My Artist Blog

NEW BLOG ADDRESS

Thu, 8 Dec 2011 16:53:05 -0600

With an imminent change of website servers I have decided to update my blog format and location. Once the website is uploaded to the new server the blog will be linked directly. Meanwhile feel free to check out my new blog on WordPress.

annahergert.wordpress.com

Your patience is much appreciated as I embark on learning a new format and its tools. I appreciate your continued support and hope the new blog will be one site you are going to visit often!

SECOND SOLO EXHIBITION FOR 2012 BOOKED

Thu, 1 Dec 2011 10:27:37 -0600

What a way to start the last month of 2011 - I just confirmed a venue for “Sharing Riches of My Soul”. The Affiniti Gallery in Saskatoon has accepted my proposal to show this body of work that debuted last summer in Madeira Park, BC. The dates are June 1st through July 2nd, 2012.
Time to celebrate and look ahead to 2012 which is shaping up to be another exciting year!

IT’S HERE!!! AND IT’S GREAT!!!

Mon, 14 Nov 2011 15:46:53 -0600

ART QUILTS: MASTERS, Volume 2 - Major Works by Leading Artists
Curated by Martha Sielman
Lark Crafts Publishing, 2011
ISBN 978-1-60059-599-8
available at your local quilt store, Chapters-Indigo and Amazon

Art Quilts: Masters Volume 2 is finally available in Canada. Martha Sielman has done it again! Martha’s in-depth research culminates in featuring forty contemporary quilt artists from around the world. Some names are familiar, like Jane Dunnewold, Paula Nadelstern, Laura Wassilowski and Canadian artist Dorothy Caldwell, while other artists may not be as well known in our hemisphere, including Reiko Naganuma, Dirkje van der Horst-Beetsma and Misik Kim.

After a brief introduction Martha Sielman allows a ten page spread for each individual artist. The reader is captivated by stunning images, often providing enough detail to determine strategically placed stitches for special effect in support of the overall composition. The reader has an opportunity to contrast and compare quilt artists and their subject matter within this comprehensive volume. On a personal note I wish I had this book eight years ago when I was completing my City and Guilds Diploma and had to research four contemporary quilts artist and their styles. This book would have made the research a little easier while on the other hand narrowing my choices down to four would have proven very difficult!

Art Quilts: Master, Volume 2 is a true feast for the eyes! If you are living in a small town or rural environment, this book is the next best thing to quenching one’s desire to visit an art gallery. The colours are vivid and true. They showcase the individuality and passion of each quilt artist and one gets a true insight into the artist’s world. Martha has carefully woven each artists inspirational sources and life experiences into the introductory essay opening the individual chapters.

It will prove difficult to resist turning the pages from artist to artist. If you prefer the coffee table book approach you may be able to pace yourself and only study one featured art quilter at a time - this book is sure to entice and inspire. With Christmas just a few weeks away you might want to put a copy of Art Quilts: Master Volume 2 on your wish list. Order early to avoid back orders - this may just be your favourite holiday gift for 2012!

EXPANDING ON THE NEWSLETTER ARTICLE ABOUT PHOTOGRAPHY, INCLUDES IMAGES

Mon, 14 Nov 2011 14:31:47 -0600

Photographing your work ...
... A few simple steps to achieve great results!
I was all set to present an article about the creative process when I changed my mind regarding the topic. I realize that I have published a few articles about photography over the years but they primarily focused on using photography to gather inspiration.

Today I am sharing one of my pet peeves with you ... poor images to promote a class, a new product or submit to a juried show. I have struggled with this issue for some time and here is why: When I am approached to teach I either provide samples of my work (if possible) and professional images of this work, often both! Photos are always my first choice. The images are sent via email and permission is granted to insert these images into ads to promote the class or a presentation.

Why then do some organizers find it necessary to print out the images, rephotograph them at an angle making my work appear poor, out of focus and unprofessional?

Well, I have vented and the topic is up for discussion ... Without just throwing my criticism out there, I have a few helpful hints to avoid future faux-pas. Feel free to respond once you have finished reading this column.

1. You do not have not to own the latest high MP DSLR camera to create good photos for web publishing or simple promotional material.

1. Have the artist, supplier or teacher provide you with professional images to use for promotional purposes. This will simplify your life greatly!

1. When applying to a juried show, update your own webpage or create brochures with images you take yourself by keeping in mind the following:

a. Utilize your design wall. If you do not own a design wall, pin a grey, white or black flannel sheet to a wall. Smooth out any wrinkles or they will be magnified in the final image. Avoid hanging a sheet from a clothesline - the wind will not cooperate, trust me!

a. Pin the quilt, woven or knitted item, etc., to this background. If you need more than two pins to make the piece hang without buckling, use them!

a. Position yourself, the camera and tripod at a distance to capture the entire fabric piece. Remember that too much background can always be cropped later. If you do not own a tripod, avoid taking a breath when pushing the shutter release button. Better yet - find yourself a piece of furniture, determine the proper height for the camera, set a time delay and take the image that way.

a. It is important to use the view finder. Line up the centre square on the LED display with the centre of your quilt. This will minimize warped edges and capture the quilt’s best potential for future publishing.

a. Take images with and without flash. Do not make a decision on which image is better by viewing the pictures on the LED display. Download the images to your computer and then carefully evaluate. Even simple photo software programs will allow to slightly enhance the images.

a. If the images are blurry, are underexposed (you cannot see any of the details, pattern, etc.) or the photo is over exposed (bleached out, colours are too light, details are not visible) start over! I never take just one image to capture new work - remember: “Practice makes perfect”!

a. Avoid sending images to a juried show that have part of your grand staircase dwarfing the quilt entry. Hands (no matter how professional the manicure) and legs of the person holding the quilt for photography will often result in disqualification despite strong work.

1. To photograph 3-dimensional work or sculptures keep in mind that the background still matters a great deal. Trees, leaves and other natural props have their place in art photography. You are not trying to sell the natural setting, your focus should be on the art at hand! A word of advice: Leave the art photography to the professional.

a. Carefully drape your background, avoid creases and folds in the fabric used - they will distract from the art!

a. Position yourself, the camera and tripod, adjusting to the height of the 3-dimensional piece. Yes, that means, you might have to crouch, lie down on your belly, kneel to get the best vantage point before pressing the shutter release. Take several images from the front, side, top, back. Make sure to take numerous images with and without the flash mode.

a. Taking photos in full sunlight will result in sure disappointment. Choose a grey day, without wind or wait for the last hour before sunset to get satisfactory results if you prefer to shoot photos outdoors.

I have heard it often: “I don’t have time to learn photography, I am concentrating on my art!” There is nothing wrong with hiring a professional or someone who has a strong interest in photography. Keep in mind to budget money, or trade skills and even art work to present yourself and your work in the best light possible.

It is my sincere hope that the images on the right will be helpful in clarifying questions. Please do weigh in on the blog with your opinion! Photography is a vast subject and I am only scratching the surface!

If you prefer, email your views and insights directly to anna@annahergert.com

NOVEMBER 2011 NEWSLETTER

Mon, 14 Nov 2011 14:19:24 -0600

The November edition of Connecting Design Threads is now ready to download. Ensure that you have the latest browser version installed and refresh the page just in case! Please let me know it you have any trouble.

Below is the index of what I am covering in this month’s edition:

Dates of Interest Favourite Books Revealed What is Design and where
The year is slowly drawing This month’s focus is on might it take me?..
to an end and 2012 “Art Quilts: Masters, A brief overview of what
promises to bring many Volume 2” and “SkyQuilts.” can be expected of the new
opportunities and a change Check out Page 2 workshop from my studio!
in my studio ... Find out more on Page 2
Read all about it on Page 2

Photographing your work... Pebbles of Inspiration
... A few simple steps to Inspired by Art Quilts:
achieve great results! Masters, Volume 2 - I have
Page 3 selected a few poignant quotes
by selected artists from the
book. Page 3

EMMA LAKE 2012 DATES SET!

Tue, 8 Nov 2011 14:30:09 -0600

It’s official! I am booked to return to Emma Lake in July 2012!
Mark your calendars and note the dates July 22nd - 28th, 2012 - I listened and didn’t book close to a long weekend!

I am presenting Art Quilt 101: Dyeing to Create - Colour, Composition & Dimension. We will begin with 1 to 2 days of dyeing fabric and threads and move into design principles to create a one of a kind design executed in your hand dyed fabrics. For more info check out this workshop on the website under “Workshops”.
If you are a fibre artist practicing in a related discipline rest assured that you are welcome to take part in this class. My background includes a diploma in creative embroidery as well a Master Knitter Certificate and three levels of the Master Spinner Certificate from Olds College, AB.

For more info and to let your name stand on the registration list contact Paul Trottier by email paul.trottier@usask.ca

Questions? Please email me directly anna@annahergert.com

DESIGNING WITH CIRCLES...

Thu, 3 Nov 2011 13:37:49 -0600

The 10 days away in Kalispell went much too fast! I am now back in the studio trying to catch up with “regular” work and responsibilities. I ran into a friend yesterday who was curious about the trip and workshop at The Quilt Gallery in Kalispell. She had been checking my blog regularly to find out all about it... this brought on pangs of guilt and the promise to post an update on the blog.
The trip was a lot of fun - I went as a student and brought along a few friends. Two of these friends and I took the train from Williston, ND to Whitefish, MT - my first train trip in the US ever! The train was late, four hours late and we saw Whitefish after midnight upon arrival and before sunrise (on departure day... ). I didn’t go to see the mountains, after all I grew up in the mountains and my focus was really on the workshop and the time away.
Luckily we had planned on a day of relaxation before class started and this meant exploring the town. We loved Camas Creek Yarns... and all the other little boutiques we visited. A new knitting project was impossible to resist - more on that another time. At Sassafras artist coop I was able to find a few small Christmas presents. Make sure to stop into these stores if you visit Kalispell!

Rosalie Dace’s 5 day class on “Designing With Circles” started bright and early on Oct. 26th . 15 eager students (8 from Canada) were ready to embrace the challenge. We were to bring inspirational images depicting circles and this alone individuality in preferences and possible outcomes emerged. By day two fabric fondling was the focus and everyone was concentrating hard, only to be interrupted by lunch time and coffee breaks.
I thoroughly enjoyed not being the teacher. My design inspiration came from a City & Guilds Design I had created while preparing a design sheet on Media in 2003. I was immediately drawn to the black and white circle design, suspended in space by lines extending from the circle.
My focus in executing this design was on texture and colour and I was soon working with hand-dyed cottons, silks and layers highlighting matte and shiny surfaces. I was able to attach the circle to a deep purple background of cotton sateen.
Thanks to my classmate and friend Donna I actually have some images of me working on the piece. I seldom stopped for a break as I knew that once I get home I will not have the luxury of working on just one piece at a time. I am not finished with the circle but will keep you posted on further developments once I have completed a commission I am completing in the studio.

My insight from this workshop was that to be an artist and a designer requires us to look at the world with new eyes every day. The washers etc. above were photographed on a moose sculpture in front of a local restaurant. Imagine our delight when we discovered this eye-catching art piece - talk about circles!!!!

MORE RESPONSES...

Fri, 28 Oct 2011 12:59:18 -0600

Joyce M. emailed in response to the newsletter article:
:I have seen a lot of “Women’s Work” that is Art , much of it from centuries ago when they may have done it as handwork and so did not realize what they created was art ! To be honest, I have also seen art which I did not see as such , but that is my problem , not the artist’s. I know that it can be a tricky subject . Sometimes I think this question would be much simpler to discuss or not even come up if we just left it to the artist and the beholder of such art. Those who see and respond to our work make a “connection” to it and I do not believe they become overly concerned with labels . They see it for what it is ! Sometimes pride plays a part. Also , in your explanation of this man’s behaviour (which actually, I see as rude ) It would seem to me that he is not questioning the “women’s” part, but the medium used so I would not introduce the ‘done by women’ subject . To question the medium is ridiculous . I believe there has been a somewhat steady increase in textiles shown in galleries and you are right in that we have to keep on top of this by sending in proposals if we desire our work to be shown and taken seriously . Possibly if we know why we create what we do, and are at peace with that , this topic would be of little concern.”

P. H. has one last thought to add:
“Part of what irritates me is the devaluation of the term 'craft'. When students go to art school they are learning their craft. They are learning how to manipulate the tools and materials to hand to produce an original design. There used to be painters guilds where apprentices spent years learning the craft of painting. Trompe d'oeil work which many artists use today is a fine example of painters demonstrating their craft.

My point is that we shouldn't be ashamed of the care and craftsmanship we put onto our work. It's a time honoured tradition for producing high quality objects.

The idea your painter had of digitally projecting the parts of the process onto fabric struck me as silly and not a little self centred and arrogant. Really! Is he saying that the process an artist goes through is to be more highly valued than the end result? Oh please! Lets have a little more humility in the art world, and lets be ready to recognize bombast when we hear it!

I do agree with you that we should keep submitting our work to fine art galleries. And inch by inch I think we are making headway.”

Loralei W. emailed this:
“I have recently become a follower of your posts, and was quite struck by your experience of someone excluding your beautiful work from the category of "art." While I wanted to comment right away, I felt unqualified to do so, as I am just entering the world of art quilting, but have been a contemporary quilter for a few years now. As I read the comments, I feel more desire to comment, so here I am with my two cents' worth:

To me, art is something that is created with thought, with passion, and with love; this in itself would have any quilt, be it a wall hanging or a bed cover, included in the category of "art." I feel sorry for anyone whose mind is so closed as to not even consider what goes into making something that they are not personally drawn to. Your work in particular, stimulates feelings and emotions unlike many quilts I have seen. The thought that goes into them is obvious, as is the passion and the love. I look forward to hearing more feedback on this discussion, as it is proving to bring up some very strong emotions and sentiments!”

Now it is your turn - weigh in and share your thoughts and experiences!

Thanks to everyone who has taken the time and emailed me. The discussion continues here! Leave your comments...

ART OR WORMEN’S WORK... continued

Thu, 27 Oct 2011 12:06:32 -0600

Gayle V. shared in an email:

“I had a discussion with one of my Guild members about this recently. I wanted the labels on our items for the latest Guild show to list our names as artists. She insisted that we were craft people and therefore should be labelled as artisans. My argument was that we use the same principals of perspective and composition and often as much skill in creating a palette and combining fibres as an "artist". She comes from a background of blacksmithing, so is more familiar with the traditional term.
She was good enough to change the label to "artist", but wasn't persuaded that it was correct. I wouldn't even worry about it except that "artisan" seems to hold less respect.”

Please weigh in with your opinion!

And just in case you are interested in one more response from Linda C:

“I just read your last newsletter...informative and thought provoking as usual. I can't imagine how anyone can say your work is not art. I wonder if this artist who made the comments is not too wrapped up in himself and his kind of art to give credit to anyone making art by another technique. And then, of course, there are still quilters who think art quilts aren't really quilts. I think one of the reasons I admire your work is because it demonstrates skill as well as artistry. Many art quilters have thrown skill to the wind for art's sake. And sadly, I have come to the conclusion that those quilters turned to art because they couldn't make their points match. We had a bit of this discussion when you were at our guild in 2009. About art quilting being the easy way out...Thankfully, there are quilt artists like you who produce quilted art with the same precision and integrity (and sometimes even more so) that you l used when making bed quilts. The Quilt National show I just saw in Fargo was certainly an representation of this. And maybe this is the case with work recognized at the national and international level...and so it should be.

On the other hand, as a longarm quilter, I have the unique opportunity to really see all the levels of what is "acceptable" in workmanship. I can't understand why so many quilters think everything is about speed at the expense of workmanship. When our guild opted to have an non-judged show last year (the first time since about 1992) some members expressed the idea that people would be more willing to show their quilts since the caliber of the quilts would not be as high because guild members would not be trying to impress the judge. I must be old-fashioned, but I think our annual show is the place to show our BEST work...no matter who is looking at it. Guess I'm an incurable perfectionist...and see each new project as an opportunity to improve. I have made a few converts, but it is slow going...”

Please don’t be shy! Your opinion counts - every single one will move us forward!
Looking forward to reading your comments,
Anna

DISCUSSION INPUT

Sun, 23 Oct 2011 11:48:28 -0600

“You know Anna I so liked your statements about how to define fibre art to some "doubting Tomas". Your explanation of our form of art was right on. We just must carry on with what we do learning and creating no matter what the current consensus is regarding our form of art. We know what we do and where we come from in this respect. Does it really matter when we encounter this type of uninformed and uninformed type? NO NO NO. As long as we know that what we create is art that is really all the matters and we can forge ahead. Eventually it will happen in galleries all over the world as long as there are people with the talent and drive that you have. Just keep in mind the experiences of Robert Bateman and his reception near the beginning of his international career and the Canadian Art galleries response. Keep producing, creating and loving.
Thanks again for opening my closed eyes to people's attitude to our work. I just carry on in my little world forgetting about all that controversy out there. You are making a great dent in that attitude with your wonderful work. You carry the banner high for all of us. “
I. L., SK

Comments? Input? Your view? Add a comment below!