“Not-So-Goldfish,” that’s the title I gave to my goldfish collage above, as a result of properly, he kinda went off into his personal coloration scheme as he advanced. It occurs—particularly after I restrict myself to utilizing solely utilizing the scraps of cloth left over from different topics. A enjoyable approach of working, you’ll be able to examine it right here, however that’s not what this publish is about.
Nope, this publish is about getting began, one of many hardest steps in any artistic endeavor. Only a couple days in the past, in our Throwback Thursday publish, Tom and I completed our six-part Material Collage Assessment. At this time, I reveal the right way to begin placing these steps to work as I start my very own preparations for February’s New Fantastical Fish Class.
Click on on any smaller photographs to see them bigger and to scroll by every gallery.
For varied causes, fish are fairly inspiring subject material. I’ve actually created a whole bunch of cloth collaged fish, and I’d fortunately create 100 extra. Nonetheless, I’ve chosen a single goldfish as my “Fish of 2025” topic. If you find yourself attending February’s Fish Class, the selection is yours. Selecting your topic is technically step one in any collage undertaking, and for February, I’ve made that step a bit less complicated for you.
February 6, 13, 20, 27, 2025 — 7 pm, Japanese Time
Fantastical Material Collage Fish Zoom Comply with-Alongside
REGISTER HERE
Value: $78
As a registrant you’ll obtain a code for a free fish sample from my on-line store (a number of examples above and beneath) to comply with alongside as you play with your personal material stash—however you’re welcome in fact to make use of your personal fish design, or simply “waft” of your material.
For February’s class, I selected a goldfish design since that pretty spherical physique gave me a pleasant expanse to fill with a spread of coloration values—the emphasis of this 12 months’s Fantastical Fish Class. I’m specializing in one coloration vary and demonstrating what to search for in your materials to mix from mild to darkish values—the type of talent that may result in extra visible dimension in portraying a topic in material, or another artwork medium.
Getting Began—Material Collage Assessment 1 of 6: Selecting Material
As I used to be pondering what fish and what colours for my February 2025 Comply with-Alongside topic, out got here the oranges and greens—materials that final 12 months’s February Fish would have completely blended into (beneath left, decrease proper nook). A reminder to myself, that I’m fairly predictable in my coloration decisions—instantly gravitating towards a sure group of colours for nearly any new undertaking. We are able to all have our favorites, proper?
Wanting round my studio for items that didn’t primarily comprise oranges and yellows, my Betta Duo and Purple Fish, beneath, caught my eye. Appears that I additionally have a tendency to achieve for aquas very often. Nonetheless, how about reds or blues? Since I already had an enormous ol’ purple fish, I turned to my blue materials as a coloration alternative for my new fish. Djinni Cat, above proper, accepted of that alternative.
Heads Over Tails
Purple Fish
Djinni additionally helped with the primary edit (beneath) of narrowing down my preliminary decide of blue materials to work with—eliminating the plain aqua blues—for the variation of coloration I had in thoughts. However then I obtained pondering, “a blue goldfish?” Is there such a factor? And sure, there’s! A Blue Oranda and different “blue” fish are referenced beneath.
I even discovered that there’s a phrase for the bizarre lumpiness on some goldfish—a “wen”—who knew? Blue fish additionally symbolize good luck and prosperity—not a foul undertaking to start the New 12 months. I normally analysis my topics a minimum of just a little bit, although I’ll nonetheless change them to any coloration that strikes my fancy.
First edit of blue materials, sans cat, loosely grouped by values (above). Lowered to 36 materials, however I’ve discovered that getting it all the way down to 15-20 helps reduce down on that preliminary, “the place do I begin?” overwhelm.
Beneath is 20 materials, for those who don’t depend the “inspiration material” within the middle. Sure, there’s nonetheless aqua, inexperienced, yellow, and orange to be discovered on this choice, however once more, it’s a begin. I can (and can) add extra materials and greater than doubtless change my thoughts alongside the way in which, as soon as I see how my blue goldfish begins creating.
Getting Began—Material Collage Assessment 2 of 6: Making a Palette
Now that I’ve obtained my sample and a few materials, what’s subsequent? Reduce a palette from these materials. Learn the weblog hyperlink above as to why I extremely suggest NOT to skip this step. I at all times make a palette—it the place the taking part in begins, a great way to start.
Open up each bit of cloth and utilizing the printed designs as a information, reduce out different hand-sized shapes (one from every chosen material) for a starting palette. Drop the reduce items into mild, darkish, and medium worth piles, such as you see above. It’s enjoyable to see how the materials begin to work collectively, with out even making an attempt.
As soon as my material palette was reduce, I obtained anxious to see what kind of coloration and worth preparations I may make with these items. I re-grouped the palette immediately onto the enlarged paper sample (beneath)—a preview of the probabilities! I’m loving the blues—that is going to be enjoyable!
And that’s what that you must get began—decide a topic, decide a coloration (or colours), get misplaced in your materials and are available out with a variety. Type by these materials together with your coloration, topic, and a wide range of values in thoughts. Cut back to 15-20 materials and reduce your material collage palette. Contributors of the Comply with-Alongside Class will get a extra detailed guidelines to organize, however that is the gist of it.
Tune in to February’s Fantastical Material Collage Fish Zoom Comply with-Alongside and comply with alongside 😉 as I get happening my latest not-so-goldfish—then flip round and get going by yourself!
Interested by what the following Material Collage Assessment steps cowl? Examine them out within the linked posts beneath:
Susan Carlson Material Collage Assessment 3 of 6: Why Glue?
Susan Carlson Material Collage Assessment 4 of 6: Working in Sequence
Susan Carlson Material Collage Assessment 5 of 6: Backgrounds
Susan Carlson Material Collage Assessment 6 of 6: Utilizing Sheers
February 6, 13, 20, 27, 2025 — 7 pm, Japanese Time
Fantastical Material Collage Fish Zoom Comply with-Alongside
REGISTER HERE
Value: $78
Come be part of me as I progress step-by-step by my subsequent fantastical fish, a blue Goldie
Beneath, final 12 months’s completed Comply with-Alongside undertaking, Piscine Dreamtime
