I learned how to construct a garment on a sewing machine this week at KCAI! It was pleasantly challenging, and I felt like I was in a state of flow all week. Learning this process gave me an even greater respect for the people who make and design our clothing  - there's a lot that goes into it... not to mention the undervalued gendered aspect of clothing production, both historically and present-day. I keep thinking of the people (especially women) in countries where clothing is constructed who aren't being compensated as well as they should be for this form of skilled labor. 

Piecing everything together... I used the free motion foot to "draw" with the sewing machine.

Pinning things on/trying out compositions

My finished piece, from the back

The garments made by our class

The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art

The Bloch building at the Nelson

I found a book to read while taking a coffee break

This year’s Educator's ArtLab at KCAI did not disappoint! I think I worked *even harder* this year (physically, at least) than I have in previous years… definitely feeling the labor in my hands and wrists now! Before this week, I essentially knew how to make a basic piece of felt (and attach the pieces with needle felting), but now I know all kinds of techniques. Deep gratitude to Marie Bannerot McInerney for the excellent instruction!

Bioluminescence and Dreams 1 (2 and 3 pictured below)

I got to spend at week at Kansas City Art Institute making experimental work in the Educators' Art Lab Drawing As Grounding course. It was a fabulous and much-needed time.

 

I spent the week at KCAI learning about printmaking techniques - very informative and now I have a whole new appreciation for printmakers for what is a very labor intensive process!

I had the absolute pleasure of attending KCAI's Educators ArtLab this last week. I was enrolled in the Illustration program where we focused on the prompt of creating a 6-word memoir: a story told in 6 words. It was amazing to get to feel like a college student again and focus solely on creating art - no cat vomit, teenager chauffeuring, or food preparation to demand my focus. In fact, eating at the dining hall was one of the best parts... If only I always had an efficient place to eat meals without having to make them myself, imagine what could be accomplished. In fact, I think we need an adult equivalent of college dining halls... like, just take 1/3rd of my income and feed me. I digress.

On the 3rd day of the residency, my car window was smashed. The thieves took my $40 emergency gas money and a small bag of embroidery supplies. (LOL, embroidery supplies... the joke's on them.) This happened to several other cars on campus as well. I lost a little studio time due to dealing with insurance stuff and filing a police report, but the silver lining is that now I have some practice at dealing with such a thing, especially alone and in an unfamiliar place.

The folks in my class were super kind, though. They offered encouragement, brought me food when I was dealing with insurance calls, made other phone calls on my behalf, and even helped me clean the glass out of my car seat so I could get it moved into the secure parking garage that KCAI offered me. So... faith in humanity at least momentarily restored.

Working late

Some of my classmates

KCAI dining hall facility

On the last day of the program, KCAI students hung our work in an exhibition. I have to hand it to them - it was beautifully done, especially for being put together in just a couple hours. We were able to observe the work of participants in the other program areas (painting, ceramics, and printmaking).

I need to feel the prairie/Everything on the prairie is alive
Watercolor, Graphite, and Gouache
24" x 18"
2022

Our illustration group

Our instructor, John Ferry, inspired us with a lot of art-related thoughts, quotes and readings. Some wisdom that I want to commit to memory:

"All [art] education is self-education."

"Nothing can be accomplished without enthusiasm."

"Show up, pay attention. Tell the truth without judgment or blame. Don't be attached to outcome but be open to outcome."

"I don't let a painting leave my studio until I don't know how to make it any better."

"Decide what you aren't going to do so you can decide what you are going to do."

"You can't be creative until you're warm, rested, and well-fed."

Also some good advice from our TA, Miranda:

A great color theory formula for a triadic color scheme: 60%/30%/10% -- for value, 70% one way/30% the other. 

Dark/light - light/dark.