Fast Friday Talks

Let's keep going ... and going .... and g o i n g .....

2011-08-21T09:06:00.003-06:00

I would certainly like to see the monthly challenge continue -- and just maybe, an occasional surprise mid-month challenge, if someone comes up with a cool theme. Maybe such challenges should be passed through Cynthia first, just to avoid having them too much like one of the upcoming challenges.

Year 6 - What do you want to do?

2011-08-18T16:11:00.004-06:00

Year 5 of FFFC is coming to a close with the August 26th challenge and it's time to consider Year 6.

Do we want to continue the group? do we want to start a new group with a new focus? Do we want to evolve into something other than fast monthly challenges? I'm willing to continue to facilitate another year if there is interest.

Let's get a discussion going about what we want to do!

Please weigh in on the above questions as well as some of these:

Do we want to continue, change our focus, continue as is, invite new members, ask for a level of participation commitment from members (1 to 12 challenges)?

What do we want to do for our program…structured studies, random challenges, focus on art history or design principles or personal goals or ?? What topics are you personally interested in?

Should we go to quarterly challenges or keep it monthly or do 52 or 365 challenges next year?

What do you personally want to get out of your participation in FFFC? What are your goals and how does FFFC fit with those?

What do you like and dislike about FFFC now? What would like to see changed?

Looking forward to all feedback...dream big, think outside the box, consider your needs!
Cynthia

Fast Friday "pre-made" postings

2011-05-27T19:37:00.002-06:00

I find that I am annoyed when someone posts a response to a Fast Friday challenge with a piece that had already been made. It doesn't matter whether I am actually planning to submit something myself, or just that someone else got in with the first posting. What bothers me is that it is not actually something made that was inspired by that challenge, however closely it seems to fit. We're not running a race to see who can post first; we are trying to delve into aspects of art that maybe not all of us are familiar with, to possibly branch out into a new area.

It may be that the current challenge is something quite familiar, fits right in with our style, whatever it may be, and all the elements fit together so that within a few days we have something new. For some challenges, we hit a complete block and can't get into it. All this is okay. And sometimes other events get in the way, and we make and post a response months later - even years later. That's fine.

But to post a previously completed project -- that is not a response to a challenge, as I see it.

Getting to know you...

2010-09-19T17:27:00.000-06:00

With the first of year 5 challenge coming next week... and a full weekend of introductions on the FFFC Group, it has been an exciting time. Through it all, I have observed one thing...
I carefully studied the blogs and websites I could and what I found is this... our personalities really come out in our artwork. I understand so much better the work of those I have participated with during the last 4 years. Studying the works of those I could of the new members, I have to say it is really exciting 'getting to know you' through your work. Seems like we can say all we want about ourselves, yet our artwork says more than words can...
Did you? or Have you? noticed this?
Inquiring minds want to know....

Some thoughts on the nature of an art challenge...

2010-09-13T16:48:00.002-06:00

Terry Grant posted some interesting thoughts on the 12 x 12 blog about their type of challenge...under the subject headline.. and I just thought they were worth a read...actually it even touchs on some of the comments we have had on this blog...

http://twelveby12.blogspot.com/ (scroll down to the Friday September 10th entry)

Maybe we can discuss this, too...
do you have any thoughts?
Carole

Featured Artists: Whimsical and Folk Art

2010-09-13T08:10:00.004-06:00

One of the most beloved art styles is Folk Art or Whimsy, like from some of the more famous folk artists -Grandma Moses, Charley Harper and Maud Lewis below

Our FFFC challenges have produced alot of folk art and whimsical pieces and they always make us smile!

Crane by Marilyn Foulke for Challenge 38

Meena's piece for Challenge 42 titled Costa Rica Rainforest

Let the Sunshine In by Betty Donahue for Challenge 48

Deep in the Woods by Janice Simpson for Challenge 45

Jane Stricker's tropical quilt for Challenge 42

Still Life by Rhoda Forbes for Challenge 41

A Whisper in the Grasses by Jeanne Knudsen for Challenge 41

Waggle Dance by Carole Grant for Challenge 41

The Sky is Falling by Cherie Brown

My Inner Kitty by barngirlstamper for Challenge 38

Bubba by Wendy Wetzel for Challenge 38

Cow Girls at Sunflower Ranch by Sandy Snowden for Challenge 38

Michele's Rainbow Birds for Challenge 38

Meena's Peacocks for Challenge 38

Moon Song by Donna Blum for Challenge 38

Blue Bird of Happiness by Candy Farmer for Challenge 38

Chair with a View by Kathy Walker for Challenge 35

Whimsy by Pam Harris for Challenge 34

Walking the Dog on a Parisian Windy Day by Rhoda Forbes for Challenge 31

Sign of Spring by Nancy Schegel

Snowwoman by Katie Wilson for Challenge 28

Featured Artists: Art Style - Impressionistic

2010-09-09T20:52:00.008-06:00

The Impressionistic style gives us the feeling of a glimpse of something...softened edges, little detail and that wonderful light. Monet's painting, Sunrise, shown here was one of the first that started the movement.

Lots of impressionistic art quilts have shown up for our FFFC challenges:

Serenity by Valerie Wilson for Challenge 26

The Grande Grand by Chris Predd for Challenge 46

Bargello Bears by Linda MacDonald for Challenge 46

High Water Mark by Tobi Hoffman for Challenge 42

Spirit Horses by Linda MacDonald for Challenge 42

Through the Fog by Jan Johnson for Challenge 36

Tidepools and Kelp Beds by Carole Grant for Challenge 32

Fred by Della for Challenge 27

Woodpile by Jo Rice for Challenge 27

Window Wonder by Cherie Brown for Challenge 19

Poppies by Cynthia Ann Morgan for Challenge 24

Featured Artists: Art Style - Abstract Expressionism

2010-09-07T22:29:00.009-06:00

Abstract Expressionism is characterized by feelings and emotions, spontaneity and expressive gestures. Some famous abstract expressionists are Jackson Pollack, Mark Rothko and Clyfford Still. Love it or hate it ... you have to admit it is INTERESTING. Especially interesting are the edges of the lines and shapes created.

Here are some of the FFFC artists who showed us some of their own abstract expressionism:

Less is More by Brenda Jennings for Challenge 23

Hazelnut Creme by Rhojo Baldwin for Challenge 48

Betty Warner's piece for Challenge 40

An Unstill Life by Chris Smith for Challenge 43

Somewhere Out There by Chris Predd for Challenge 37

Symbol by Marie J for Challenge 25

Different by Anna Koziol for Challenge 28

Paint Drip on Old Wall by Cynthia Ann Morgan for Challenge 23

Turkey Tracks by Penny Irwin for Challenge 23

Winter Bark by Cherie Brown for Challenge 27

White Hot Sunspots by Janice Paine Dawes for Challenge 37

Featured Artists: Global - Asian Influence

2010-09-06T21:26:00.016-06:00

We're considering Global/cultural inspirations for Year 5 also. Asian influence in art is an example.

Japanese art, and Asian art in general, has a elegant, graceful, clean and concise look and feel that is recognizable as a style as well as a culture. This shows up in all forms of art....in paintings, woodcut prints, Ikebana (flower arranging), Zen Calligraphy, even Origami

I've noticed quite a bit of Asian influence in our challenges...whether that is conscious or not, there's a elegant simplicity that is reminscent of Asian art.

Here are some elegant pieces by FFFC artists for recent challenges :

3 Fishes by Joni Feddersen for Challenge 43

Fan in the Grass by Sally Field for Challenge 35

Kanji by Joni Feddersen for Challenge 34

Untitled by Wendy Wetzler for Challenge 28

Approaching Storm by Jan Johnson for Challenge 31

Verticals by Tobi Hoffman for Challenge 25

Bend, Don't Break by Della for Challenge 36

Cherry Blossom by Lisa Albanese for Challenge 47

Pause by Madalene Murphy for Challenge 40

Chickadee Antics by Jan Johnson for Challenge 38

Sweet Honesty by Lisa Quintana for Challenge 40

The Mouse and the Radish by Cynthia Morgan for Challenge 38

Ode to a Pagoda by Janice Paine Dawes for Challenge 32

Songbirds by Della for Challenge 30

My Garden by Rhoda Forbes for Challenge 24

Featured Artists: Old Masters - Light effects

2010-09-05T13:03:00.015-06:00

One of the topics we are considering studying for Year 5 is the color and effects of the Old Masters. One classic effect is the way the light was used by old masters, Vermeer, Rembrandt and others. A perfect example of this wonderful glowing light is the 17th century painting by Johannes Vermeer, "The Milkmaid".

Some pieces from our recent FFFC challenges that I think exhibit this quality of light are below:

Ann Ruthsdottir's Wild Rose for Challenge 41

Donna Blum's Flurlady for Challenge 44

Jane Stricker's Magic Mushrooms for Challenge 45,

Cherie Brown's Newfoundland Rose from Challenge 45

Chris Predd's Lemons from Cheerios for Challenge 40

Old Masters: Filtered Light

2010-09-05T13:00:00.001-06:00

Another way that the Old Masters used light effects is filtered light that spreads through the painting and creates a warm glow. Some good examples are Rousseau's Sunset near Arbonne

And Seurat's The Forest at Pontaubert

And some art quilts by FFFC artists using light in a similiar way are below:

Stormy Sky by Sue Andrus for challenge 47

A Walk in the Woods by Ann Turley for challenge 47

Polmer Strands by Pat Havey for challenge 39

Old Souls by Cherie Brown for challenge 43

Microbial Bliss by Carol Tackett for challenge 39

Labels on FFFC Blog

2010-09-05T07:20:00.004-06:00

The main function of labels on blog entries is to associate that entry with other similar ones, so please, when you post your challenge entry, there really should only be two labels. The first one should be the one for that challenge, no variants, no additions, so enter it as "Challenge 999", not "Ch 999", or "Challenge #999" or "Challenge 999 Bling". The other label can be your name, and you should always use the same name, no initial added if your first post didn't have it, and similarly for nicknames; be consistent. (And do use labels, unlabeled entries get lost in blog limbo-land!)

What not to use? Don't use the challenge theme, the title of the piece, the technique used, or as I've already said, a variant on the challenge number or your name.

I will be editing existing posts, bit by bit, to standardize labels (in my other life, I'm a computer programmer, and this process is called "normalizing"!), but you can do this in your own posts by clicking on the pencil to edit your post and its labels. Thanks.

Another thought for FFFC year 5

2010-06-23T18:13:00.000-06:00

Giving this a lot of thought, I am making another suggestion as a possiblity for our challenges,
that being something in the 'narrative'....

5th year FFFC

2010-06-19T18:19:00.000-06:00

I have to say my most favorite of all was the 'series' we did in year 3.
And, I will go back to making more 'Moons'.
I commented on Cynthia's query about using the Challenge as a study or a skill enhancing effort. If we were to do something like that... how about with an end view goal in mind... such as for the August challenge, we each make something using the 'benefits' of the years challenges in, say, a predetermined size.. which we would then put up in show form like the QA15?
Is that too ambitious?

What do you personally want from FFFC?

2010-06-19T17:45:00.002-06:00

With year 4 coming to a close in a few months, it's time to consider what year 5 will look like. Let's gather our ideas and talk about it here!

What are your creativity goals and how can you use the FFFC group to pursue them?

Cynthia

Where is everyone.... post #2

2010-06-19T09:54:00.000-06:00

I thought it, but forgot to write it.... Many of us get caught up in 'life'... and the stresses that it can bring. Stress can also put the squeeze on creativity... ask me how I know that one! ha
I have a suggestion tho'.... everyone that is signed up on this group Challenge gets the notice of the Challenge and has access to the digest, correct? So... how about if we make it a goal, that if we cannot participate, we will at least go to the blog and post comments, thus cheering on those who can participate. Is that worthy of consideration?
As Cynthia has said, late is OK... but have you noticed... late doesn't seem to bring comments? So, yes.. late is OK, especially when it has to be late... I have been known to procrastinate, cogitating the challenge, seeing it in different ways, then not doing it because time has run out on me. I feel deflated and unworthy of commenting because I didn't do the challenge. I would like to put that aside.. as in my case...
Any thoughts on this?
Probably you can see I am setting some new goals for myself and am hoping others will join me.
I am looking forward to hearing from you on this...
Carole

Where is everyone?

2010-06-18T21:30:00.001-06:00

I was just perusing one of my favorite blogs... Fast Friday Fabric Challenge. I have actually spent quite a bit of time there, looking at the names of those signed up, the work of those who do... and I am wondering... 'Where is everyone??'
We are nearing year 5... I have had a wonderful 4 years here, enjoyed the camaraderie, met some great people and enjoyed ART that would not have come my way otherwise. I love being able to post my work, look forward to the comments and learn from the comments on my work as well as that of others. Cynthia has done a great job! And I want to congratulate her...
We seem to be petering out... may that never be so... work posted seems to be less,the comments are fewer and the time frame extended, which defeats the purpose of the Group when it started. Some may not know... but when this group was started, it was to jump start creativity.. a quick and dirty, so to speak. I personally find that I look forward to this one exercise a month. I feel bad I have not been able to do them all... however, do not feel inclined to go backwards.. to them, that is...
What do you think??
Where are we headed?
Personally, I hope we are here to stay, and I hope we can re-energize ourselves to the level we used to be at. Many of us have had our quick FFFC work juried into shows, even sold...
Let's put our shoulder to the wheel and give it our college best!!
For what it is worth... I look forward to hearing your lively conversation...
Carole

An Organized Mess

2010-05-10T17:10:00.002-06:00

Have you ever watched TLC station's show "The Hoarders, Buried Alive"? The other day the show was about a woman who's hoarding passion was fabric. She had mountains and mountains of it. It was everywhere. And she used it. She sewed every day but there was just so much she couldn't possibly use it up. And every other kind of housework and activity took a back seat to the FABRIC. Her fabric fondling sure went to new heights. Sometimes I worry that might be what others see me like. I couldn't possible use up all the fabrics on my shelves.

How about you....what does your stash and your work area [studio if you are lucky enough to have one] look like? Is it completely organized so that anyone could come in, pull colors and start stitching? Or is it like mine, I know where the organized mess will lead me, I have a general idea of color locations, threads, beads and where the textile paints, watercolors and inks are located. But, I might have to move stuff to find a surface to work on.

That's sort of where I'm at today. I wish it was clean, neat and organized all the time....really!! I'm just happy that there are doors that can be closed if someone knocks on the door.

So tell.....what kind of organizer are you?

Observation

2010-02-11T15:23:00.000-07:00

I think I signed up for Feb. IF not, sorry if I am jumping in ahead of someone.

I was thinking of doing a post about observation. I wanted to talk about how much easier it is to do a work of art about something if you have spent time observing it.

For instance, I usually try to get images of something if I don't actually have it on hand to look at closely. I try to get views in different positions so I can have more of a 3D or realistic view of it.

At present, I have downloaded several images of a frilled lizard because I think I want to do a dragon with a sort of ruff behind his head. Seeing how the frill on the lizard behaves will help me to make a more believable dragon. I have different views of the way the frill of the lizard stands up. I have different views of the colours that show in different lights. And while looking at images of the frilled lizard, I saw that some of the positions the lizard stands in while trying to scare off predators can give me a bit of insight about how legs can be made attach to the body of a dragon so they are believable, too.

Interestingly enough, tonight I had two separate conversations about observation...one with an artist and one with the museum's community education officer at an exhibition where some of my work is included.

The artist had done a painting which included peacock feathers. I commented on how well she had done the fine floaty feathers on the shank of the feather. She said she hadn't been able to find any feathers, so had to rely on photos. She still wished she could find some feathers. Because the work was somewhat abstracted, it didn't matter that the eye of the feathers wasn't extremely realistic. But when she does get the feathers, I think she will probably try to do the feathers again with all the knowledge of having observed the real thing.(I have some I will give her, they were given to me by a friend, moulted by a peacock on a farm she knows.)

The conversation with the museum's community education officer had to do with a quote from an artist who had done some work with children in a school. He said something about the fact that he doesn't teach children to draw, he teaches them to observe. Besides the fact that it spoke so well to the post I was already thinking of doing here, I thought it was very wise. I have already come to the conclusion that I am happier with the pieces I have researched or observed in one way or another first.

And then just to take things just a bit futher, some times experience of an event or feeling works in a similar way to observation or research in giving validity to a piece.

What do you think about it all?

The one, single, biggest problem, is that people don’t take their creative lives seriously

2009-11-15T11:40:00.001-07:00

Or so says Rice Freeman-Zachery in her book: Creative Time and Space: Making Room for Making Art

If you struggle with excuses, procrastination or not enough time, you HAVE to read this interview with her:

http://emptyeasel.com/2009/10/19/10-ways-to-make-time-for-your-art-an-interview-with-rice-freeman-zachery/

Procrastination

2009-11-12T07:10:00.003-07:00

Procrastination

Click on the link above and watch the 4 minute video....What are you avoiding in your creative life?

At which point do you give up?

2009-10-05T20:24:00.002-06:00

There are always at least two options with the creative struggle. Keep going and try to turn a sow's ear into something better, or give up, knowing that you have tried everything you can think of but now you really need to move on. I find about half the time perseverance will pay off and after countless trials and auditions, I am happy with the result. The rest of the time I feel like I have explored all the same options, but the result is still a mess.

The 'respond to the piece' mantra works particularly well for the more abstract works, where you have a starting point but no fixed idea of where the end point will be. However, I am just as likely to find myself in a no through road when I have a clear design, but I just can't translate it into my vision.

It seems, looking back, that the things which came together in a hurry have been the better and more satisfying works. The ones with ongoing problems often don't get to a happy solution.

Of course, every dead end is in its own way a learning experience. Mainly I've learned that I don't enjoy dead ends!

I think there is a difference between this dilemma and the kind of working method where you know you are going to make a few samples to see which is going to work best.

How about you? Do you know when to give up?

Julia in NZ

Working with Metallic and other difficult threads

2009-10-04T09:31:00.002-06:00

I think the best advice I ever got about using difficult threads was from Linda Schmidt in her Quilt University class:

Use Sewer's Aid lubricant on the spool (a few drops every once in awhile)
Straight lines/walking foot will have less breakage than using curved lines/free motion
Play with the top tension....usually need to loosen the tension
Go slow
Try the difficult thread in the bobbin and quilt from the back.
Have low expectations. Know that the thread will break periodically and celebrate when it doesn't break for a couple minutes!

I've noticed that Sliver or Glimmer (which isn't metallic, but mylar strips) stretches a bit, so doesn't break as easily as metallic thread. No need to lubricate mylar threads.

My favorite brands: Sulky Metallic (the variegated tri color #143 is pretty cool); Superior Metallic and FS Madeira Metallic (which is metallic wrapped about a black core of regular thread which helps with the breakage and looks like tiny beading)

So share your frustrations and successes here!
Cynthia

Is your work art?

2009-09-20T10:39:00.003-06:00

This sounds like a loaded question but I am prompted to because of a line in the movie I watched last night on the life of Georgia O'Keefe. In a discussion with her husband she was angry with him for exploiting her art. His comment was something along the lines of " your WORK is just WORK, it is only ART after someone buys it."

I thought that was a powerful statement. I know many people who are artists but don't sell their work, musicians who are artists but don't play for money and a great example for me are sidewalk artists who's work is fleeting. On the other hand, I also know people who call themselves artists and, for me, they are only crafters who follow other people's patterns and instructions.

So my question to you to start the week out is: " Is your work art even if nobody ever buys it?"

Now What?

2009-09-17T11:25:00.002-06:00

So... I have identified the why and what of a creative slump...
I am revved up, my jetts are hot, ideas are working overtime,
but I have housework to do, company coming and following on the heels of that, my house will be painted.. inside. How do you deal with that?
I try to jot a few notes and sketches in my journal.
Any secrets to putting it on hold and coming back to it?
Because, knowing me... it will all fizzle to an unrecognizable
blob by the time I get to 'work'.....

Jump starting Creativity...

2009-09-15T17:04:00.002-06:00

I found myself in a creative 'slump' over the past few months.
The mind just seemed to be made of lead!
I know others have had this kind of a 'block'... what did you do to open that
door and move on?
Probably backing up a tad, why do you think it happens?

Rituals of Preparation

2009-09-15T08:02:00.002-06:00

Twyla Tharp in her book, The Creative Habit, talks about how helpful it is to establish some rituals - automatic, but decisive patterns of behavior - at the beginning of the creative process when you are most at peril of turning back, chickening out, giving up or going the wrong way. The ritual erases the question of whether or not you want or like to do it, you just do it.

Do you have any rituals that get you started or can you think of any that might work for you?

I use the kitchen timer, telling myself I will spend 15 minutes on something...and usually I'm enjoying it so much, I spend much longer. But it's a way to get started which is the hardest part.

Cynthia

Welcome to Fast Friday Talks

2009-09-08T13:14:00.000-06:00

The purpose of this blog is to have a forum for Art, Quilt, and Creative Process discussions originating with the Fast Friday Fabric Challenge group. Anyone is free to comment on the postings.