If You Were Taking a Collage Class.....
 

...what would you want to work on for your first in-class piece?

A fish? A sea horse? A flower? Any other ideas?

I've been asked by a couple of shops to do a beginners class so I need to make up the sample we would work from, but I'd like to do something that would appeal to the most people, but still have the technical aspects to it for me to teach the theory. The students will have lots of written stuff to take home as well to use to work for their own projects.

Any suggestions appreciated on what you'd like in a beginners collage class.

Watson

I think they would all be so pretty made up but my personal choice would be a flower since it is coming into the spring/summer time of year. Good luck and wish I lived closer to take a class from you.

Great news for you, Teacher Watson, ​to be a wanted person! :)


*giggles* ............make them do a horse! :)

Seriously, probably a flower is the safe bet for most people.

Unless you want to complicate things a bit and offer a choice of a flower or some sort of animal?
People do like choices!!!

Just thinking a bit further here .... that would mean you would have to deal with eyes/faces and that could be a bit more of a challenge. Maybe that'd be better for the advanced class? Got to keep planning how to keep yourself in business!!!! :)

Anything but an animal. Way over done by now. I would like to do one of regular everyday things like roadside mailbox, birdbath, umbrella, illustrated page from a book, etc.

How about something like a macaw? They're very colorful and come in a variety of colors. Plus, I don't think I've seen one done before, so you might be making it your own, as the teacher.

A still life pic of a fruit bowl. I would check out watercolor books at the library and get a feel for the shading and coloration of the shadows and light.

I would like a flower and want to make something small. Students want to see their progress. It can be over-whelming to leave class with UFO projects.

Are you giving the students homework to start before class? I like to have prep work (fabric selections, pressed and fused as directed) done before class so I can pay attention to the instructor.

I would love to attend your fun class!

Yes, Rhonda, it is going to be small and they will have instructions on what to bring, how to choose what fabrics to bring and cut them and I may include a hand-out on value because that's a big thing in collage to wrap your head around. I'd like to get people to at least the point of putting the collage on the background (Because that will introduce different types of fusibles) and making decisions about tulle or not. If not the actual quilting even, which would be great.

Really appreciate any and all suggestions.
Watson

Maybe something sewing/quilting related? i.e. pincushion, sewing machine, rotary cutter or scissors, you get the idea... something that they may want to hang in their sewing room.

A butterfly?
So many options for colors.
Looking through adult coloring books give you many ideas on how to use prints.

So before I saw SuziSew's response I was going to say an owl...but now I will agree with her on a sewing machine!

I like the idea of something sewing related. You know it’s a topic that appeals to your students.

Love this idea!

How fun! I agree with Rhonda K. It's nice to complete something in class. Taking it home to finish is anti climatic. And will it get finished? I know we all work at different speeds in the learning and doing process. I've taken a lot of classes and I am not the first at the finish line. It can be frustrating to be concentrating on sewing a specific part and missing out on the next group of instructions. I believe if its a beginner class keeping it simple works wonders for not overwhelming them. What a wonderful opportunity for you and your new students! Congratulations!

Another thought -- make a holiday item. So if the class in the next two weeks do a Fourth of July themed item. If it's later then maybe a Halloween/Fall item.

Well, I've never taken a class on collage or made a collage...but I'm drawn to beach scenes or underwater scenes. They might have a lot of options in materials to use to create seaweed or maybe small shells that could be attached. Just a thought.

How about a sewing machine?

This was my first collage quilt. jersey Girl. Took an afternoon and was lots of fun

https://www.quiltingboard.com/pictur...d-t292314.html

She turned out to be really cute.

I think it would make sense to have at least two levels of classes - maybe three levels -

the first one to do something super simple - like maybe a pumpkin or an apple or a ball - or cubes and rectangles - to get an idea of shading, etc. and materials and techniques to use. Also, so that only a few different fabrics would be needed to get the effect.

Thank you. It was lots of fun to make