Working in a Series
Artwork from the Home series
What You Will Learn
“The Working in a Series class was far more in depth and thought provoking than I imagined before starting the workshop. Lisa expanded and refined my own understanding of a series. She introduced us to some new artists and used them to illustrate design principles.
This workshop was a major step forward in disciplining myself to have a consistent studio practice, and prioritize my art as central to my future goals. I would highly recommend the class to anyone who wants to move their art practice forward.”
The goal of this workshop is to inspire, educate and motivate you to explore working in a series. If you already work in a series, this workshop will deepen that practice.
Starting with an existing artwork or image, you will create 5 or more compositions in your series. You will settle on the topic/theme of your series during the first week of class and through a series of formal design assignments, your idea will grow in new and exciting directions during the 8 week workshop
At the end of each exercise you’ll be critiquing your own work and exploring your experiences with short written exercises. I will be providing written critiques of your work along with verbal feedback during our 1-1 phone calls.
Each week we will also be looking at artists (both famous and unknown) that work in a series to learn more about the possibilities, while also exploring our attitudes, behavior and patterns as it relates to art making and creating artwork in a series.
Note that this class does not include technique instruction. Students are expected to have the art/quilt making skills necessary to create the assignments. No specific techniques are required – painting, drawing, quilt making (piecing, applique, fusing, embellishment), surface design, etc – anything is acceptable.
This class is appropriate to be taken by all visual artists working as the concepts we are covering apply to all medium, not just textile art.
My Intention and Qualifications.
As with all of my workshops, my biggest intention is to provide my students the confidence and tools so they can move their art forward by leaps and bounds.
Experience Level: Advanced Beginner to Advanced
Course Content
A formal design assignment will be given for each of the compositions, with a variety of choices for execution. These exercises will help you generate ideas for your series.
I will be giving a lecture 6 of the 8 weeks, which will cover the design assignment, along with topic listed below. Emails will be sent each with to further expand on the weekly topic and provide references for further research. Written assignments will also be emailed each week to accompany the compositions.
- Week 1: Introduction to working in a series. Identifying your starting place.
- Week 2: Taking the first step – perfection and fear. Composition #1 due.
- Week 3: Repetition. Composition #2 due.
- Week 4: Internal vs. External Motivation and Critique. Catch up week. No lecture
- Week 5: Cohesiveness. Composition #3 due.
- Week 6: Interruptions, Priority and Focus. Composition #4 due.
- Week 7: Confidence. No lecture.
- Week 8: Stagnation and Growth. Composition #5 due.
A more detailed syllabus will be provided to students that register for this course.
Workshop Format / Logistics
The online material and discussions will take place on a private class website. All participants will have access to the website starting 1 week prior to the course start and 1 week after.
- Lectures will be held via group phone conference for 1 1/2 hours Sunday evening at the beginning of weeks 1, 2, 3, 5, 6 and 8. The assignments will be introduced at this time. Lectures will be recorded for those that can not attend live.
- A portion of the conference call will be reserved for questions and answers.
- Emails with additional material for the weekly topic will be sent Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings.
- Compositions and written assignments are due on Sundays and are to be uploaded to the group website.
- I will be provide formal written responses and critiques to the assignments on the website.
- Additional class discussion will be held each week on the website. This is where questions that come up during the week will be asked and answered.
- Each participant will have 2 private phone conversations with me around the 4th and 8th week of class to discuss progress and go over any questions you might have.
The investment for 8 weeks of instruction is $577 if you register before the early bird deadline of June 4th.
Compared to the equivalent two week in-person workshop costing $1100-$1300 + travel expenses this online class is currently an incredible bargain.
Workshop starting June 17, 2012
Prerequisites – Artwork
You must:
- have all materials, supplies and tools you will need to create 5 new compositions in your chosen style and technique.
- have the knowledge and skill to create artwork in your chosen technique.
- be willing to work hard and focus
- leave all self deprecating thoughts at the door and be ready to think big about your art
- be ready to reflect upon their experience so you can grow
- and, of course, have fun. Laughter is encouraged.
Some of those things might make you uncomfortable and they might scare you. But if you have an open mind and are willing to give it a try, you qualify.
It is recommended you document your work in this class in a journal or sketchbook.
Prerequisites – Computer Skills
- Ability to taken clear, in focus photos of your artwork with a digital camera.
- Ability to re-size and prepare your images for the internet.
- Ability to upload images via a WordPress blog. A step by step tutorial will be provided but each student must master this skill. It’s really quite simple and involves clicking a few buttons and links.
Still Not Sure?
Please Don’t Signup for This Workshop If…
- You have an unwillingness to explore the same theme repeatedly, diving deeper with each exercise. If working in a series is not your thing, this is not your workshop.
- You don’t want to learn more about yourself and your art making. I’ll be encouraging introspection and reflection.
- You are happy with your status quo. This is a workshop for those that are ready to dig in and move forward in a big way with their art.
Maybe another class is a better fit. See all of my online workshops here.
“Lisa Call’s online class Working in a Series was just what I needed to help me explore a new series idea. Lisa breaks down the components to good art and helps you apply them to your own work. Each week, we explored a different aspect of composition via Lisa’s lectures, web posts, and by studying other artists’ work.
By isolating just one aspect of what makes art art–whether it be line, shape, color, or figure ground composition– and then studying that aspect and applying it to my own work really created dramatic results in both what the work looked like and what I learned. I will continue to use this new knowledge and way of creating compositions as I move forward with this series and other work.
In addition to great, well thought out assignments, the class is structured for all different artists and media. It was an added bonus to get to see how other artists work. My class included students who weave, create ink drawings, and work with encaustics, as well as several fiber artists. This was a new experience for me–one that benefited all involved.
Throughout the eight week course, we received emails from Lisa that worked to help us hone our art and our studio practice. We explored ways to think about our art and how that can improve our work. Having a functioning studio, establishing hours of studio practice, as well as thinking about our attitudes towards our own art all worked together to help me improve my ability to make art.
After we completed each assignment, we were asked to do a guided self critique. This practice increased my ability to articulate how I felt about my work and were it was going. Learning how to critique one’s own work is a tool I will continue to use as I move forward.
Without hesitation, I would say this class is worth every penny. This workshop truly gives the students involved new tools that they can continue to use long after the workshop is over.”
– Maria Shell
Current Schedule
I’m currently enrolling for the next session of this workshop.
Invest in yourself and your art by registering now.
Workshop starting June 17, 2012
Lectures to be held at 8pm ET, 7pm CT, 6pm MT, 5pm PT on these Sundays: June 17, June 24, July 1, July 15, July 22, August 5. *
Early Bird Registration ends June 4th.
Workshop starting March 18, 2012
Lectures to be held at 8pm ET, 7pm CT, 6pm MT, 5pm PT on these Sundays: March 18, March 25, April 1, April 15, April 22, May 6. *
Sold Out
Workshop starting January 8, 2012
Lectures to be held at 8pm ET, 7pm CT, 6pm MT, 5pm PT on these Sundays: January 8, January 15, January 22, February 5, February 12, February 26. *
Sold Out
* If you miss a lecture a recording will be available on the website. It is not required you be available at these times.
Online workshop refund policy.
Artwork from the Structures series