Putting Your Work Out There.
 

I have been asked to teach a collage class by a few stores in the area and to make a sample of what the class would be working on.
I made up the sample...a fish...and took it to the first shop and was kind of surprised to discover that I was really nervous to present it for consideration, knowing that my art would be "judged" as to whether it was good enough or not.
I got over my nerves, and we are deciding on dates for the classes.

I guess my point is that quilting, whether it be traditional, collage, modern, whatever....is really art and we all should be proud and happy to present our efforts to others, regardless of their opinions.

Watson

Yes, and your work is gorgeous. You should be proud of it! But I get it that jitters happen anyway. It's still tough to actually always believe that it doesn't matter what others think.

We all have jitters...(I suspect) when anyone looks at our work...I also write...and when someone else looks at my writing...I always feel exposed.

Watson, if I ever get to visit Ontario I will check first to see when and where you're teaching. Your work is very definitely good enough!

I guess in the quilting world there is something for everyone. I love scrappies for example, but I am the only one in my two quilting groups who does, and while they say nice things about my work, I know it isn't their taste or their standard since they do much more intricate projects. Mr. Stitchnripper and I look at art sometimes, in an art museum, and just don't get it. We went to an exhibit recently and were befuddled that some of the pieces were even there, and our friend went later and said she would give her right arm for any one of the pieces, they were that good. Go figure.

I know. I have just decided that I will enter our local fair this summer. This will be with my first finished quilt and the other is made with my first blocks. Even the longarm work which I paid for is not consistent. I am hoping people will be kind.

watson, your work is spectacular. Hold your head high and accept compliments graciously, because they will be coming your way if/when you go "public". A sincere fan, Jane Q

There are quite a few of your quiltingboard fans that live 'near' you. Could you please specify which LQS you will be teaching? I would dearly love to take your class if it's not too far away.....

I have just started doing a little teaching at an LQS and I will say that it is intimidating-- more so in trying to gauge how much info to give how quickly--than actually telling people how to do something (Surprisingly, I quite enjoy getting paid to do that!!:D) There are some that want minute instruction and never even look at the pattern-spoon feeding. Others have learned that reading the pattern and understanding the why is just as important as learning the how. Good luck! Awww heck! You'll be great!!

Another sincere fan here. My thoughts are if your fish finished half as nicely as your horse (avatar) then you have no worries whatsoever! Now I'm trying to remember if I saw your fish collage posted on here or not?

Having said that, I think we all (regardless of our skill level) feel exposed when presenting our work which will naturally be judged by others. But I agree with your thought that it's art that we should be proud of - period.

I have an idea! How about a QB arranged collage challenge where you practice presenting to us?? I would pay for that online class :)

Best of luck with your classes!

Christine

Watson, I would take your class. Your work is amazing!

Amen! Congratulations! The class sounds fun.

It is hard to put ourselves out there to be judged, whether that's a piece hanging in a show or to our faces, or even a picture here on the boards. It is out of the comfort zone of many people.

But you have talents to be shared, we sure appreciate you sharing them here! We were just talking about collage quilting at my small group on Tuesday. I love fabric but I really love seeing what some of you people can do with it! LOL, beyond my wildest ideas.

I sort of look at it this way, I'm sharing what I know but I'm still learning as I go. Each project I do, even if it is similar to a previous one, I learn something new and I learn something from other people in many ways all the time. The greatest honor a teacher can have is a student that surpasses them.

I'm proud of you and your work. Thanks for sharing here and in classes :)

I like quilts that I don't even like! :) My point is like yours - it's art.
Watson, your work is outstanding.

Watson, thanks always for your ideas and comments. I enjoy what you have said and your vision. Keep on keeping on!

It is amazing how many of us do not view what we do as an art form. I have 2 brothers who are artists (in several mediums). I was always in awe of how they could take something plain and create such a masterpiece. For one of them I made a queen size birthday quilt. Simple log cabin in lots of blues because he is basically part of the ocean LOL. He teared up when I gave it to him and told me he had always been amazed at how I took plain fabric and made him his clothes and now this quilt. It hit me like a lightening bolt. This accomplished artist saying this to me! At that point I started to view what I did in a whole different way. And, I believe it was reflected in my work. We are all artists - some better than others, but artists all!!

Watson, I do know all about the nervousness and anxiety one feels when teaching for the first time ever. I was not teaching quilting, however. I totally established a new vocational program for national certification as a Certified Professional Legal Secretary. I had adjunct professors who taught certain sections, and an attorney who taught the legal ethics, a CPA for Trust Accounting, but there were parts that I was responsible for teaching. I had 25 students sign up for this course, which bordered on being an overloaded class. The very first night I was due to teach, I started looking around the classroom, asking myself what in the world ever made me think I could teach. Well, I did. Once you break the ice, it is much easier. I went on to teach state-wide cram courses for the national certification program, and even contributed to working with the national association's certification board. It was a very enjoyable experience, but teaching can be very hard. Any time you teach a class, you must figure on spending at least 3 hours of preparation for every hour you teach. It demands a lot, and if you are not fully prepared your students will know it. I always worked hard to prepare and it was very gratifying when our pass rate on the nation-wide examination exceeded about 75% of my students. The normal pass rate on that examination for first-time examinees in 1984 was about 5%. I think the most important thing you can do in that type of a class, and it will be a bit different in a quilting class, is convince your students that yes, you may have been working as a legal secretary/legal assistant for many years, but you still have to study. You have to be able to kick the information around in your head to determine what type of answers those who prepare the examination are looking for. Some sections, such as Exercise of Judgment, are very difficult to teach. You have to know the structure in a law office and know how far you can go. One must be confident enough to be very confident in the decisions you make, and those decisions must Not cross the boundary into actually practicing law. That could get the attorney you work for disbarred.

I would love to take a collage class from you, Watson!

Who cares what others think. Your Art, and it is Fine Art, is for you. It is your voice. Your recent experience at the CQA Show says so. :thumbup: