Show up and bring snacks!

Hello!

It’s May. It’s almost the end of the school year and people are hanging on while still pushing forward. What gets us through each day? I believe it’s each other. The people that become a part of our lives in big and small ways. They don’t have to be near to have an impact. We just have to know they exist. They always show up when needed - in real life, on the phone, in our thoughts and even in our memories. They’re here for a laugh, a cry, a meal, a listen, a walk, a talk, a bottle of wine and snacks - always snacks. This is community. People we used to know, people we know now, and people we’re getting to know. The people we rely on, and those that rely on us. This month’s newsletter is all about community, piecing things together, and folks showing up in wonderful ways. Let’s get into it…

Pictures & Words

The illustrations in A Language of Stitches are either painted or collaged. Many, like the one pictured here, use a combination of both. Collage naturally aligns with quilting. They’re both essentially the same idea of piecing together materials. Collage can express the texture of a quilt better than a painting. Painting can show colors in more depth and variety. One of the many things that attracts me to Tompkins’ work, is our similar visual languages. Mine is expressed with scissors, glue, paper and paint instead of needle, thread and fabric.

I felt a lot of freedom and fun building this Rosie Lee Tompkins name collage. As an illustrator most of the job is interpreting her quilts so young readers can get to know her work. In this spread, I didn’t need to interpret, I used my own visual language. Each letter contains textures and patterns, shapes and colors. It’s the language I love best - tiny shapes and brights colors, almost in a pattern, but not quite. All the pieces coming together to make something new and whole.

Art in School

How do artists get serious about play?

May is a busy, BUSY, month in schools! That final push to the end is pure madness. Luckily, I have a very organized co-worker who came to me LAST year to plan for this year’s Volunteer Appreciation lunch (when family volunteers get appreciated by students and staff). Last year we had students make a sign and cards with a floral theme. All done and ready to go! So this year we weren’t under pressure. We were free to play and have fun. In April, that same very organized co-worker shared the book Art Workshops for Children with me. It’s a wonderful book! I used the book to help kindergarten artists create these vibrant flower banners. We used paint, paint sticks and markers. The finished banners decorated the volunteer appreciation areas, brightening up the walls. And now we’re already planning for next year’s Volunteer Appreciation! If you’re a volunteer, helper, supporter of your local public school THANK YOU! We need you and appreciate you, now more than ever!

Workshop News

Bay Farm Island Free Library hosted a family event where I got to share a preview of A Language of Stitches with members of the community. Mostly folks from Maya Lin School. And new faces I hadn’t known before. It was great to feel the support!

I shared a bit about Rosie Lee Tompkins and showed photos of some of her quilts. I read A Language of Stitches. My first time sharing it with the general public! I talked about basic color theory and why Tompkins’ quilts are so pleasing to the eyes. Hint: She was a master at color relationships. I provided paper to create small collages. All the participants made beautiful work.

Summer is a great time to take my online class Inspired by Picture Books. This class consist of 30 daily practice prompts based on picture books. This is a class for curious creatives of all ages. Take it at your own pace.

You can also view my Creativebug LIVE, Crafting Together: Paper Collage Quilts with Constance Moore on Creativebug.com. If you missed the library collage workshop this will walk you through a similar process

Creativebug.com is also available through your public library.

Towards the end of summer things will pick up again so…

Save these Dates:

Sunday, August 2 BOOK LAUNCH at BAMPFA
Saturday, September 19 BOOK TALK at Books, Inc. Alameda.
More details, more dates and more collaborations coming this fall!

Thank you for taking time to read. Please forward this newsletter to anyone who might enjoy a monthly dose of creativity in their inbox, and send them over to constancemoore.com to join my list.

I truly appreciate your support.

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