Hire me.
Because of the pandemic, many teachers were faced with losing teaching schedules, and in some cases venue opportunities never returned. Teaching online classes became the solution many teachers have pursued.
I am grateful to have already created three on-demand workshops on color, composition and botanical printing which have been successful. My Craftsy class on fabric dyeing has received more than 30 five star ratings! Add to this the fact that the Creative Strength Training course has risen in popularity and significance over the past seven years, and the path forward seemed obvious. Interactions with other artists are fun for me while being inexpensive, worthwhile ways for others to engage their creative selves.
But what about guilds and other small art groups – forced to cancel months of careful in-person programming?
I am delighted to announce a new set of lectures developed with these groups – perhaps YOUR group – in mind.
Consider the benefits:
Lectures can be set for any time, based on the desires and schedules of group members.
Lectures can be attended by an unlimited number of participants simultaneously, which curtails the expense of hiring a meeting space.
Lectures can be the precursor for follow-up sessions, lectures or classes tailored to the interests of the group.
Here are descriptions for six lectures I’ve developed with the Zoom platform in mind. Your guild or small group may find an intriguing topic you would like to pursue, or these may be a springboard for a session designed specifically to suit your profile. Have an area of interest? Just write to me to get the momentum started!
LECTURES ARE APPROXIMATELY ONE HOUR IN DURATION BUT ALLOW AN ADDITIONAL HOUR + FOR QUESTIONS AND DISCUSSION.
2 HOURS.
FEE: $500
Please note: Lectures may not be recorded.
I am so excited to offer these topics for your consideration. Please write to me if you have any questions, or would like to book a date for your group, no matter how large or small you are!
From the Dye Kitchen
Fiber reactive Procion dyes are endlessly versatile. Immersion dyeing and printing with thickened dyes is just the start. Anyone who dips a few lengths of cloth into a bucket begins to wonder, “Why did that happen?” Or “Yikes, what did I do?”
This lecture dives into the dye lab and answers questions focusses on the mysteries of fiber reactive dye – from the standpoint of student experiments that were explored and repeated over a ten year period, in my studio programs. The takeaway is a wealth of knowledge that will make any dyeing you pursue more satisfying (and predictable!)
The Elegant Choice
Each of us has available myriad choices of materials and techniques. How to navigate the waters of choice and indecision? This entertaining lecture on the elements of contrast and relationship sorts out the variables and provides strategies for making wise choices based on these seven elements: color, value, shape, size, texture, stylization and thematic interaction. Luscious visuals drive the lessons home!
The Best of Both Worlds: Enhanced Botanical Printing
Botanical Printing is magical, but there is so much more to do when you are willing to consider enhancements from the world of surface design. This is an engaging overview of what works and what doesn’t, how to get started and the joy of combining processes and improvising in order to put a distinctive imprint on the work you do.This lecture can be continued into Part II with the discussion and demonstration of advanced processes.
Mastering Focal Point and Balance
This lecture underscores the importance of establishing balance in a work of art whether it is a textile, a painting or a three-dimensional object. Balance may be symmetrical but it could just as easily be asymmetrical. This presentation sorts out the difference and introduces viewers to all of the permutations in between. And then we look at the door into the picture world. The focal point. Any artist who attends this lecture will emerge surer and more confident when it comes to managing balance and focal point issues in her work.
The Stage Play Analogy: A Model for Visual Surfaces
The organization of any film, television sitcom, or stage play is a model for the compositions we create in fiber, paint, clay or mixed media. There is a background. There is a supporting cast, and there are stars. Sometimes just one major star and sometimes two who share the leading role. And then we also have the ensemble production, where every character plays an important part. Learn to analyze your own work from the perspective of the stage play analogy. This is an entertaining lecture with light-hearted moments but your approach to making will never be the same!
The Committee, The Critic and The Judge: How We Can Embrace Criticism and Learn to Love Our Work
If criticism isn’t the biggest buzzkill to making a lot of work consistently, I don’t know what is. Everybody’s got a critic – whether it’s someone they know, or a voice that comes from deep inside. Learn to silence that negative voice and even turn it into a source of inspiration. This lecture is especially valuable as a group discussion, whether your group is six people or sixty.
Fun and Games with Creative Strength Training
This is a perfect lecture for any group up to 40 people. Through a series of activities you can do at home while you watch and listen, we can create a welcoming and encouraging environment where everyone feels more creative and excited about making than they did before we started.
Short supply list provided to participants in advance of the lecture.