Bigger

©Robin Edmundson, 'Tetrad Floral', watercolor, 24 x 18 inches. 
Unframed.  $600.

For much of my life I have tried to live under the radar.  It was safer that way.

There were a lot of rules:

• Don't show off
• Shine, but not too brightly
• Be great at what you do, but not the best
• Let men be the leaders and always defer to what they say
• Smaller is better [translation:  Lose weight, lots of weight]
• Invisible is good
• Never ask for attention
• Don't be proud of what you do
• Big work = Big [very visible] mistakes. Work small so your mistakes are small

These rules are all shame-based and for 50 years, I was really, really good at shame.  I'm breaking a lot of these rules lately. 

I don't want you to think that I just woke up one morning and said 'Screw the rules!' and made some changes. Confronting a lifetime of shame and changing how you think [about everything!] takes a lot of courage. A lot of time. A lot of patience.  A lot of great teachers.  And a lot of baby steps.

One of these baby steps was to decide to paint bigger.  Risk bigger, visible failures. So, I bought a few blocks of larger paper so I can work in an 18 x 24 inch format, which I have found that I love.  I've been trying new subjects [more florals] and I've been playing big.  And making big mistakes.  And I don't care [as much as I used to. :)]  The painting above is one of my new, larger pieces.  It started as a color experiment while I was teaching a Color Harmonies class here at my studio.  At one point, I 'ruined' it but I kept working on it.  It was so freeing to work on that lovely big paper! Bonus - I think I'm doing better work.

Working bigger is helping me to take the next step in my healing process.  Working bigger lets me see that I can, maybe someday, live bigger and heal bigger.   

That's big.  

2017 Classes and Calendar

I've scheduled several new classes this year to be taught here at my studio and I'm really excited that they're on the calendar. 

This is a huge benefit to participants because the classes will be small [max 4] with an emphasis on individual questions, projects and consultations.

Here's the link to my whole calendar so you can see all my classes including the ones taught elsewhere.

This is what I'll be teaching this year:

• Color theory
• Intermediate spinning on a spinning wheel:  Plying
• Dyeing cotton yarns
• Dyeing cotton fabrics [for you quilters!]
• Dyeing silk scarves
• Natural dyes

Follow the links on the calendar to the registration pages for each class.   You can register and pay online.

There is a significant discount if you register early for one of the classes held here at my studio .  

As always, I'm super happy to answer your questions.   Email me. 

Color Workshop at MoonTree Studios

I've gotten requests lately about what classes I might be teaching this year.  I'm excited to announce that I'll be doing a Color Experience at MoonTree Studios in Plymouth, Indiana.  Friday-Sunday, April 21-23, 2017; 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. EDT    [Note:  The facebook announcement reads CDT, because fb insists that Plymouth is in the central time zone. They're wrong.  Erg.]

If you've been waiting for a chance to learn some color theory, and then have the time really run with it, this is your chance.   We'll do a half day class on Color to jump start you, then you'll have 2 1/2 days to explore color in your own direction.   I'll be there to cheer you on, help with more color theory, brainstorm, bounce ideas off of, etc.   It'll be a small-ish group between 6-8 folks in any area of art or fiber art. $320 for the three days [$290 if you're a member of MoonTree Studios]

Here's the link to the class:  Color Experience at MoonTree

Here's the plan for the class:

Participants will enjoy the luxury of time: three days to explore color, color harmonies, and color interactions in their medium of choice--all disciplines of fiber and visual arts are encouraged to attend.The diversity of participants and media will provide inspiration to others’ color explorations.Beginning with a formal presentation of Color Theory and Color Harmonies, we’ll subsequently split off to begin our own explorations of color in our medium of focus. Robin will provide knowledge and support all along the way. We conclude each day with a show and tell to look at what others are doing with other media, share progress, ask questions, share frustrations, and brainstorm. You’ll be encouraged to experiment and explore things you haven’t tried before, and explorations will be flexible enough to allow for change in direction if desired. Our emphasis is on the color exploration, not on completing a set of products by the end of the experience. (For example explorations and materials list, see their website - link above.)

I am really excited.  This is a class I've wanted to do for a long time, but the timing was never right.  When MoonTree approached me last year to talk about possibilities, I realized this was my chance to do this class.  

Here are some examples of things you might do:

• Weaver: Explore color by weaving a color gamp, then weaving a set of multicolored towels, each with a different weft. 
• Spinner: Explore color by playing with carded batts and singles, then explore color and plying.
• Dyer: Explore color by dyeing warps or skeins in different color harmonies.
• Painter: Explore color by doing a set of sample cards mixing your favorite pigments [for example a series of Greens cards each with a single blue and a line for each of your yellows].   OR  Paint the same simple scene in different lights or with different palettes.
• Knitter: Explore color in intarsia.  Do a simple motif in different colors
• Jewelry maker: Explore the same designs with different color harmonies.
• Scrapbooker/Papercrafter: Explore color by doing a series of layouts or greeting cards in different color harmonies.
• Quilter: Explore color by using the same color harmony in Light, Medium and Dark in different pieced motifs for a quilt top.
• General color exploration: 
• Explore color by making a color notebook with clippings of colors/magazines/fibers or samples [painted, knitted, etc.] organized into color harmonies in a dedicated notebook.   
• Get to know your color wheel.  
• Complete the Munsell Student Color Set pages - this alone will teach you more about color than 10 classes.

Email me if you  have questions - I'm happy to talk you through your plan for the weekend.  robin at morenna dot com.

Please come join us!   It's going to be So. Much. Fun.

June Color and Dyeing Classes

There is still time to sign up for a class with me this month.

Saturday, June 27, 2015
9am - 5pm
Includes lunch!
White Violet Center
St. Mary of the Woods, Indiana
[just west of Terre Haute]

Morning:   Color Harmonies
Afternoon:  Dyeing protein/animal fibers

You can register for one or both classes here:  http://spsmw.org/event-details/color-basics-and-harmoniesdyeing-animal-and-protein-fibers/

These are some of the most fun classes I teach all year!  In the morning we do a review of basic color theory, then talk about common color harmonies and learn about using color tools and then we start our own color notebooks!   It's a great time - full of laughter, learning and friendship.

In the afternoon, I take you step by step through the dyeing process so that you can learn to dye your own fibers at home.   We focus on protein/animal fibers in this class, using safe and easy-to-use acid dyes.    It's a great time and you'll go home with an armload of your own hand dyed yarns for projects. 

Details and registration information at the White Violet website here: http://spsmw.org/event-details/color-basics-and-harmoniesdyeing-animal-and-protein-fibers/

Come for one class or come for all day!  I hope to see you there!

Dye Classes and Color Harmonies Class, June 2014

A lot of folks have been interested in dye classes lately, and I'm happy to announce that I have two on the calendar for this summer - plus, a color harmonies class as well!

On June 6-7, 2014 I'll be offering a cellulose dyeing class at the Hoosier Hills Fiber Festival in Franklin, Indiana.   In this class we'll be dyeing plant fibers [cotton, rayon, linen, tencel, bamboo] using cold water dyes.

The following weekend, June 14, 2014, I'll be teaching dyeing at White Violet Center at St. Mary of the Woods [just west of Terre Haute, Indiana].   In this class we'll be dyeing animal/protein fibers [wool, alpaca, llama, silk, soy silk, etc.] with acid dyes.  As a prelude to this class, I'll be teaching a Color Harmonies class in the morning with the dye class in the afternoon.   

Here are the full descriptions of the classes and links where you can register.  

1.  DYE CLASS: Fibers to Dye For, Cellulose Fibers [Plant Fibers]
2 part class: June 6, Friday 1-4 and June 7, Saturday 9-12
 
Hoosier Hills Fiberarts Festival
June 6-7, 2014

Johnson County Fairgrounds. Franklin, Indiana.
Yarn, roving, spindles, etc. [www.hoosierhillsfiberfestival.com]
Register at link above.

Learn how to dye plant fibers in rainbow skeins in your very own colors!  No previous experience needed!  This workshop will give step by step instructions on how to hand paint your own beautiful skeins of cotton, rayon, tencel, linen and other plant fibers using fiber reactive dyes.  Students may dye up to one full pound of yarn or fiber.  This is a two part class beginning the afternoon of Day 1 (with an overnight break so the skeins can batch) and finishing during the morning of Day 2.   Day 1:  Go over types of cellulose fibers and types of dyes, and safety procedures.  Mix the soda solution and dyes and paint skeins.  Skeins will batch overnight.   Day 2:  Rinse your skeins and go over how different types of fibers behave, common problems, resources and even a bit of color theory if time permits.  Students are welcome to bring up to one pound of yarn or fiber or a pre-wound warp to class.  Make sure it's cellulose/plant fiber.  


[Note:  This class is not for animal fibers.  These dyes do not work on wool, alpaca, angora, nylon, soy silk or animal fibers.] 

Register at www.hoosierhillsfiberfestival.com

Email me if you have questions:   robin at morenna dot com 



2.  CLASS:  Color Harmonies
3.  CLASS:  Dyeing on Protein Fibers with Acid Dyes
June 14, 2014
White Violet Center, St. Mary of the Woods College. Terre Haute, Indiana.
Register for classes at www.whiteviolet.org.

Morning:   Color Harmonies: Color is one of the most magic aspects of art.  This class will help you take the mystery out of deciding which colors go together and how.   Topics will include basic color theory, using color tools, wheels and books, classic color combinations, etc.   Expect to laugh a lot as you practice putting colors together and using your new skills.  

Bring with you:  Photos or things with color combinations that you really like, photos or things with color combinations that you really don’t like.   Feel free to bring whatever color tools, books, swatches, yarn, etc you already have that you’d like to practice working with.

Afternoon:  Dyeing on Protein Fibers with Acid Dyes:

Explore the use of acid dyes to turn your 

stash of ‘boring’ protein yarns and fibers into designer yarns and fibers that you won’t be able to wait to knit, weave or spin up.  You will learn how to put several colors onto a skein to make variegated yarns as well as learn to do immersion [single color] dyeing.  We will dye with acid dyes [very safe and mild!] on wool, mohair, alpaca, soy silk, nylon or silk  fibers.   Students may bring white or natural yarns or bring colored yarns to overdye.   Overdying is a wonderful way to put pizzazz in a project.

[Note:  This class is not for plant fibers.  These dyes do not work on cotton, tencel, bamboo, rayon, linen or other plant fibers.] 

You may register for one or both classes at www.whiteviolet.org

Email me if you have questions:   robin at morenna dot com