WORKING IN A SERIES
Just recently, decided to investigate exactly what "working in a series" means to other people, to determine to what extent a workshop in "working in a series" would help spur my creativity and professional growth -
OK, before my exporation into the topic, I sorta knew what it meant to me - sorta - cause after doing a goggle search - I realized that many artists agreed that one really doesn't understand what "working in a series" means until experiencing the process enough times - in my words, the LIGHT BULB has to click ON - atleast that is what I took away from this video by Sean Scully "Wall of Light" -
Then I discovered Sue Favinger Smith's fine art blog - another artist with similar self-seeking questions. While her "working in series" article was what I originally went there for, she left me feeling peaceful after reading about "off grid" perspective.
Sandy's Blog was so spot on for me - fun to read AND a definition - ah ha - the answers in black and white - - - "To create a series you need to pick a theme, subject, or idea, a genre, medium(s), and it is helpful, but not necessary, to have a color story or repetitive technique for the foundation pieces as you build your collection." She went on to discuss picking her theme, a genre, a medium, with a color story, and a technique - plus PHOTOs.
Seriously though - Reflecting back on what I called my first series, to visualize what my process was - My inspiration was a sign "Frognet" and in spur of the moment, the objective was to make a "series" of quilts and when one was good enough, enter it in Quilt National. I wanted to explore man's impact upon nature - I only made two quilts, both of which are shown in my header on the Polywog-FiberArt Studio webpage. What happened? Commissions for a Quilt Vendor, which, actually, merged into my Circle Series - and the topic was lost - or was it?
A few years later - another series sprung up based upon TREES and a theme depicting emotions evoked during the month and region chosen - my genre was art quilt, abstract realism, the size was already determined by the venue, as was how many to do. I had recently experimented with over dying - and decided that I would ONLY use that fabric - it wasn't until nearing the end of executing my last few pieces that realization struck, my color palate was too limited for the effects I needed to achieve - Additionally, it was a requirement to use a new technique each time - so technically, perhaps it was only a series in limited sense?
But wait! My light bulb just came on - for intuitively, I tend to work in series, I just never identified that is what I do - oh my - - - mentally thumbing through my quilts, going back to my traditional quilting days, using the Ricki Tims technique, making 22 quilts, in three color palates. I remember an immense feeling of satisfaction seeing them all hanging in an exhibit, and thinking of the learning that occurred making each one of them -
After exhausting that idea, I went into a curved piecing frenzy, using inset circles, too many quilts to count - and yes, still counting... This one, now in a private collection, remains one of my favorites.
Next, was the DoubleCuts series - which I actually called a series (meaning several of the same type)... I posted a few of these at my FB page Polywog FiberArt Studio -
SO, the answer for me is YES, I work in series - but more loosely structured than others - while I don't like repetitive tasks - I must like re-occurring themes - because nature influences and inspires all my work - once I perfect the technique - it is time to move to the next, more exciting "series".
I am still undecided about the on-line class - with full-time work, and starting my 4th graphics art class - and trying to work on my body of work - hmmmm, perhaps I will muddle on by myself - sigh - it sounded like such a great idea a week ago.
Just recently, decided to investigate exactly what "working in a series" means to other people, to determine to what extent a workshop in "working in a series" would help spur my creativity and professional growth -
OK, before my exporation into the topic, I sorta knew what it meant to me - sorta - cause after doing a goggle search - I realized that many artists agreed that one really doesn't understand what "working in a series" means until experiencing the process enough times - in my words, the LIGHT BULB has to click ON - atleast that is what I took away from this video by Sean Scully "Wall of Light" -
Then I discovered Sue Favinger Smith's fine art blog - another artist with similar self-seeking questions. While her "working in series" article was what I originally went there for, she left me feeling peaceful after reading about "off grid" perspective.
Sandy's Blog was so spot on for me - fun to read AND a definition - ah ha - the answers in black and white - - - "To create a series you need to pick a theme, subject, or idea, a genre, medium(s), and it is helpful, but not necessary, to have a color story or repetitive technique for the foundation pieces as you build your collection." She went on to discuss picking her theme, a genre, a medium, with a color story, and a technique - plus PHOTOs.
Seriously though - Reflecting back on what I called my first series, to visualize what my process was - My inspiration was a sign "Frognet" and in spur of the moment, the objective was to make a "series" of quilts and when one was good enough, enter it in Quilt National. I wanted to explore man's impact upon nature - I only made two quilts, both of which are shown in my header on the Polywog-FiberArt Studio webpage. What happened? Commissions for a Quilt Vendor, which, actually, merged into my Circle Series - and the topic was lost - or was it?
A few years later - another series sprung up based upon TREES and a theme depicting emotions evoked during the month and region chosen - my genre was art quilt, abstract realism, the size was already determined by the venue, as was how many to do. I had recently experimented with over dying - and decided that I would ONLY use that fabric - it wasn't until nearing the end of executing my last few pieces that realization struck, my color palate was too limited for the effects I needed to achieve - Additionally, it was a requirement to use a new technique each time - so technically, perhaps it was only a series in limited sense? But wait! My light bulb just came on - for intuitively, I tend to work in series, I just never identified that is what I do - oh my - - - mentally thumbing through my quilts, going back to my traditional quilting days, using the Ricki Tims technique, making 22 quilts, in three color palates. I remember an immense feeling of satisfaction seeing them all hanging in an exhibit, and thinking of the learning that occurred making each one of them -
After exhausting that idea, I went into a curved piecing frenzy, using inset circles, too many quilts to count - and yes, still counting... This one, now in a private collection, remains one of my favorites.Next, was the DoubleCuts series - which I actually called a series (meaning several of the same type)... I posted a few of these at my FB page Polywog FiberArt Studio -
SO, the answer for me is YES, I work in series - but more loosely structured than others - while I don't like repetitive tasks - I must like re-occurring themes - because nature influences and inspires all my work - once I perfect the technique - it is time to move to the next, more exciting "series".
I am still undecided about the on-line class - with full-time work, and starting my 4th graphics art class - and trying to work on my body of work - hmmmm, perhaps I will muddle on by myself - sigh - it sounded like such a great idea a week ago.
Posts
