A Tailgate Critique
I had a “Tailgate Critique” yesterday! How did that happen?? Read on.
I am Co-Rep for the NorCA/NorNV region of Studio Art Quilt Associates. We held our quarterly meeting on Wednesday in Danville, a San Francisco Bay area community about a 2 hour drive from my home. One of the very best things about the quarterly meetings can be the car pool. Ideas get bantered about, and we all get to know each other just a little bit better.
As luck would have it, Wednesday’s commute was just me and the Pixeladies-Kris Sazaki and Deb Cashatt, two delightful and talented artists on the ascent. Kris and Deb were a part of Quilt National this year-does it get any better than that?
I have been pondering my next move artistically. I arrived home from my Houston trip inspired, but not specifically inspired about a next project or direction. All that changed in one car trip. Kris, Deb and I began to talk about my “Morning Breeze” quilt and I received some great perspective and advice on that quilt which is leading me in a new artistic direction.
Once we arrived at our meet up point, I grabbed “Morning Breeze” out of the back of Kris’ car and we began to discuss detail and composition. It turned into a critique of sorts. There’s a lot I like about that quilt but also some things that I wanted to improve on. We discussed what I could learn from that quilt.
In the manner of a true critique, they opened my eyes up to things I had not noticed. All this led me to decide what I wanted to do next and how I was going to pursue it. Kris and Deb know their art. Their critique stretched, encouraged and educated me all at the same time.
I think I am going to travel along a path similar to “Morning Breeze” only in a smaller format. I am still inspired and intrigued by the structure, texture and movement of my drought tolerant plants. I think I will continue to work in the black and white format I established in “Morning Breeze”, with some changes in composition. I wonder if I can work those designs on sheers. I wonder what they would look like if I mounted some of them within frames. What would happen if I simplified some of the more complex plantings and used them as inspiration?
I can’t wait to get started. I plan my calendar so that all teaching and lectures come to an end in mid-November. I have one more engagement next week and then I will focus on my new direction. I am so excited! “Tailgate Critique”-who knew?
Hey Jenny! Can you share any specific critiques? Your work is soooooo beautiful! And, creative! And, i VERY much appreciate you sharing so much. Please, if at all possible, let us in on your process.
Maggie in Arizona
Thank you Maggie. I will definitely continue to write about my process. The kinds of things we talked about were mainly compositional in nature: what would happen if everything weren’t centered, if the design ran off the edges, if I paid more attention to scale of my motifs, if I scaled the size back and focused on just one motif. Those kinds of things make the piece more dynamic and interesting instead of the eye resting in one place.
Jenny – so glad you are finding your niche. I saw Morning Breeze at PIQF. It is beautiful in the photos, but absolutely breath taking in person. There wasn’t anything else like it at the show…..it was yours alone. For what it’s worth, I agree that you are heading in the right direction. Looking forward to your next endeavor!!
Thank you-that is encouraging! I am most pleased that the piece is mine and it is my yard and what I see. Thank you for noticing that!
I loved this piece from the beginning. Your interpretation of your plants is a study in detail of what we sometimes overlook in the natural beauty of things we live with & see daily. I look forward to seeing what you do next in the smaller format adventure.
Thanks Marcia. It’s funny you mention that because Robert Genn’s newsletter this week was about that very thing. And art is about really seeing what is in your everyday life.
Es un trabajo precioso y las críticas constructivas es uno de los mejores regalos que podemos recibir para abrir nuestros horizontes y avanzar artísticamente. ¡Felicidades!
The translation of Jacqueline’s comment follows:
It is a beautiful work and constructive criticism is one of the best gifts we can give to open our horizons and to move artistically. Congratulations!
Thank you Jacqueline! I agree-constructive criticism is a gift and it has been very eye opening for me.
you may just have created a new quilt genre and inspired a whole new generation of “Modern Whole Cloth” quilters.. I love where you are heading and look forward to tagging along
Sheila I like that thought: “modern whole cloth”! Thank you for the kind words.
That is so lovely!!! That is a great genre……….”modern whole cloth”!!!!! Exciting days ahead…..for sure!!!! Hugs……..
Thanks Doreen! I do love the whole cloth in any form.
What blessings! I am intrigued about your upcoming work and look forward to seeing pics and hearing discussions about it. Good stuff!