Evoke Emotions with Shape and Color – Guest Blogger Alba Romero

Experimental Research for

Advanced Design – Diploma Course Exhibition

Class Name: Sapphires

My theme is the garden–any anything associated with it, such as flowers, shovels, little critters in the garden, and rocks. I focused mainly on flowers. I am intrigued with the design, color, and composition of these elements. I also experimented, using different mediums to create texture, mix colors, and to expand my thinking in using mediums in general. Particularly in this class, I feel that I strengthened my skills to experiment with color, texture, realism, abstraction, and evoking emotions through shape and color. I look forward to taking these ideas and this theme into the next stitch class. I thank my husband, Pete, my family and friends for their support. I also thank Gail and the artists that she brings to the studio, for sharing their knowledge with us and for helping us expand our horizons. All artwork © Alba Romero

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Forget Me Not

I am thinking about all the people who fought in any of the wars throughout the world. Also of their families who have been and are without their loved ones.   Memorial Day helps us to remember but not to help us get beyond the wars. Here’s a tribute to all of those people.  Gail Harker

The following is a note from an embroidered  postcard given to me by Barry Taylor:

Feb. 24, 1916

I say, Jim, This is a hell of a concern. They’re killing men here, I got shelled the other day, and it’s not nice.  I have been 3 times under Fritz’s influence.  Bugger my Tam o Shanter, but things will have to end or I am hopping it, but they will not give me the complete sack, what do you think I am, an Iron Lancer? Do you know, you are as lucky as a Dog with 2 Tam o Shanters for to escape this. Well, never mind, I hope it will not be long before we are Bussing again.

 Love to Nellie and children, Lloyd.

The sentiment remains no matter what year. These postcards with embroidered silk floss were plentiful at the time of the First World War.

A soldier’s note from First World War.  The text is printed above.

An embroidered page from one of my sketchbooks

Closup of embroidered page – Gail Harker

Mapping Discoveries…Guest Blogger – Jill Taylor

Experimental Research for

Advanced Design – Diploma Course

Class Name: Sapphires

We will be featuring work from the exhibition of multimedia art students who have been studying design at the Gail Harker Creative Studies Center for the past 18 months.  The course challenges students to incorporate carefully considered elements of design into large scale projects.  The techniques explored during this course prepared these students to express themselves in the media most appropriate to their unique artistic vision.  Documentation through sketchbooks as well as Wall Hangings, 3-D items and Design boards were incorporated into their art work. Gail Harker

All artwork © Jill Taylor

Advanced Design was never going to be an easy ride for me.  Thanks to Gail and Penny I have gained confidence in my ability to take the germ of an idea into a research theme and then develop that theme visually in a wide variety of ways.  Mapping discoveries truly describes my journey as I look back over the past two years. Jill

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Memory Keeper …. Guest Blogger – Dianne Corso

   Calypso Exhibition Level 3 Advanced Studies in Experimental Stitch

One of the fascinating aspects of the courses I have taken with Gail is that each one has helped me to sharpen my understanding of what materials, processes and subject matter are of most interest to me in art making. Color, line, texture, the inherent tactile quality of fiber, the satisfaction of working with simple tools and processes, the appeal of using a quantity of similar yet discreet elements to create a piece, these became my primary interests across this course. I am very much looking forward to the next level in order to focus more effort in these areas.    all artwork © Dianne Corso

A Note from Gail -   This is the last Guest Blogger in the Calypso Exhibition Series.  Just in the nick of time too.  Yesterday a new group of graduate exhibitors arrived  and we are putting up a new exhibition for this weekend. Dianne had interest in writing systems and researched a few.  The name of her large hanging is titled Memory Keepers -  Bedouin Red. It is made with Inkle Bands, Kumihimo Braids, knotted and beaded cords and ply split cords.

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Come Out to Play…. Guest Blogger – Isabel Parker

Calypso Exhibition Level 3 Advanced Studies in Experimental Stitch

 What a journey this has been!  Two years ago when I chose European Streets as my theme and sunset colors as my palette, I had no idea what I would wind up making.  Now, as I graduate, I have a series of pieces that bring back great memories of my trips to Europe.  It was challenging at times but the skills to develop and execute designs based on a set theme have been a wonderful learning experience. I have signed up for the next level to continue the exploration and am looking forward to discovering new skills and media.  Much thanks to Gail and Penny for managing to find the artist hidden inside me and insisting that she come out to play. Photos of the hand stitched lamp are by Michael Stadler    All artwork © Isabel Parker

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Painting with a Different Brush…… Guest Blogger – Lisa Harkins

In April, Pat Spark returned for an encore of her popular class, Watercolor Felt Inlay.  Instead of trays of paints or dyes, students arrived on the first day to find a riot of color in Pat’s medium.

Pat hand-dyes merino wool in a wide range of colors for student use.

Over the next three days, students stretched their color and design abilities as they learned about the unique qualities of wool through a series of small samples designed to teach Pat’s method.  The knowledge from these samples culminated in a final small project of the student’s choice.  Pat uses a range of different sizes and shapes of felting needles to apply merino wool to a soft, pre-felted merino base.

The wool is felted with the assistance of a finishing sander.  Note the GFI (Ground Fault Interrupter) cord, an essential piece of safety equipment for this process.

Pat has come to her process through years of experimenting and teaching, and her method is very accessible, even to students who don’t draw.  Her technique is especially suited to subjects from nature.

Cheryl’s final project was worked from a newspaper photograph of a Spotted Towhee.

After a weekend of fast and furious production, it was time to depart.  Perhaps some stopped in the tulip fields for some inspiration on the way home.

A way of life in the Skagit Valley. All photos © Lisa M. Harkins

Texture is My Muse….Guest Blogger Terri Shinn

Calypso Exhibition Level 3 Advanced Studies in Experimental Stitch – Graduate: Terri Shinn

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 My theme, lead me on a journey into structural decay. Being intrigued by the layering and fragmented nature of decay; peeling paint, crumbling walls, and eroding metals which seem to portray its history and soul. Texture is my muse!  This course was thrilling to take ideas, sketches, sampling then turn them into three-dimensional art. Also, to be challenged with scale, form, line and shadows.  My growing research material and arsenal of techniques continues to provide me with numerous inspirational sources. I eagerly anticipate the challenges the next level of studies will bring.   All artwork © Terri Shinn

Note from Gail    It may be interesting  to you that the first set of slides with the iron pieces is part an experimental stitch course. You may not upon first glance, associate them with stitch but more to the wonderful shapes of all the hanging  pieces.  That’s how Terri planned it – to use all the elements of art and design to create pattern  and to use the stitching methods to gather all the design elements together.  Embroidery or  techniques that may be associated with other textile methods have been used throughout this installation. Twisted threads, long associated with lacemaking, wrapped cords, knotting and needle darning have all been used in heavier twines or ropes for consistency with the scale of the piece.