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Follow a Line

. . . to Tell a Story is the name of the workshop with Alice Kettle. What a fabulous morning I had. My first reaction was sheer panic because she had given us a pile of papers and journals and told us to get out our drawing materials. She had placed still lifes in the center of all the tables and told us to draw, paying attention to the weight and thickness of lines.

kettlestilllifes

We then cut tracing paper into 4 pieces and drew individual design elements that we saw in the still life. Next, to my relief, we cut our larger drawings into post card size pieces. Using those as a base, we cut and collaged our drawings on tissue paper to make little compositions.

stilllifecollage1

morecollage

Here is work from the class on the wall. I didn’t get a photo of mine.

classcollages

Our next task was to make collages using fancy papers and something called sugar paper on which we had drawn lines. We also drew lines of different weights on tracing paper, cut it in fourths and then did things like crumpling, folding, pleating. All of these things were used to make more colorful collages. Here is my assemblage.

colorcolages

The next project was to pin various papers, old photos, maps, etc to a length of vilene (British stitch and tear). We then stitched the pieces to the vilene, so that everything was fastened down.

vilenestitching

This was then cut into many little pieces.

collageminicompositions

We glued these little compositions into a small journal that was provided.

minibookcollage

minibookcollage2

myfollowalinebook

This was so much fun.

Then it was time for lunch. At lunch, I found out that a very special person in my life had passed. I lived with Marjorie and her family when I was in high school and took care of the children and cooked meals while she taught piano lessons. She had an incredible impact on my life and I would not have gone to college had it not been for her influence.

This greatly influenced my afternoon as I was a little weepy, knowing that it would not be possible for me to leave here to go to her funeral. I did talk to her oldest son tonight and he has asked me to write something to be read at her funeral and this makes me feel that I will be there in a way.

This afternoon we started drawing lines with the sewing machine. I didn’t take any photos, too distracted. We were to pay attention to the lines we had drawn with pen and charcoal as we stitched on fabric. We will be making more compositions which will go into a larger journal.

All things considered, it was a good day.

9 Responses to “Follow a Line”

  1. Reva says:

    My condolences, Gerrie. I’m sure her death is coloring your time at the conference. But maybe some essence of Marjorie will find its way into your work.

  2. Bonnie says:

    Gerrie, I’m sorry you lost your long-time friend. I sure wish I was there in the class with you. I’ll be looking forward to seeing all your class work when you get home.

  3. kathy says:

    Thanks for sharing these pictures, Gerrie…I feel like I can take the class right along with you! Again, my condolences about your friend.

  4. jenclair says:

    Adding to the condolences…sorry, Gerrie, about the loss of a friend and mentor.

    Thanks for sharing the class process with us. Many of us love seeing the work in these creative classes!

  5. Diane D. says:

    Gerrie, I’m sorry for the loss of your friend. I’m sure what you write will be very special to her family.

    The class you’re taking looks so interesting!

  6. Regina says:

    So sorry for losing your friend Marjorie. And what good idea to have someone read your words at the funeral.
    Hopefully you will be able to enjoy your stay in Kansas City despite this.

  7. Karoda says:

    Gerrie, hangeth in there…sending you wishes for comfort for the loss of someone so special.

  8. Jeannie says:

    I am so sorry on the loss of your special friend. I hope your memories of your time together give you comfort.
    Your class sounds like so much fun and I really like the concept of putting the small works into a journal.
    Sending hugs your way.

  9. Kristin L says:

    First, my condolences on teh loss of your friend.

    Second, I really like the compositional exercises you’re doing. I did something similar in a class with Mirjam Pet-Jacobs, but we started with photos instead of our own drawings, and didn’t put the “finished” pieces in a sketchbook. I’m guessing these will be a good resource later, and is a good practice for taking your own themes and abstracting them.