The top of the yr certain 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) 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 method—all the time a lot extra to be taught! That’s what I like about what I do—all the time extra to find about working with material collage—for my repeat college students, similar 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 contemporary in my thoughts made me all of the extra grateful for the chance to show this fashion—no touring. I’m not adversarial to journey, I’ve performed it loads, however when time begins rushing up it’s certain 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 luggage 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 get pleasure from myself—but it surely’s certain 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 educate whereas staying at residence. For my college students, it looks as if 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 identify) and their material collage “topics of the week.” I’m certain many faces in as we speak’s and subsequent week’s posts will likely be acquainted to lots of my long-term readers. Sit again and benefit from the present, and be astounded.
As all the time, 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 (presumably drink wine) and share previous material work to get know one another higher.
Take a look at 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 info, together with dates, charges, and descriptions.
2025 Dwell On-line and In-Particular person Material Collage Lessons
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 street” 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 contemporary understanding on the place she needed to make adjustments on her earlier work. Working in “drafts,” Becky made refined but cumulatively enormous variations within the ranges of completion of those portraits over the course of the week. Should you look intently on the child’s faces above, you possibly can see the refined 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 certain turned nice associates. 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 ravishing deer. Chances are you’ll wish to take a look at 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 he or she made nice progress on all these essential components 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 refined adjustments in form and worth that make up a topic. Plus, she has a particular method of encouraging us to interrupt via preconceived bins. For me, that was giving my towheaded grandson blue inexperienced hair! So enjoyable! And he’s going to adore it.
Cathy Holmes Present and Share
Grace Crocker
I’ve now misplaced rely 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 photographs as Grace does, you gotta work with what you could have, and although Grace might have hit a wall or two with this portrait, she stored proper on going and labored issues out. Grace was one among three college students coping with child tooth in grinning mouths—they usually all made it via that (generally) painful-to-collage facial function fairly properly. The gown that Grace is establishing 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 instructed me to do them “precisely like I see them.” She additionally confirmed me the best way to shade 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 a virtually life-sized portrait of a mermaid as properly—merging real-life and fantasy. In my view, the toughest half is finished—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 might have taken a number of hours, but it surely’s now performed, and performed properly. Any more, Jean can play together with her material and take as a lot creative license as she desires 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 all the time been fascinated with the idea of a mermaid. She has all the time 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 needs to be her with a mermaid physique.
Jean White Present and Share
Come again subsequent week—identical collage-time, identical 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.
