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 facet of the bridge of the giraffe’s nostril.
Sylvie Aguilar
Sylvie Aguilar from Acton, Massachusetts, has been in just a few of my courses—each in-person and on-line—and has develop into a good friend as nicely. She loves shade and units herself studying challenges and objectives for every of the animals she has collaged. For this sheep, she needed to work with clear and vibrant colours, making the ewe as assorted in shade as potential.Earlier than she met Barb in school, Sylvie had already named her yet-to-be-started sheep, Baaaa-brah. The true Barbara might look a bit skeptical, but it surely’s extra about me asking to take a photograph of all three of them collectively. In any other case, Barbara stated she was happy to share her title with Sylvie’s creation. Baaaa-brah is the second of 4 barnyard animal portraits that Sylvie has deliberate. Mooo-nique (pictured each above and under) was the primary, created within the 2022 Bar Harbor class.
Sylvie Aguilar‘s Present and Share Material Collage Paintings
Dawn, Morning Walks with Espresso, Outside Cafes, and a Rescued Cat in Bar Harbor
I believe many of the photographs under can be self explanatory sufficient, being out and concerning the downtown of Bar Harbor. Nonetheless, the man pictured between Barb and I is Irv, her husband, a fantastic man and fairly enjoyable to be round. The cat on the very finish, was scooped up from a busy street because it ran to us on our morning stroll—then stored protected for just a few hours till reunited with their particular person. All-in-all, good reminiscences to complete up our week collectively.
