Learning – Joni Beach

March 6, 2018March 6, 2018

Behind the Scenes~Artists Working in a Series

Many times artists will create several works of art, or a series, related to the same subject or theme. This can be the result of their creative process, where an artist experiments with different materials…explores one idea in several ways, or tries out many ways to design one idea…or takes one concept and builds upon it, revising it as they work. So, there are many ways to create in the studio with no one “right” method…

Some artists work on one piece or series at a time, while others may have many projects and series being developed and created at the same time…working on several at various stages of the design process. So, it can look like this! 🙂

I currently work on a few different series, which I’d like to introduce to you one at a time. Today’s series is called, “Child’s Play”…Because for children their play is actually their work…the way they learn, develop, and understand the world around them!

In “Playtime Games” (2012), the games of children are depicted~~Pin-the-Tail-on-the-Donkey, sparkling marbles, decorated flip-flops, the swirls of a turning top! For from the lessons learned in playing these games, they learn the lessons of life.

“Playtime Games”, Rayon, beads, and clothespins on cotton, ©2012 Joni Beach

In “Meow, Mr. Whiskers”, saying hello in cat language is a specialty of children who know their pets well. Not only is he a cat, he is a friend who just happens to love to play with a ball of fabric yarn. And, from this they learn to better communicate and interact with other living beings…including people!

Meow, Mr. Whiskers, rayon on cotton, 7 1/4″ x 10″, © 2013 Joni Beach.

In this series, I have fun exploring ways children learn, grow, and develop through fun and games, colors and crayons, animals and bugs, friends and family, and other wild, wonderful, awe-inspiring things, using brightly colored, quirky prints, vivid colored threads, and fun found objects!

Stay tuned for more…! 🙂

(These designs are Available Now as wonderful, Open Edition Art Prints in the Art Shop.)

April 30, 2012May 1, 2012

In the Studio~Child’s Play

What do you think of when you think about children playing? Running?… jumping?… games?…having fun? and bright colors? This week I began a new series, Child’s Play. For a long time I have been collecting brightly colored fabrics with whimsical prints. While I did not have a design idea for them yet, when my husband asked me about a small art quilt that might relate to children, my mind began focusing on a few different ideas. I thought of a favorite book on my shelf, Quilter’s Playtime: Games With Fabric by Dianne S. Hire. I was inspired to use the games of–spinners, pin-the-tail-on the-donkey, and marbles–in a composition entitled, Playtime Games.

A quick sketch of an idea was drawn…And a pile of playful, brightly colored fabrics was thrown on the table…(Actually my stash on the shelf is very orderly! )

Fabric Pile — Pile of Fun, Colorful Fabrics.

Then, I drew objects of the design on the paper backing of fusible web. (I like Lite Steam-a-Seam2 brand) These were then cut-out and arranged on the background fabric. To construct the tails, two pieces of fabric were sewn together wrong sides together, turned, and basted into place. I took digital photos to view the composition and placement of the pieces. When the desired effect was achieved, the top was fused into place.

Lay Out of Playtime Games, (c) 2012, Joni Beach. — Lay-Out of Playtime Games, (c) 2012, Joni Beach.

Next, the top was layered with low-loft batting and a backing fabric. Thread-painting was done to enhance the details of the objects. And, texture, depth, and line was added to the design using free-motion quilting. I like the way the quilting lines also add movement to this piece. A button and beads were stitched to the tails, the binding was fused to the back, and I signed and dated the front…

Playtime Games, (c) 2012, Joni Beach. — Playtime Games,10 1/2 X 7 3/4", Rayon on cotton, beads. (c) 2012 Joni Beach.

Working on this series reminds me not to forget how important playing is…

Because for a child (and me)…

Life, learning, and growing is…Child’s Play!

Quote~I magination or the “Wisdom of a Child”? (jonibeach.com)

December 15, 2011December 19, 2011

Learn Something New Everyday…

*Wisdom [Learning] is not a product of schooling but the lifelong attempt to acquire it. * (Albert Einstein)

Martha Stewart, being interviewed by Google Talks with Marissa Mayer, was asked what ideas she lived by. She answered that one idea guiding her was the saying,

Learn something new everyday.

This reminded me of a teaching concept--nurture a desire for lifelong learning. With an openness to continued learning, we take in new information and knowledge, which then impacts how we problem-solve, create, and behave. As an artist, we take in sensory experiences that impact our design process…whether through the music we compose, a wall-hanging we create, or a story that we write.

Boston - Boston Common: Parkman Plaza - Learning — Learning, Image by wallyg via Flickr

With a world that is changing quickly everyday, the changes and the speed at which they occur challenges each of us and our families continually. While it can create stress, it can also be a catalyst for growth. It is exciting to consider the new possibilities for the future.

It can be a stimulus for creativity, whether in our work or in our personal lives.

Change, while not always welcome, can force us to consider alternate ways of doing things, encourage us to try new experiences, and to consider the world around us with new eyes. In our families, we can use the latest technology as an aid to communicate with each other, provide up-dated information, and as tools for learning, while not allowing it to become a negative focus that erodes our time together and relationships.

As in most things, our changing world has the potential for positive or negative influences. So, perhaps the biggest challenge is to use the new things that we learn everyday…

…in ways that are good,

valuable,

and add quality and well-being to our work, families, and lives.