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Lost in Translation…or Why Color Theories
Do Not Guarantee Good Cloth with Ruby Leslie
November 8, 2008
Weavers are often seduced into buying gorgeous colored yarns
but freeze when trying to incorporate them into their
weavings. The usual approach to this perennial problem is to
learn color theory — a huge and daunting undertaking. But
learning terminology is NOT the equivalent of learning how
to design cloth and use color well.
The premise of this seminar is: You don’t need to master
color theory to use color masterfully. We’ll start by
looking at an extensive series of samples for a production
line of scarves, woven over several years, which document an
incrementally evolving approach to color design. Then we’ll
explore the process Ruby has developed for designing for
Handwoven magazine’s “Color Forecast” series, using one
color palette for numerous weaving structures.
Starting with a layman’s approach to color theory,
discussion topics will include how to begin the design
process and overcome color design phobia. Strategies for how
to successfully incorporate color into woven structures will
be addressed with hands-on exercises using commercially
available yarns and applying the principles of optical
blending.The fee for this workshop is $20.00 plus a
$10.00 materials fee. Participants need to bring in a scissors.
Workshop is limited to 20 participants.
Bio:
Ruby Leslie maintains a full-time weaving and teaching
studio in northern Vermont, where she designs her own line
of handwovens under the label Ruby Charuby Weavings.
Boundless enthusiasm for sampling and experimenting,
especially with color and its interaction with structure has
guided Ruby’s creative endeavors from the beginning of her
weaving career. For 20 years she has shared her fiber
skills, as an artist in residence in the public school
system, teaching in venues from pre-school through college.
When Handwoven Magazine invited Ruby to become a
contributing member of their newly created “Color Forecast”
series design team, creating swatches on a regular basis
mandated a rethinking of her design process. This fueled her
desire to share her insights about how to successfully
integrate color, structure, and yarn in weaving without
having to rely on recipes. She has taught at guilds and a
variety of regional conferences, including Convergence. |