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The students in my classes work hard and I'm always impressed with the beautiful artwork they create. It is my honor to share with you their creations. Be sure to checkout their websites and blogs to see more of their amazing talents.
Organized by workshop:
- Master Class
- Advancing the Series
- Working in a Series
- Abstraction
- Design Elements
- Design Principles
- Intentional Piecing
- Setting Goals
- Systems
All images shared with permission from the artist.
Interested in taking a workshop? Available classes are listed in the online course catalog.
Master Class
Hannah Klaus Hunter
Jasmine Shift
©2015 Hannah Klaus Hunter
Monoprint collage
Hannah's website
"Imagine being a part of a group where you have the opportunity to make your art/life dreams come true. Would it be possible to receive encouragement, support, camaraderie and the challenges you need; to take the risks that you're used to avoiding (fearing that if you stepped into the unknown, you would perish)? What if instead, you took that step, joined a group and thrived?
There is such a group—Lisa Call's Master Class. After several years of window shopping Lisa's class, I walked through the door and didn't look back. What I discovered was an extremely well constructed workshop that allowed me to thoughtfully and incrementally move forward and put my dreams into action.
Comprised of individual coaching calls (the best!), live group calls, a private fb page, monthly challenges and access to an incredible library of art resources, Lisa begins the Master Class by asking questions that make you dig deep in order to come up with a set of values and a clear picture of who you are and where you want to go.
With these values in place, weekly, monthly and yearly goals become the trail markers for your path. And what a path! In the year that I've participated, I retired from a secure job to realize my dream of being a full time artist. (Financial planning: crucial) I took part in three invitational group shows, organized and opened up my studio for a city wide artist studio tour, and partnered with another artist to craft a two city Holiday Open Studio Celebration. That's the outer manifestation. Best of all, I've learned to believe in myself, my intuition and my art work. I can't wait to see how the next year in Master Class unfolds!"
~Hannah Klaus Hunter
Davis, California
Carol Trice
Connections #4, Connections #6
Connections #1, Connections #3
Connections #2
Art Quilts
©2013 Carol Trice
Carol's website
"At the end of 2013, I took an inventory of what I accomplished during the year and was amazed at how much I accomplished. I give a lot of credit to participating in the spring and fall Master Class with Lisa Call. Here are just a few things I accomplished:
• Designed and constructed 10 quilt tops and finished 4 quilts.
• Entered into my first national juried art show and got both entries accepted.
• Documented how I photograph my quilts including the Photoshop process to edit the images.
• Completed 8 chapters from Drawing from the Right Side of the Brain
• Redesigned my blog/website
• Created a Fan Page on Facebook for my artwork
After two back-to-back Master Class workshops, I got a little cocky and thought I would try going solo. Boy, did I get a strong dose of reality. Without the accountability and structure that the Master Class provides, I got very little done in January and February 2014. As a result, I just signed up for Lisa's redesigned 12 month Master Class.
The main benefit from participating in the Master Class is the accountability structure. But, that is not the only thing. Lisa provides encouragement, attaboys, and the occasional nudge to get cracking if you are not fulfilling YOUR goals. Each participant is different and sets their own goals. Participants are at different stages of their art careers and also from different mediums. Because Lisa's workshops are not technique-driven, they are applicable to any visual artist.
Throughout the workshop, Lisa is extremely generous in her knowledge of the artist's mindset, the art business, and the world of art in general.
Finally, the important aspect of the Master Class is the other participants. The camaraderie within the group is fabulous; providing another layer of accountability and usually a built-in cheering section."
~Carol Trice
Dallas, Texas
Sunila Mahajan
Atmosphere, Vapour
Breeze, gale
©2015 Sunila Mahajan
Paint on Paper
Sunila's website
"I enrolled for lisa call's master class so that i could get a clarity in my life and vision as an artist. Lisa has helped me beyond my expectations.she has been a guide and philosopher.
I now have self confidence in my art and personal life too. Lisa was always there when I needed her. My experience was awesome and I would highly recommend her classes to anyone who would want a 180 Degree turn in their lives."
~Sunila Mahajan
Bangalore, India
Gregory Vasgerdsian
Dusk 8
Mustard 15, Mustard 16
Mustard 13, Mustard 12
Mustard 17, Mustard 9
Mustard 19, Dusk 4
Mustard Spring 2013
©2013 Gregory Vasgerdsian
Oil on Canvas
Gregory's website
"In 2013 I took the Master Class from Lisa Call with the idea of gaining extra momentum, focus and purpose with my painting. Stretching out over a number of months, Lisa has set up a real-world course for makers that keeps you moving towards your goals and beyond. The topics covered are relevant, from productivity and business, to a life of making and more. She puts forth plenty of examples, methods and systems that are inspiring and practical.
With this course, I came away with a number of caveats that truly allowed me to brake new ground. For myself the course gave me a frame work to examine personal questions in regards to making, and helped me wrap my head around a life of making. And, of course all tied in to the continual push to make strong, remarkable work — I am definitely putting together stronger work today due to having taken this class from Lisa."
~Gregory Vasgerdsian
Martinez, California
Helen Conway
Moody Blue
Note to Self
©2015 Helen Conway
Mixed Media Textiles
Helen's website
"If you want your art career to take off, participation in the Masterclass is like you being a pilot of your life with air traffic control and a supportive cabin crew working alongside you.
If you are at the very beginning of your art journey, maybe not even sure where you are heading, Lisa as coach will help you prepare your flight plan, set your goals, find your guiding core values. Each coaching call helps you take the next step from ' chocks away' to the gentle taxi to the runway and the gathering of speed as you open up the throttle. You put in all the work, but Lisa acts like a traffic controller helping you find a clear route and allowing you to see and avoid obstacles. Then you remain accountable to her checking in as you need to keep you on course.
The individual calls to Lisa in 'the tower' are personal and tailored to the destination you set for yourself. The class calls and material are like generalised information for all artist-pilots equipping you to fly high and safely. And you are not flying solo but are supported by a close community of others all working in their own way to take off in their own art careers. There is daily support, sharing and socialising via the Facebook group. For classmates who left after the first year that has continued on a more occasional level on an alumnus group. When you reach your first destination the process can be repeated, stopping you crash landing but rather guiding you to refuel and regathering and take off again for even more exotic climes.
In the two years I have been in the Masterclass I have been supported and equipped to go from wanting to be an artist to being taken on by a gallery for my first solo show. I have learned about the business of being a professional artist and I have been aided to overcome significant obstacles. I cannot now countenance being without a coach and my classmates"
~Helen Conway
United Kingdom
Mardell Rampton
Beaches #1
Musings #6
©2015 Mardell Rampton
Textile Paintings
Mardell's website
"When I signed up for Lisa's Master Class, I knew that I was going to receive a very high level of support and encouragement from Lisa to continue on the path I started in her Working In A Series and Advancing the Series classes.
What I didn't anticipate was how much I would learn about myself while elevating my art practice from working as a hobbyist to working as a professional artist.
Since starting the Master Class, I've joined a multi artist studio and gallery, had two pieces of art juried into international shows and one piece selected for a local show. I've developed new ways to present my work to up the quality of the presentation. I've been invited to participate in a four person show in 2017. My experience in the Master class has been life changing as I've learned to have faith in myself as an artist, as well as coming up to speed on everything from writing blog posts to setting up a store on my website.
Lisa encouraged and invited me to look objectively at my perspective, and to shift my paradigm from feeling like a fake, to actually feeling like a real artist. If you are interested in doing the work to up the ante, this is most definitely the place to be.
Learning techniques in your chosen medium is one thing, but learning and choosing to bring your art to the world as a professional is a whole other realm that Lisa can definitely work with you to achieve. "
~Mardell Rampton
Vancouver, Canada
Angeline Marie Martinez
Jubilee Blue Yellow, Jezatsi
Fiery_Red_Skies, Present and Cut – Abstract Palm Trees
©2015 Angeline Marie Martinez
Mixed Media on Canvasboard
Angie's website
"Master Class by Lisa Call is not a class. Lisa does not teach you anything at all. Lisa does walk beside you and help you learn what you really want and then guides you to how to get what you want. She listens better than a psychologist: she is on your side and she gives you resources when she notices something you need. She does not cure you or need to get to the root of anything, but she will tell you what you need to hear. She holds you to what you said you wanted and cheers you on when you reach what you wanted. Lisa does this accountability part through weekly, monthly, quarterly and yearly goals that you make and post and/or send to her.
Lisa has one on one calls through the Master Class. These calls are my lifeline through 2015. They are not easy when you think about accountability, but then Lisa disarms with a joke or witty remark and away the call goes. I usually think about the calls for weeks…writing, note taking, etc. We even had a breakthrough AHA! moment during one of the calls months ago that is still influencing me now!
Master Class is about YOU. It is for YOU. Lisa is the wise and fun artist friend who supports YOU without judging you and what you want. This class is a lot of hard work on you and for you and by you. It is a slow process, but oh so worthwhile.
The Master Class has become my safe place to ask questions, share resources, share goals, triumphs and failures as an artist. It makes me stretch. It makes me figure out how to get what I want as an artist and get out of my own way. I know I can reach my goals with the support from Lisa and the group she curates. The price tag may seem expensive, but the results I am harvesting every day, week, month, and now year are priceless."
~Angeline Marie Martinez
Homestead, Florida
Dahlia Clark
Meditation2, Composition1
Arrangements3, Arrangements4
Art Quilts
©2013 Dahlia Clark
Dahlia's website and newsletter
"I'm not sure I have ever been as sad to see a class end as when I finished the Master Class with Lisa Call.
The monthly one-on-one calls with Lisa never disappointed. She is skilled at getting to the crux of what I most need to discuss and hear. I really appreciate having someone so dedicated and knowledgeable to bounce ideas off. Everyone should have someone like Lisa in their corner!
The weekly topics were always something to look forward to, discussing many relevant aspects of being productive and remarkable.
Lisa's approach to goal setting and productivity is spot on. All of the class participants, myself included, had a very productive 6 months, and have learned and reinforced skills to keep us working effectively.
All of the structure and support led to some pretty amazing artwork. It was great to see what everyone accomplished."
~Dahlia Clark, Textile Artist
Ontario, Canada
Advancing the Series
Mardell Rampton
©2015 Mardell Rampton
Mardells's website
"Over the last year, I have taken Lisa's Working in a Series class, followed by the Advancing the Series class. These two classes have transformed my approach to my art, taking it from an enjoyable but largely directionless hobby to a new level of competence and confidence.
The influence of these classes has spilled over into my approach to my life goals as well, giving me new tools and ways of thinking about what it is I want to achieve and strategies which keep me moving forward consistently. The work begun in WIS was deepened and broadened in ATS, giving me more leverage and insight into developing my body of work.
After finishing WIS, I felt I had a good foundation, with lots of ideas about how to proceed. What I began to miss though, was the incredible value of the one on one calls with Lisa, her feedback on completed work, and the interaction of the other class participants, all of whom are also high calibre artists.
I have grown, and continue to grow as an artist in ways I would be hard pressed to do on my own. I credit Lisa with helping me to see that I am indeed an artist, and for her ongoing support in helping me move forward with my art career."
~Mardell Rampton
Vancouver, Canada
Donalee Kennedy
©2015 Donalee Kennedy
Donalee's facebook page
Catherine Beard
"I am just so thankful for this class this time. It is clarifying so much for me. I am in a place both artistically and personally where I can understand and begin to apply the knowledge you are giving. This is so much more than an art workshop. It is a life workshop!
I just listened to today's recording and again my mind is reeling. It clarifies my path toward making the art I make. I am not sure where that will end up, but it as if you are providing clues along a path to my goal. I look forward to getting and thinking about the assignments. I know that day will be one filled with possibilities, and that is what art is becoming for me.
Thank you for your hard work in preparing these classes. Your thought and care and intelligence show through. Your willingness to share those gifts is humbling.
Thank you."
~Catherine Beard
Eugene, Oregon
Catherine's website
Working in a Series
Liliana Fijman
Women – Nature/Nurture
©2015 Liliana Fijman
Liliana's website
"Lisa I am thrilled with the conclusion of this series!! Thrilled about my progression, Thrilled about your feedback!
I am very happy to spend a week the week after class with family to rest. At home the next piece/drawing in the series awaits. That is the excitement and hook to return to the studio.
Your class leadership coaching has been fantastic. You have delivered for me the best teaching I ever had."
~Liliana Fijman
Rhode Island
Lucinda Howe
Portrait of Columbia, South Carolina's Riverwalk in Fauve style
©2015 Lucinda Howe
Paint on canvas
Lucinda's website
Maggi Birchenough
cotton mill cogwheel
©2014 Maggi Birchenough
Digital Media on Textiles
Maggie's website
"I took Lisa's Working in a Series class because I wanted to move forwards with my textile art, away from disparate pieces and towards developing a theme further. I was certainly not disappointed.
Working on a piece each week was intense but completely changed my studio practice and moved me on from procrastination to actually working on my ideas on a regular basis. Evaluating my work each week has been invaluable, frequently enabling me to see what might not be working and why and the weekly live reviews reinforced this. Listening to Lisa's review of the work of others in the group was an excellent resource in itself and provided support and encouragement in a safe environment.
I have come a long way in my goal towards establishing a body of work and will be able to apply the principles to other series that I choose to work in.
Lisa is a generous teacher, something that I already knew from taking her Abstraction class, and the wealth of information provided in this class is a perfect complement to the ongoing studio work. I have learned a lot about myself and my studio practice in this class and am continuing to apply that new knowledge.
If you are creating any kind of art and want to take your work to a new level I I urge you to allow Lisa to take you there by enrolling in this class. It is definitely a good investment."
~Maggi Birchenough
Belper, Derbyshire, UK
Melanie Grant
©2014 Melanie Grant
Melanie's website
"When I signed up for Working in a Series 1, I had an idea of what "a true series" was but I had never really created one myself. The art and work that I have created to date has many commonalities regarding subject and design elements however each piece is really a work that is independent from the next.
The content that Lisa provides for the class, Working in a Series, took me through a contemplative and discovery of how to approach a subject and begin to develop a cohesive body of work around my idea. Where I started at the beginning of the class and where I ended up were very different places however, I wouldn't be where I am now if I had not taken this creative journey that will continue on now that the class is over.
The content that Lisa provides is thoughtful, well organized, complete, and builds on itself from week to week. Lisa is supportive and encouraging as an artist and instructor each week when we meet online for review and evaluation. I gained the insight and confidence on how to approach my series and continue on with specific goals not only for my series but also for dedicated studio time that would support my intentions.
Taking an online class is such a wonderful format in contrast with attending a specific workshop on a location. For me, I had the ability to work in the comfort of my own studio and not feel the pressure of creating something specific in a short amount of time that a class demands. Sometimes it can take me a day or two before I get my head around a class assignment when attending a class on location. The pressure builds and it takes away from my creative endeavors. Working online not only allowed me to work daily where I create the majority of the time but it also gave me the tools to apply specifics to my work and practice.
If you are looking for a focused class that will provide you with tools to take your work in new directions, I highly recommend Lisa's instruction and course content."
~Melanie Grant
Portland, Oregon
Sharon Casey
©2015 Sharon Casey
Sharon's website
"Signing up for 'Working in a Series' was one of the best things I have done for myself as an artist. I didn't think an online course could be so powerful, but this one is … so much so that I am continuing in a year-long Working in a Series Community.
Before taking this course, I wanted to be an established artist… but you wouldn't have known it by my studio practice. I was all over the place, studying different techniques, responding to various calls for entry, trying to find my place in traditional quilting groups. I never knew if I was going to be working on my masterpiece, a baby quilt, or a potholder. I would move in starts and stops. I established a blog but stopped posting. I established a website but didn't finish it.
In eight short weeks, I have learned so much. I know what I need to do. I have learned how to focus, and have begun to produce consistent, meaningful work. I have set goals, and a clear map to follow.
Before this course, I couldn't focus because I was having trouble claiming my place. I was afraid to say out loud, "This is what I want." This is not a class about self-esteem, or empowerment. Yet those things come with doing the work. (And when I say work, I don't mean sewing!) I mean learning to deal with the fear. Being an artist can be pretty scary. This is one of the first topics we addressed, and Lisa provided some wonderful resources to help us face our personal demons. We did a lot of writing, reading, and even watched a few TED talks!
Over and over, in different ways, we heard the message. It's not about talent. It's about doing the work. Moving forward requires studying and applying what you've learned, while continuing to do the work. We heard this from published authors, famous painters and successful quilt artists. Don't worry about making your masterpiece, just make lots of work. This freed many of us from our perfectionism, so we were able to keep from getting stuck. And sharing this experience with the group in a supportive way reinforced everything we were learning.
Lisa is one of the best teachers I have ever had. She is amazing. In addition to prompts and templates for our assignments every week, she also sends regular emails (on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays) which focus on the topic that week, whether it be line, color, value, etc. Lisa has written and compiled a library of materials on just about every aspect of being a successful artist. These are resources beyond what I expected — information about art history, art-making, art marketing and more!
And now it's time for me to get back to work. I have an assignment to finish!"
~Sharon Casey
Bakersfield, CA
Carolyn Collins
©2015 Carolyn Collins
Donalee Kennedy
©2014 Donalee Kennedy
"I Love using explanation marks…and that's how I feel about your class Working In A Series! I feel; jazzed, excited, motivated, informed and nurtured!
Each week as you helped us set our mindset, you were giving us permission to explore the notable artists and research the readings you suggested as it related to each assignment. I personally grew in my pursuit of art in general and my body of work improved in both quality and quantity by the doing the work for each assignment.
Even though it wasn't a design class the elements of design were so helpful to each weeks assignment. It was a challenge at first for me, making time to get everything done, but in the end so worth the effort.
My favorite part of each week was the group review, it was then I knew I was on this journey with a group of like minded artists. I learned a ton, following along with each of the other students and your critiques their work and of course my work. So much can be learned from the critique process!
I would recommend this class to anyone who is serious about their art and ready to put in the time to make it happen. "
~Donalee Kennedy
Bayfield, WI
Paulette Landers
©2014 Paulette Landers
Paulette's website
Debbie Ross
Town Hall
©2014 Debbie Ross
Art Quilts
Debbie's website
"I signed up for Lisa's class Working in a Series to learn more about working in a series. Signing up for this class was a giant leap forward for me. To my delight I not only learned more about working in a series but I also learned to stay on task, and to trust my instincts when choosing colors.
One of the best things I learned was the discipline to schedule studio time and I have stuck with it.
The class went way above my expectations. The one-on-one calls really targeted what I needed to talk about most. What a treat to be introduced to three artist every week. The net meeting for our weekly reviews were very informative and I learned so much more than just having my work reviewed. I really like the format of this class and I love Lisa's teaching style. Lisa did not direct the evolution of my series, she gave me the encouragement to let my series evolve.
I would definitely recommend Lisa's class to anyone. I am looking forward to taking another class with Lisa."
~Debbie Ross
Tulsa, OK
Libby Williamson
Still Life
©2014 Libby Williamson
textiles, stitching
Deb Sorem
Spring / Daffodils
©2014 Deb Sorem
Deb's website
"What does it mean to work in a series? I wasn't sure but it seemed like an opportunity for personal growth. I had my doubts if I was ready but thought I would never find out unless I tried. So I made the significant cash expenditure and I got a huge return on my investment.
My fear that a series could stifle vanished as I learned to pick a theme by closing doors and the options returned, bringing with them the sense of cohesiveness I had wanted.
Lisa's support and encouragement are what we all need. She has the ability to provide useful critiques that encourage growth and risk."
Deb Sorem
~Salem, Oregon
Diane Reardon
Relationship between whales and humans
©2014 Diane Reardon
Diane's website
Catherine Beard
©2014 Catherine Beard
Pieced Textiles
Catherine's website
"Lisa is such a gifted teacher she allows her students believe they can achieve all their goals. She helps hone those goals, broaden them and make them well within reach. I found her ability to give her students the tools to analyze each facet of the making process invaluable.
Lisa has set the class up in such a way, that step by step she gives information, makes suggestions and gently leads her class to new places. I have felt in the past that I lacked a direction in my work. I also lacked the critical tools needed to assess the work I was doing. As a result of the class, I feel a vigor in my studio time and my work itself.
The on-line critiques were invaluable. I got to see everyone else's work and write ups and had time to consider the work. I enjoyed listening to Lisa talk about the work as I weighed my thoughts. Brought me to new places in assessing work, and I have applied it to how I view my work. Now I can more easily figure out what is not "quite right" in my own work.
I wondered if I would like the "on line" aspect of the class. I am not very much of a computer person and it seemed difficult to make that sort of class personal. How much individual help could I get from an on line computer class?! Turns out, quite a bit. At least as much as I get with an in person class. Lisa's knowledge of computer technology made it just a matter of following carefully detailed instructions to access the class and all its materials. The group meetings every week were a great way to stay in physical touch.
Being able to share work with artists of different disciplines was unique. We had a print maker, a painter and several fabric artists. I have never been in a class with that kind of diversity. Also we had people from England, Thailand, Canada and the US. Again diversity often missing in other classes, but a layer of richness to the process.
I would highly recommend Working in a Series. The things I learned are already evident in my work. I will take other classes from Lisa. She is a gifted artist, teacher, critique, and motivator."
~Catherine Beard
Eugene, Oregon
Diana Fox
Prayer Ties
©2014 Diana Fox
Anna Lisa Sorensen
Home / Nest
©2014 Anna Lisa Sorensen
Mixed Media
Anna Lisa's website
"I chose to take Working in a Series in order to take an unformed idea that had been brewing in my mind for a long time and turn it into actual artwork. I hoped to find a supportive structure and a community while I explored my ideas as well. Having followed Lisa's work for a number of years I expected an intense, well organized, and demanding experience
I wasn't wrong. The class was all of that and more.
The weekly assignments kept me moving, creating a momentum that pushed me through the rougher patches as I worked on developing my ideas and turning them into actual work.
The design exercises and lectures were well thought out and led me to many new ideas to explore in the series as I go forward.
Lisa's critiques were thoughtful and encouraging and in addition she gave us a format to use so we were able to learn to do them for ourselves. She has a wonderful ability to define many of the stumbling points that are a part of the process of creating artwork as well as suggest different approaches for dealing with them. She is very generous with personal experiences that she has encountered during her practice and resolutions to problems she has encountered.
Perhaps the two most important things I gained from the class were the real value of critiques and the importance of setting project goals as a way to maintain a strong sense of engagement with my artwork.
These are skills that I will continue to use long beyond the end of the class.
I highly recommend this class for anyone who wants to push themselves forward in their art."
~Anna Lisa Sorensen
Chepachet, Rhode Island
Hannah Hunter
Ecology of Place
©2014 Hannah Hunter
Hannah's website
"I'd been considering signing up for WIS for a couple of years. Based on the feedback from other students, I jumped at the opportunity and I'm glad I did. I've always had difficulty growing my work from small scale to a larger one. I'd have ideas, put in the studio hours, but the work didn't grow. I just didn't know how to turn my ideas into art work.
With a firm grasp of the art world and understanding the demands of daily life, Lisa's course, "Working in a Series," contained carefully crafted lectures, e-mails, well curated images and critiques, all designed to help me integrate my busy work life with the challenge of sustaining a flourishing studio practice. Using design principles and detailed methods of critique, I learned to write thoughtfully and systematically about my ideas. Using these techniques, I was able to create art work that surpassed my ideas of what was possible.
Lisa's consistently supportive attitude (while being able to zero in on what could be improved in each piece), together with the course material, gave me the tools to strengthen my artwork, revitalize my studio practice and most importantly, deepen my sense of myself as an artist."
~Hannah Hunter
Davis, California
Audrey Hyvonen
Fermata – Hold & Release
©2014 Audrey Hyvonen
Audrey's website
"This online workshop, Working In a Series, creates a generous positive impact on art making and studio practice and extends into one's whole way of living.
As an artist, I was a busy bee, sampling nectar from every pretty flowered technique, style and motif. I buzzed happily in my little world of fabric and friends but didn't have a purpose or direction other than to express and create. I loved to share my work in gifts but reached a point where this wasn't satisfying enough. The influence of this workshop, Working In A Series, was honing. My focus narrowed. I was granted time for reflection, deepening and exploration. My designs became more intentional, driven and focused. The message and articulation of my ideas is becoming more refined and I feel a purpose beyond my ideas that I'm reaching towards communicating on multiple levels.
In my studio, I have gained confidence, simply by making more work and seeing it change and grow as I make it. My commitment to my studio practice as a result of this workshop is tangible in set studio hours, new schedules for studio tasks and an escalated level of boundaries. The respect I have for my precious studio time is spilling quickly into other realms of my responsibilities and is recognized favorably by my family, which feels supportive and honored.
Working In A Series, the online workshop with Lisa Call, is rich in content, materials and structure. The specific topics we covered (design elements, artists who work in series, critique development, actual composition work) were approached from varied angles and fleshed out in a full and thorough fashion. The class was designed for all learning styles and was easily accessible through a delightful combination of audio, visual, written, action, craft, links, music, video and webinar. While comprehensive, the class was not overwhelming. The schedule was predictable, clear and consistent with frequent deadlines and intentional make-up weeks to fill in for the gaps life creates.
As a teacher, Lisa Call is wonderful. The list of words to favorably describe her teaching is long, but the ones that rise to the top include: genuine, responsive, efficient, respectful, organized and supportive. As an artist, she in accomplished, engaging, consistent yet explorative and readily able to draw upon her own experience as teacher as well as by being freshly engaged in the contemporary art world. I feel lucky to have had her as an influence and strongly recommend this workshop for anyone seeking support in exploring or deepening their art works."
~Audrey Hyvonen
Easthampton, Massachusetts
Barbara Chappelle
©2014 Barbara Chappelle
Paint on canvas
Barbara 's website
Janice Stevens
Emotions (depression) / bohdi leaf
©2014 Janice Stevens
Janice's website
"Becoming an artist is a journey with many barriers in its path, some from outside of us but most from within. Most of us struggle with questions of whether we have anything to say, whether we have anything original in content or style, whether we are good enough.
In our quest to find answers we often do course after course hoping to find the magic answers that will give us a direction, a voice and the confidence to dare to try.
In the Working in a Series course with Lisa Call, I found all of that and more. She didn't provide us with magic answers because there are none but she guided us through ten weeks of intensive work that gradually gave us insight into how to be an artist.
The tri-weekly emails gave us information on design principles, introduced us to a large number of artists and helped us develop more efficient and productive work habits, all of which were invaluable, but for me, the most important thing that I learned was how to believe in my artwork and to trust my own voice.
The way that I learned this was by learning to critique each of my pieces for myself. This is not as easy as it might sound but is an invaluable skill to have if you want to be able to follow your own vision rather than being unduly influenced by other people's opinions.
The decisions and discoveries I made were reinforced by the weekly group feedback sessions which also improved our ability to critique other artists' work.
I had never really understood the benefit of working in a series and tended to make unique pieces as one-offs and then proceeding to a new topic. As the course evolved I began to see how this working in a series gave me ideas that would lead into the next exploration of my theme in an almost seamless way. This saved a significant amount of time in searching for a new subject, a new approach, a new design; I was therefore able to produce seven quilts in seven weeks which is an unprecedented pace for me.
Discovering these things about myself greatly improved my self confidence in my ability which then allowed me to start a new phase in my art development. As Jasper Johns once said 'I am going to stop becoming an artist and be one'.
This course is impeccably organized, extremely well taught and invaluable for those who want to take that next step on the ladder."
~Janice Stevens
Koh Samui, Thailand
Robin Chaney
©2014 Robin Chaney
Oil on Paper
Robin's website
Mardell Rampton
©2014 Mardell Rampton
Mardells's website
"Taking Lisa's Working in a Series class was the best thing I've done for my development as an artist. When I started the class, I felt my art didn't have a sense of cohesiveness, or direction, and I was very reluctant to call myself an artist.
As we progressed thru the class, it was very apparent that Lisa has put a lot of effort into the structure and content of the curriculum. The material was extremely well organized, well researched and thought provoking, and the topics were well chosen, and related well to our compositions. Lisa's reviews were supportive, instructive, and encouraging. She creates a safe place for her students to stretch themselves out of their comfort zone.
I came out of this class with a great start for my series, with structures and tools to move forward with, and with a new-found confidence in my abilities as an artist. Thank you Lisa!"
~Mardell Rampton
Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
Catherine Moore
Stillness as observed in Squirrels
©2014 Catherine Moore
Donna Sheppard
Light Between the Branches
©2014 Donna Sheppard
"Working in a Series has by far exceeded my expectations of an online class.
Don't get me wrong I had to put a lot of effort into keeping up with the fast paced time schedule and work load. Each week we had to pick our own Design Exercise and use a reference composition to create a new piece of art. It has helped me to become more organized not only with my art but also in my daily life.
Our weekly Assignment Reviews were extremely valuable. It has been great to have the input and guidance all through these 10 weeks. It's amazing how many things can come up a short period of time but I am so glad that I kept with it. My goal is to start at the beginning and go through each assignment again. I ended up having to be away from home for half of the 10 weeks but with a lot of planning ahead I only missed one assignment.
I highly recommend taking an online course with Lisa Call to both beginners and experienced artists. Besides building confidence I have learned to trust my instincts and develop a better creative understanding. I also ended up with several pieces of work that I am truly proud of. Thank you Lisa Call for helping me get on track"
~Donna Sheppard
Elkford B.C. Canada
Marilyn Hower
Moving through Red
©2014 Marilyn Hower
Mixed Media
Lou Ann Smith
Flying from Santa Barbara to Denver
©2013 Lou Ann Smith
Lou Ann's website
"Lisa's class was truly extraordinary. I have been taking art classes all my life, and have never had an experience quite like this.
Lisa provided a varied list of artists whose work we considered through the course, along with material to think about regarding design and process every week through email on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. This, along with her one-hour lecture on Sundays, provided a rich coursework with plenty to think about without it becoming overwhelming.
Lisa's assignments were clear and her critiques every week of everyone's work was extremely valuable, thorough and insightful. I think I got the most out of her critiques of my work and her assistance helping me critique my own work. She helped me see my work objectively and continue to improve things that didn't work in the original composition.
For me, working on a piece a week created a nice flow of design. Her class offered me a new way to work in a series by offering new ways to pursue the concept I had originally envisioned. I feel that I have a better perspective of my work and my process after completing this course."
~Lou Ann Smith
Goleta, California
Anne Smyers
Floral Landscapes
©2013 Anne Smyers
Anne's website
"Taking Lisa's "Working in a Series" online class was a giant jump forward for me as an artist. What it really gave me was momentum, and confidence. Turning out seven assignments in ten weeks was exhilarating. Receiving feedback and encouragement on the assignments was confidence building.
I took away from this class an attitude and approach to making fiber art that is more fearless, less inhibited, more decisive and positive than where I started from. I am excited to continue on the path of making fiber art, trusting in the authenticity of my vision and voice.
Lisa's organization and productivity are impressive. The course is content-rich, with more information than one can assimilate in ten weeks. I plan to revisit many of the resources, articles, artist bios and works during the months to come.
And Lisa is accessible and responsive. She's pretty no-nonsense and direct, but in a friendly and supportive way.
I'm very glad I took this class, it was just what I needed at this point in my art-making process."
~Anne Smyers
Reston, Virginia
Cindy Kuo
Jardine House, Hong Kong
©2013 Cindy Kuo
Cindy's website
"I signed up for Lisa's Working in a Series workshop because someone had told me that they had heard that Lisa was a wonderful teacher. Boy, they were NOT wrong!!!
Lisa's on-line workshops are very well organized and designed to help you to keep moving forward. You have constant reminders and deadlines. The conference call lectures are very informative. You never have the feeling that you are doing an on-line workshop vs. an in class workshop.
For me, the most motivating part about the class was the e-mails that we received 3 times a week. The information, prompts, encouragement that I received in each of these e-mails was well worth the price of admission. Every time I sit and work, things I read in those e-mails come to mind & they help me to move forward.
I highly recommend taking a class with Lisa & I look forward to signing up for further classes. "
~Cindy Kuo
Northbrook, IL
Jeanne Marklin
Shibori Circles
©2011 Jeanne Marklin
Surface Design
Jeanne's website
"The Working in a Series class was far more in depth and thought provoking than I imagined before starting the workshop. Lisa expanded and refined my own understanding of a series. She introduced us to some new artists and used them to illustrate design principles.
This workshop was a major step forward in disciplining myself to have a consistent studio practice, and prioritize my art as central to my future goals. I would highly recommend the class to anyone who wants to move their art practice forward."
~Jeanne Marklin
Williamstown, Massachusetts
Helen Parrott
Plants: utility & beauty
©2013 Helen Parrott
Print, collage, paint, drawing on paper
Helen Parrott's website
"I signed up for Lisa's online course to support me to make a step change in my art practice. The course certainly supported me to make a major change in my work as I intended. However, I gained so much more from my participation than just a new creative direction, important though that is. I was reminded of the joys and challenges of being an artist, my need to make work that is authentic and the importance of having and maintaining a clear creative focus. As I worked through the email and exercises over the ten weeks of the course I learnt some new skills, dusted off some old ones and did some experimenting.
The course is intensive and fast moving with weekly assignments. The emails, links and other resources Lisa provided were up to date, considered, interesting and extensive, going well beyond my expectations in their thoughtfulness, range and depth. As well as using the work of well known and less well known artists as examples, there was also lots of material on the 'nuts and bolts' of being an artist including practical strategies for making art in the busy and complex world we now live in. The sections on goals, focus and decluttering were especially helpful to me. I will work through the materials again over the coming months to learn more.
As the course progressed Lisa's open, generous and straightforward style became clearer. I much enjoyed the sense she shares with students that an artistic life is important and that we are all exploring and seeking to make better art. This peer to peer style suited me. This openness was also present through the website where we could see the work of the other participants as it developed during the course.
On a practical note I found that being based in the UK worked well. We used Skype for our calls which was fine. For me a bonus of taking a course from a US based tutor was experiencing a different view of the world and accessing a wider range of information and resources.
I thoroughly recommend Lisa's Working in a Series course as a rich and rewarding learning experience."
~Helen Parrott
Sheffield, England
Allegra Brelsford
Cityscape and Gradation (initial work with domes)
©2013 Allegra Brelsford
Fabric, Fiber and Paper
Allegra's website
Antzee Magruder
Aerial views of the Delta
©2012 Antzee Magruder
Fabric, Fiber and Paper
Antzee's website
"Have you ever looked at your artwork and a nagging voice asks "what is missing?" Well that was me. I would hang my artwork in my co-op gallery and look at it wonder why I did not feel like it was complete. I had a great collection of well matched pieces much like a well coordinated outfit but they did not that cohesiveness that I needed.
I found Lisa Call's workshop through a Twitter post and immediately knew this was the next step for me. Lisa is a professional and every aspect of her course is planned, informational and motivating. I am very busy and my time is limited and the schedule of the course allowed me flexibility to complete the work.
I have completed this course and now I feel like I have the information to take my artwork to a new level. Take the course, do the assignments and enjoy the results. It is so worth it."
~Antzee Magruder
Memphis, TN
Peggy Black
©2012 Peggy Black
"One of my distractions yesterday was going to a lecture by a well known quilt artist. She grew through series work without even pointing that out to the audience.
But after your workshop, I saw it with the progression of work. She is a trained artist so I think this Working in Series has a lot of merit to it and the art community has kept it a secret, at least from me. Or maybe I was just too oblivious to realize that an artist's work follows a timeline.
Thank You for a worthwhile workshop. It was worth every penny and every minute spent!
I really like your teaching approach and your feedback. I felt I was supported in my style of work.
You did not try to rework my designs into your style. You put your style on the back burner and let my voice be heard! Thank you."
~Peggy Black
Southwestern Pennsylvania
Sherri Woodard Coffey
Layers and Lines
©2012 Sherri Woodard Coffey
Sketches and Designs for future Tapestries
Sherri's website
"Have you ever needed a kick to get started on something? That's where I was. I couldn't decide what to weave next, so I was weaving nothing.
The Working in a Series classes were just right for me. Each assignment included a studio practice, mindset ideas to think about, and design principles. During the week, we received messages exposing us other artists and their series work. Several of these messages really "hit home" for me and gave me the kick I needed.
Since I am a weaver, I don't have any real work to show, but I do have several designs that I'm excited about. In fact, I just jumped in and started weaving! The weaving is one of the earlier designs I made—and I'm not crazy about it—but I'm in the studio working.
The turning point for me came when I listened to an interview of Joan Mitchell (link provided by Lisa). She mentioned going into the studio and working, even if it's only one line. Even if that line ends up being wrong. Of course, Lisa also covered that idea later in one of the studio practice assignments.
But above all else, the design principle assignments were the real impetus for getting to designs that I like. By taking one element of a design and expanding on that and thinking about it new ways, designs are born. And then I completely jumped ship and decided that lines were to be my focus for a while. And that's exciting!"
~Sherri Woodard Coffey
Fort Worth, Texas
Liz Copeland
Birds and Dancers
©2012 Liz Copeland
Liz's website
Wendy Tribulski
Abstract Landscapes
©2012 Wendy Tribulski
Acrylic on canvas
Wendy's website
"This course was all I was hoping it would be and much more. I am so appreciative of the time and thought you put into your responses to our thoughts and our work. The structure of the course and the topics you researched and presented to us were exactly what I needed at this point in my development as an artist.
The class work ethic was truly inspiring – it pushed me to do so much more than I thought possible!
Thank you for everything Lisa. I'm really looking forward to working with you in the future!"
~Wendy Tribulski
Avalon, NJ
Wil Opio Oguta
Abstracts: Squares, Circles, Lines
©2012 Wil Opio Oguta
Wil's website
Sharon Robinson
Exploration of Color and Texture
©2012 Sharon Robinson
Art Quilts – In Progress
Sharon's blog
"This was a fantastic workshop for me. I feel so energized about moving forward.
I have learned an amazing amount about art, about myself, and about other artists over the last 8 months. Until now I'd always seen art as a mysterious world that I had no idea how to enter.
Over the course of this class, reading about other artists, reading, studying, talking (or listening) about artistic principles made art so much more approachable for me.
My situation is sort of odd, I think, because of my background in architecture. Some aspects of art and composition come easily to me, while others are like learning a foreign language.
I'm writing a lot of words to try to say something relatively simple. I feel like a little kid in the coolest playground imaginable, and I'm free to run around exploring whatever I want, and around every corner is something else new and amazing.
I'm one of those people that has to experience things first hand to really absorb them, so even though I understood intellectually what "working in a series" is, and why it's good, I had to actually go through the process of doing it to really internalize why and how I would want to do it.
Now I understand it, and I can't wait to get back to the studio and do it!
Lisa thanks for your very well designed and presented class. It's clear you have put a huge amount of time and energy into organizing and presenting the material in an understandable format for us."
~Sharon Robinson
Bellingham, Washington
Michelle Goldsmith
©2012 Michelle Goldsmith
Painted Textiles
Katie Stein Sather
Color Fields – Aerial Views of our World
©2012 Katie Stein Sather
Katie's blog
Angeline Martinez
Palm Trees
©2012 Angeline Martinez
Acrylic and Encaustic
Angelines's website
"For a year my main studio was my sketchbook as I had no space to paint. Now that I have an art studio space I craved painting. Yet I faced fear. Unrelenting fear.
The voice in my head was saying "Did I forget how to paint? How do I use paint? I hate what I created. I used to know how to do that but I've forgotten!"
The desire to return to my studio is stronger that my fear so I jumped online to take Working in a Series with Lisa Call.
Those voices in my head? Altered: "What design element will be the focus of this piece? It is OK to work small, especially with limited studio time. What will be the composition of this piece? What colors should I choose? Should I add texture? Oh, wait, I enjoyed adding lines which is unusual for me, so where can I push lines in this piece, if I so choose? Ok, my encaustics are gathering dust – for now they ok gathering dust. Here is the cadium red, and my brushes. This worked last time, how about this time. Red goes here….. "
Now when I get into my studio, I have a plan. Jotted into my sketchbook is a quick draw of a composition, color notes & choices, ideas of direction if something changes. The Fear is gone.
Will I take another course with Lisa? Oh, yeah.
Working in a series has renewed my interest in being in my art studio. WIS has returned my confidence as an artist. My studio time is used more efficiently and creatively and with more techniques now than ever. I am having fun using skills and techniques learned over the years and still have a real body of cohesive art work to exhibit.
It has been invaluable to me to learn the design elements and create each assignment. I will continue to work on my palm tree series. I will also begin and end smaller series during my art creation times just because of outside influences such as vacations, life/world events, etc.
Thank you, Ms. Lisa Call. Thank you for the new voices in my head."
~Angeline Martinez
Homestead, Florida
Angeline sent me this update 6 months after her class was over:
"A quick email while daydreaming and anticipating my self given art retreat this weekend:
THANK YOU thank you THANK YOU thank you THANK YOU.
Your class is a GIFT that keeps on giving. I'm STILL on a roll with my palm trees series. I'm still Be-Do-Have[ing] on many of the lessons you gave. My sketchbooks are full of fancy clips marking projects…and I've been averaging 4-6 hours a week in my studio.
I truly believe I would be lost without having taken your class."
Georgeann Schellenger
Abstract Patina
©2012 Georgeann Schellenger
Surface Design
Jo Drueke
Tree Bark
©2012 Jo Drueke
Surface Design, Thread
Vivien Zepf
Chairs and an Exploration of Comfort
©2012 Vivien Zepf
Art Quilts
Vivien's website
"I've learned a great deal in your class and I have much to think about going forward. You gave us so much information that each of us, in our own way, would find a way for it to resonate personally.
I also appreciated the variety of artists you selected to illustrate your points. I may not have liked each one of the works represented, but I sure did think about them…. and that's the point.
Being introspective — figuring out what we like and don't like, what really makes us tick, what we have to say — will help us be better artists.
Thanks again for an excellent class!"
~Vivien Zepf
Thornwood, New York
Donna Deaver
©2012 Donna Deaver
Donna's website
"Lisa's Working in a Series workshop was just what I needed to help me to move forward with my art and finding my personal artistic voice.
With a consistent studio practice, as well as all of the knowledge and skills I acquired during the workshop –especially learning how to view and critique my own work — I believe that I have a solid foundation and the tools to discover who I am as an artist. I will continue my series work that I began in this workshop for quite some time.
Lisa is a natural teacher and coach, and her love of art is obvious in her lectures, course content and individual feedback. The classes are intentionally small, so there is a lot of individual attention to the students and their work, as well as quality interaction between the students. This is truly a worthwhile investment in one's personal artistic growth!"
~Donna Deaver
Coeur d'Alene, Idaho
Petra Kooij
©2012 Petra Kooij
"I've come a step further in my development as a textile artist with aid of the many tips, advice, information and the good feedback provided in the online course Working in a Series with Lisa Call.
In the past I started a few times to work in a series but that ran out on nothing. After the course I am able to start a new series with confidence and joy! And I still have a lot of ideas to continue work on for the series that I am started during the workshop.
It was hard work but the course gives a lot of development and satisfaction. I really enjoyed it."
~Petra Kooij
Lynne Croswell
Leaves – details and abstractions
©2012 Lynne Croswell
Art Quilts
Lynne's blog
"Thank you again for a wonderful class. You have convinced me that working in a series is definitely a good way to work. Instead of having to "reinvent the wheel" with each new piece, I have a storehouse of ideas just waiting to be executed.
While I think I will still be working through some of my "fear" issues, I have looked forward to studio time and have actually missed it while I have been ill. The wealth of knowledge and resources you share in the workshop is amazing, not to mention the personal student-teacher time you make available.
Your well thought out reviews, your encouragement, your work ethic and example have all made this experience very enjoyable.
Thank you!"
~Lynne Croswell
Ludlow, Vermont
Carol Trice
A Study of Black and White Cross-Hatches
©2012 Carol Trice
Art Quilts
Carol's website
"I am just wrapping up the on-line workshop with Lisa on "Working in a Series". In just 8 short weeks, we have covered so much ground, it is hard to fathom. Lisa covers three main topics each week; the Working in a Series assignment, a Working in the Studio discussion, and a study of successful artists who have worked in a series.
If there is any hesitancy at all with taking an on-line workshop, please don't let that stop you. There is a structure for the students to view each others work as well as support each other. There was just as much student participation and camaraderie with this on-line workshop as I have experienced in traditional workshops.
Lisa provides critiques in a manner that that is encouraging but constructive. Her critiques help forward your development as an artist. Her weekly topics are both practical as well as enlightening.
Lisa, I cannot thank you enough for your knowledge, your encouragement, and your experience!"
~Carol Trice
Dallas, Texas
Pam Morris
A series exploring the beauty of Florida
©2012 Pam Morris
Art Quilts
"Lisa's workshop has opened up a new concept to me: working from a single first piece of art to series of many related works.
I was able to use this idea to create several works of art that convey my ideas of the natural beauty of Florida through its continuing destruction process by man. I learned to simplify, and to build on my ideas.
In addition I have learned to close many doors and to focus on my passion. As a result of this workshop I have given away all but my own hand dyed fabrics, stopped wasting time on my computer, stopped dabbling in little practice surface design processes I do not care for and never use, keep a fairly tidy studio, and just go in there and do my art.
I usually enjoy in person 5 day workshops and was skeptical about an online class. But, Lisa is always available to her students, only a quick email away. The email is like waving one's hand in the air and waiting for the teacher to come over.
I find I concentrate at home better than in class. In a class one usually has many fabric sketches to show for the week but with an online class the way Lisa structured it, one has quiltable works of art waiting to be finished.
I have never been so productive. I have made a few 12″ pieces as donor quilts for organizations, guilds and an exhibit, made and even discarded a top that did not work out, and have several tops to quilt as soon as I am able to do so.
My only problem is now need a 36 hour day to use all I have learned!
I really enjoyed this class and I will take online workshops with Lisa again."
~Pam Morris
Gunhild Agnér Sigbo
Keys and a Study of Contrast
©2012 Gunhild Agnér Sigbo
Paint/Collage on Canvas
Gunhild's website
"This course gave me much more of confidence with my abilities, more of concentration in art working, a cleaner studio, and a lot of patience, and for these worthy experiences.
I thank you very much, Lisa!"
~Gunhild Agnér Sigbo
Scania, Sweden
Kathy Kerstetter
Abstraction – Circles and Squares
©2012 Kathy Kerstetter
Art Quilts
Kathy's website
Isabel Forbes
Cumberland Island
©2012 Isabel Forbes
Oil on Canvas
Isabel's website
Dianne Crumbaker
©2012 Dianne Crumbaker
Pen, Ink, Paint on paper
Dianne's website
"Lisa Call states the following with respect to her workshop Working in a Series: "As with all my workshops, my biggest intention is to provide my students the confidence and tools so they can move their art forward by leaps and bounds."
Amazingly, she accomplishes this, and in the course of doing so, provides concrete information, practical advice, clear critique, and encouragement (and provides a wealth of information on a wide range of artists).
If you have difficulty launching, Lisa is adept at nudging you into action. If you get off-course, she's there with suggestions on what adjustments you might try. If you are already confident in your work, she shows you ways to expand and improve.
Our workshop had students with a range of experience, and each of us showed substantial growth over the course of these few weeks. It was really exciting to see.
Equally important, for anyone who has struggled with developing a regular art practice, Lisa provides real-world advice on how to get into the studio, find and maintain focus, and make decisions that lead to success. (And, as an added bonus, much of this advice spills over into non-art related daily life as well.)
I invested in this workshop with some hesitation, but the value received was worth many times the investment.
Lisa, this workshop is one of the best values on the internet.
The information was mind-broadening. This may not sound like a compliment, but it is: The workshop made me really uncomfortable. It shook me into a different perception, which is something that needs to happen with great regularity if we're to continue growing.
Thank you."
~Dianne Crumbaker
Tallahassee, Florida
Kathy Savage
Grand Canyon
©2012 Kathy Savage
Art Quilts
"I have always wanted to create art quilts of my own design, but I really did not know where to start.
The information and instruction that you provided in this workshop have helped me to start down an entirely different path of creativity — which is so significant for me as a beginner in this field.
I so appreciated your comments and suggests regarding the artwork I submitted — they helped me to move forward and develop a more artistic thought process. I appreciated the fact that even though most of the time I did not know where to start, you provided me with enough guidance, support and encouragement that I was able to create my own artwork — and each piece was just a little more exciting than the previous one.
This is huge for me as I had always created work based on patterns and instructions by others. Thank you for providing an experience that has opened a new door and direction for creating my own unique artwork.
Thank you so much for this great workshop!"
~Kathy Savage
Park City, Utah
Ruth Harmelink
Curved Lines on Pots
©2012 Ruth Harmelink
Colleen Kole
Roof Lines
©2012 Colleen Kole
Art Quilts
Colleen's website
"I didn't know how to move forward.
After various classes with amazingly talented teachers, I was frustrated. I knew what the phrase "working in a series " meant except, I didn't know how to apply my knowledge to my work. Workshop after workshop came and went and I knew that I wasn't developing my skills as an artist.
With fear, I jumped into Lisa Call's class Working in a Series. Lisa used a variety of educational tools (lectures, e-mails and assignments) to present just the information I needed to develop time management skills for my studio practice and to study other artists who had worked in a series.
As different aspects of composition were explored through weekly assignments, I learned how to do the invaluable self-critique. The online format of a private blog proved easy to navigate and inspiring to watch as my classmates series grew as well. Lisa's lectures were concise and full of information.
Lisa Call's online class "Working in a Series" has given my work a newfound focus and the skills to maintain a vibrant, exciting studio practice so I may grow and develop as an artist. I am a very satisfied student and I highly recommend this class. "
~Colleen Kole
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Christine Watters
©2012 Christine Watters
Surface Design
"As a self-taught craft person I knew I was missing something in my bag o' tricks. I had enough technique, and even some good ideas, but I still couldn't develop my own work into a cohesive style – my style. Lisa's "Working in a Series" workshop gave me this missing piece.
Through Lisa's thoughtful guidance I learned to recognize what a series is (apparently I already have a couple of series in the works!), I learned how to start and grow my own work… and so much more.
I will continue to pursue the series I began in class as I have several ideas still to explore. I'm planning to work on larger format pieces to take my series further.
An unexpected result was developing a studio practice. I don't have many hours to spend in my craft space, but now the little time I do have I am excited about. All day long at work I am itching to get back into the studio."
~Christine Watters
Toronto, Ontario
Dianna VanderDoes
©2012 Dianna VanderDoes
Art Quilts
Bobbie Edelson
The Women of India
©2012 Bobbie Edelson
Collage, Surface Design, Textiles
Maria Shell
©2011 Maria Shell
Maria's website
"Lisa Call's online class Working in a Series was just what I needed to help me explore a new series idea. Lisa breaks down the components to good art and helps you apply them to your own work. Each week, we explored a different aspect of composition via Lisa's lectures, web posts, and by studying other artists' work.
By isolating just one aspect of what makes art art–whether it be line, shape, color, or figure ground composition– and then studying that aspect and applying it to my own work really created dramatic results in both what the work looked like and what I learned. I will continue to use this new knowledge and way of creating compositions as I move forward with this series and other work.
In addition to great, well thought out assignments, the class is structured for all different artists and media. It was an added bonus to get to see how other artists work. My class included students who weave, create ink drawings, and work with encaustics, as well as several fiber artists. This was a new experience for me–one that benefited all involved.
Throughout the eight week course, we received emails from Lisa that worked to help us hone our art and our studio practice. We explored ways to think about our art and how that can improve our work. Having a functioning studio, establishing hours of studio practice, as well as thinking about our attitudes towards our own art all worked together to help me improve my ability to make art.
After we completed each assignment, we were asked to do a guided self critique. This practice increased my ability to articulate how I felt about my work and were it was going. Learning how to critique one's own work is a tool I will continue to use as I move forward.
Without hesitation, I would say this class is worth every penny. This workshop truly gives the students involved new tools that they can continue to use long after the workshop is over."
– Maria Shell
Anchorage, Alaska
Polly Phillips
©2011 Polly Phillips
Paper and Photo Collage
Elizabeth Munro
Squares in a Line
©2011 Elizabeth Munro
Paper and Fabric Collage
Lena Ohlén
A Study of Light through the Trees
©2011 Lena Ohlén
Ink on Canvas
Lena Ohlén's website
Debbie Babin
©2011 Debbie Babin
Debbie's website
Dahlia Clark
©2011 Dahlia Clark
Collage, Fabric, Digital
Dahlia's website
Susie Monday
Sirena Series
©2011 Susie Monday
Narrative Art Quilts
Susie's website
Brenda Gael Smith
Grasses and Wildflower Abstraction
©2011 Brenda Gael Smith
Pieced Art Quilts
Brenda's website
Carole Lyles Shaw
Words and Letters
©2011 Carole Lyles Shaw
Collage, Fabric, Paper
Sandy Ellison
Square within a Square
©2011 Sandy Ellison
Pieced Art Quilts
Uta Lenk
©2015 Uta Lenk
Sketches + Textiles
Uta's website
"Although I have worked in an abstract manner for my art for a long time already, I thought a bit of new input would be interesting for my work. Taking a class with Lisa was a challenging and rewarding experience.
Her scheduled posts gave a constant flow of reading material and options, and the weekly exercises brought new incentives to try out different approaches to the development of abstract work that I had not thought about before. It will be interesting to see how these seeds of abstraction take root in my processes, something which always takes a little while after I finish taking a course."
~Uta Lenk
Marianne Körner
©2015 Marianne Körner
"10 weeks with Lisa Calls Online Abstraction Workshop were a wonderful trip into the world of abstract art. I have learnt not only a lot about the artists who work in the abstract, but also about my possibilities on developing me in the abstract art.
The course is worth every minute and every cent which I have invested. It has enriched me twice and triple.
Lisa's comments are extremely esteeming and helpful. The course contents are built up very well and it still is even more to learn in it after the 10 weeks.
I'm sure to continue my work with abstract art and I continue with Lisa. There are only a few teachers and artists in the world like her and I'm happy to work with Lisa."
~Marianne Körner
Hamburg, Germany
Ann Grasso
©2014 Ann Grasso
Mixed Media
Ann's website
"Abstract art has always held more interest for me than realism although until this class I would not have been able to articulate why as clearly. The requirement of writing as part of each assignment provided an opportunity not only for me to write, but also to review what other students offered plus the valuable input from Lisa pointing out strengths in different contributions.
During the ten weeks I was able, fairly early on, to identify limits for myself both because of understanding more clearly my own voice, but also finding the confidence to stay with the limits I set even when they stepped outside the actual assignment. Lisa's willingness to allow this freedom offered me the opportunity to stretch within one area rather than simply filling a requirement each week. This said, I found the weekly stated "problem to solve" a valuable jumping off point.
If you have the opportunity to take this on-line class, I encourage you to do so. The material is clear, the weeks build on each other, and Lisa is very accessible. I look forward to the next opportunity to study with Lisa."
~Ann Grasso
Sue Butler
©2015 Sue Butler
Drawing media/paint on paper
Elaine Schmidt
©2014 Elaine Schmidt
Art Quilts
"Taking Lisa Call's Abstraction class was a real eye-opener for me. I learned about Abstraction art and the various art movements and studied the works of the influential artists of those isms. I practiced basic design principles in relationship to the studies done for the class assignments and I discovered how to critique my own work by taking the time to really look at it and write down by thoughts. But most importantly I learned more about myself – what kind of work I like to do, how to take inspirations and translate them into finished work, how to quiet the critic within, my preferred methods of working, and the whispers of a "voice" that will guide me forward.
Initially I worried I would not have enough time to devote to the class work. ("Maybe I should take the class at a later time….This is such a busy time in my life….Can I handle the assignments?….etc.") But I was drawn to sign up and I am so glad I did. There are always excuses to not do something but I realize that taking this class was important to me as I work to find meaning and direction by creating with the skills and techniques I have honed over the years.
Lisa is a very positive, sharing teacher who continually encourages her students to explore and grow. I like how the class was structured with weekly e-mails, assignments, recorded lectures, group and individual calls. It was very interesting to see how each individual approached the assignments and found their way. Because Lisa's class was online and was 10 weeks long, I felt that I learned more than I would have if I had taken an in-person workshop or retreat. There was time to digest the material and the challenges kept me moving forward and engaged. The group and individual calls provided the personal attention and gave several opportunities to ask questions or request specific feedback.
Now that I have completed the class, I find myself with a new direction that I want to focus on and explore in my work. I am excited to have found a technique that excites me and am anxious to see where it may lead."
~Elaine Schmidt
Long Valley, New Jersey
Cindy MacMillan
©2014 Cindy MacMillan
Rug Hooking
"When I signed up for the Abstraction course my goal was to learn about abstract art and design principles. I am not a quilter so I wasn't sure how much the course would actually translate to my medium of traditional rug hooking, but I decided to give it a try. I had been in a bit of a creative desert for a time after a family crisis and had just started to create again.
I should add that professionally I was the head of an instructional design unit for online courses at a state college and have taught online for several years. I was pretty confident that I had the technical skills to manage the online format. As a new user of WordPress, a blog management software, I was also curious to see how the course was designed and managed.
What I found in Lisa's course was so far beyond my expectations that I can only say it has truly changed my life and the way I approach my art. Lisa not only covered abstract art and design principles, she provided me with information that lead me to evaluate and change how I manage my studio time, my design process and in some ways my life. The course was applicable to my textile medium and it challenged me to develop new practices. I now look forward to spending time in my studio each evening, No more creative slump. The course and Lisa helped me examine my thoughts and attitudes as well as my art. And I worked really hard for ten weeks!!!!!
There was variety: lectures, critiques, assignments, personal phone calls, additional resources and it was fun to see how the others in my class approached the assignments. Their work was amazing. I think many of my friends are a little bit tired of me raving about the great course I was taking. I have told everyone I know how great I think the course is and how much it supported me to explore and grow. I plan to take more courses from Lisa. If you have questions, I would be happy talk with you. firstname.lastname@example.com"
~Cindy MacMillan
Newtown, Bucks County, Pennsylvania
Sunila Mahajan
©2015 Sunila Mahajan
Paint on Paper
Sunila's website
"My journey in Abstraction has been amazing over the past 10 weeks. Working with Lisa has not only helped me realize my hidden skills as an artist, but has also brought about my confidence back and helped me understand my deep self.
I am able to express my self to the core through my abstract art.
I have done many online course before this and was always unhappy about the organization of work and classes. However, the content off Lisa's Abstraction course was very apt and useful and the way it was carried out was brilliant.
Lisa is my mentor and coach and it is my pleasure to be working with her. I am glad I discovered this!"
~Sunila Mahajan
Bangalore, India
Maggi Birchenough
©2013 Maggi Birchenough
Maggi's website
"Lisa Call's Abstraction workshop has been the best online class that I have ever taken. Not only is the class professionally presented but the content and feedback provided by Lisa have been excellent.
I knew very little about abstract art before taking this class but the way that Lisa took us through the history of abstraction has opened my eyes to new ways of working and has given me the impetus to start creating the art that I feel I can now develop with far more confidence.
I discovered that pure abstraction is not for me but that objective abstraction is and I am looking forward to developing many of the ideas that were formulated through the class assignments.
If anyone is thinking about how to move on with their work, or indeed how to begin making art, in whatever medium I can recommend this class without hesitation."
~Maggi Birchenough
Belper, Derbyshire, UK
Dahlia Clark
©2012 Dahlia Clark
Dahlia's website
"Lisa Call's Abstraction course has improved both my approach to art making, and my art itself. Lisa's courses are very thorough, paying attention to the processes of making and evaluating art, the habits involved in being successful, and presenting a wide range of fantastic art to consider.
The weekly assignments covered a good variety of approaches. Some came naturally to me, and others were definitely a challenge. My confidence improved immensely through these assignments, and I am now prepared to tackle the artistic path that is right for me.
The explorations of art movements and individual artists opened my eyes to many sources of inspiration.
The weekly topics were well thought out, and covered mindsets that are crucial to being a successful artist.
Lisa's feedback is always very helpful, and something to look forward to.
After participating in both the Abstraction course and the Working in a Series course, I no longer feel the need to take more courses – just the desire to make more art!"
~Dahlia Clark
Guelph, Canada
Monica Gonzalez
©2012 Monica Gonzalez
Acrylic/Textures on Paper, Digital
Monica's website
"Lisa's online course about Abstraction is a gem that goes beyond art. She has the gift to bring out a content of art in a whole-way.
An extended knowledge is organized pristinely in an container that can suit everyone. Her course is a helpful tool to self improvement of mind, body and spirit.
I am in the second half of my century, following my heart as an intuitive abstract painter in the field of expressive arts and I totally recommend the course to everyone.
I feel Lisa's course has profound intrinsic value. An amazing experience in art through art and above art."
~Monica Gonzalez
Miami, Florida
Christine Hager-Braun
©2015 Christine Hager-Braun
Leah Sullivan
©2012 Leah Sullivan
Art Quilts
"Lisa Call's Abstraction Workshop gave me just what I was looking for; it elevated my art-making to a new level.
I wanted to learn how to bring useful planning steps into my process as I have created pieces impulsively in the past. I am thrilled that I have acquired means to plan work deliberately yet retain improvisation in my process.
I will be learning from the artists we studied for years to come and have learned that Abstraction is definitely a path I want to pursue.
Lisa's insights into facets of the artistic process and the resources she shared were all very useful. The discussions of habits, vulnerability, confidence and trusting the process were helpful to me. Lisa's critiques of my work and her encouragement were especially valuable.
I now have the firm conviction that only study and practice separate me from creating art that will amaze me, my ultimate artistic goal."
~Leah Sullivan
Coal Creek Canyon, Colorado
Trisha Findlay
©2012 Trisha Findlay
Trisha's website
"I completed an 8 week online workshop entitled "Abstraction" with Lisa in October 2012. The format of the workshop and Lisa's commitment were inspiring. There were 4 parts to the workshop and I found each part really valuable for myself as a person and as a quilt artist.
Firstly each week was devoted to some aspect of life as an artist ie belief, trust, vulnerability and so on. For me it was really valuable to be able to think about myself and my self-beliefs in an organised and safe way. Thank you Lisa. I felt I grew in confidence and belief as a person over the 8 weeks of the workshop.
Secondly, the subject "Abstraction" was supported with a thorough chronological review of the development of abstract art. This review, with examples and commentary, moved from the expressionists to the minimalists and pop art.
Lisa presented this information, combined with a preview of the week and aspects of life as an artist in weekly lectures and emails.
Over the 8 weeks we had 6 assignments, each one looked at a different aspect of abstraction. And each assignment was commented on and discussed by Lisa in a very competent and non-threatening manner. I enjoyed each assignment, some I found more challenging than others. I was able to complete work; normally a lot of what I do ends up in the corner or just stays in my head.
Finally Lisa contacted all the participants personally twice during the 8 weeks to discuss any aspects of the workshops or my own practice I wanted to talk about. This discussion was organised with a series of questions sent before the discussion which helped me to focus and think about what I wanted. This was really valuable because I could ask about little things like organising sketchbooks or how to hang my work.
I thoroughly recommend this workshop and on that basis any of Lisa's online workshops. She is very organised, very committed and kind."
~Trisha Findlay
Masterton, New Zealand
Liz Fortino
©2013 Liz Fortino
"I cleared my calendar in order to focus on Lisa's Abstractions class for 10 weeks and I'm very glad I did! I have always been drawn to abstract art but had no concept of its fascinating 130-year history or how it related to and developed from what came before. We studied a large number of artists and movements, and I know I will have a much better appreciation the next time I go to a gallery.
Each of the seven studio projects gave me an opportunity to try something different. For each assignment we were to focus on a particular aspect of design and/or process, which I found very helpful for narrowing down the choices. I had two artists whose work I admire greatly, Sol LeWitt and Sheila Hicks. I knew I wanted to experiment with their styles "someday", and this workshop gave me the perfect excuse. Before I took this class I wasn't sure I would be able to find a topic or method that would hold my interest for working in a series as Lisa advocates, but now I have at least three solid ideas that I am excited about exploring more.
This class was part Art History, part Studio Art, and part Self Improvement, and I enjoyed all three aspects. Each of the 3-4 emails we received every week felt like a little gift. I also very much enjoyed seeing the work the other students were doing, interacting with them online, and learning from Lisa's critiques of their work as well as my own. In summary, the class was worth both the time and the money that I put into it."
~Liz Fortino
North Andover, Massachusetts
Joan Backus
"The Abstraction course exceeded my expectations in every way. Not only do I now feel I have a grasp of the history and the basic tenets of abstraction, I feel as though I have new tools that I can use to create my own abstract pieces.
Lisa's organization is nothing short of phenomenal, and I really appreciated her sense of structure as the class unfolded. Every aspect of the course has been well thought out and is beautifully presented. The website is terrific, the emails we received three times a week were rich in both information and thought-provoking issues, and the lectures were yet another way Lisa encouraged us to think about the subject.
Best of all, for me, were the assignments, each of which challenged us in different ways. Associated with each assignment was a series of provocative and thoughtful questions which led us to analyze and criticize our own pieces. As a result, I feel far more trusting of myself, and in charge of my own work. My confidence has grown enormously.
I hesitated to sign up for the course as the cost seemed rather steep, but it proved to be a terrific bargain. Lisa put so much effort into the course that it was hard not to at least try to live up to the level she set. As a result, I worked hard too. With only ten students in the class, there was a sense that we were all individuals. We approached the assignments in remarkably different ways, and thus were able to learn a lot from one another as well.
I am feeling incredibly energized by the class, and can't wait to get at all the projects and ideas that have been generated. Thank you, Lisa!"
~Joan Backus
Victoria, British Columbia
Lena Ohlén
©2011 Lena Ohlén
Ink on Canvas
Lena Ohlén's website
Roberta Nelson
©2012 Roberta Nelson
Textiles, Cooper
Sue Walen
©2013 Sue Walen
Sue's blog
Pam Morris
©2012 Pam Morris
Art Quilts
I received a lot more out of these classes than I can explain.
I received a concise and comprehensive education into 20th century art movements and can apply this when visiting art centers and museums. I saw art in her classes I just loved and pieces I did not enjoy so much, but I now have an idea of where I might be moving on this continuum of modern/abstract art. I see choices of abstract styles I can move my work towards, now that I have a bit of knowledge of the past.
Through objective and non objective abstraction exercises I have moved my art from my safe sailboat images to abstract horizontal and vertical line compositions but with content implied in my work. I had been searching for this and was kind of stuck on sailboat images of Florida.
I am learning about balance and to create a composition from simple shapes through Lisa's exercises. I enjoyed the structure of Lisa's exercises as they followed guidelines but resulted in my own compositions.
The online workshop format worked out well for me. The structure of the class website allowed me to see everyone class work and Lisa's reviews when I wished to do so. I appreciated that Lisa was always available-just like in an in person workshop. I also appreciated I had all my supplies, not just a kit I packed, but everything around me while working on the assignments.
I really thank my husband for giving me this excellent class and Lisa for offering it to us. Her inbox must certainly be full.
~Pam Morris
Peggie Thomas
©2012 Peggie Thomas
Art Quilts
Katie Stein Sather
"Towards the end of Lisa Call's Abstraction course, I reflected on just what we had covered, and was amazed at both the breadth and depth of the material. It was a combination of art history, focused completely on abstract art, and how to make abstract art.
Exercises pulled me into the process of abstraction without me quite knowing what was happening. We then critiqued our own pieces, and were able to see and see the critiques of other students' work.
Most weeks had an assignment—using a particular style, focusing on only a couple of design elements, make a piece of art. It kept me busy!
The aspect of making art that I had not expected to be included were the ways we either trap, or encourage, our journey into being artist. How do we think of ourselves—as an artist, or just trying it out? How does my personality type help me, and how does it present challenges to my process of becoming an artist?
It was an online course, so spread out over eight weeks, which was good, but I did miss the personal interaction of a good in-person course. I very much appreciated the thrice-weekly emails of further material."
~Katie Stein Sather
Vancouver, British Columbia
Debbie Babin
©2012 Debbie Babin
Debbie's website
"Lisa you offer the best online courses. Your attention to detail, efficiency, advise and resources are over the top. You deliver everything you promise and then some.
Your spot on critiques are informative and yet kind. After taking Working in A Series and then Abstraction, I feel completely prepared to create new art. I am motivated by the validations you gave me.
I will recommend your courses to anyone who is serious about improving their art. You take your art and your teaching very seriously. I am totally delighted with what I learned.
Thank You so much!"
~Debbie Babin
Betsy Phipps
"Having just completed the Abstraction class, I have a much clearer understanding of the various types of abstract art and better yet, how to produce my own. In addition, I gained both knowledge and understanding of the historical progression of abstract movements and learned about some artists that were completely unknown to me.
I have found it very helpful to view what other artists have done in order to sort out what appeals to me in terms of my own art. Lisa presents the historical material in a logical series of emails and online lectures that are complete, easy to follow and fun.
The class studio exercises were challenging and flowed in a reasonable continuum that matched well with what was being learned with the artistic movements. I learned how to do abstraction by completing the exercises and gained a sense of accomplishment by learning how to critique my own work.
It was a lot of hard work this past summer and I know I made many more pieces than I would have otherwise. It was well worth it because by producing I was developing my own artistic voice.
The fact that I am planning on taking another class with Lisa in the near future addresses the value I place on the experience."
~Betsy Phipps
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Design Elements
Joan Hunn
Design Elements Exercises
©2015 Joan Hunn
"Lisa Call's Design Elements class provided a foundation for me to transition from creating artistic long arm quilting on other people's pieced works, to developing my own original art. Although I intuitively knew a lot about creating art, the fact that I did not have a professional degree made me unsure of what I might be missing. The class review of basic design elements and classic artists, coupled with providing a safe place to ask questions, increased my confidence.
I entered the class experience confident in my technical quilting skills. Surprisingly, finding the technique that truly represented my voice challenged me the most, but was also the most beneficial for my artistic journey. The structure and accountability of weekly class exercises didn't allow for overthinking choices and sped up finding subject matter that appealed to me.
Lisa Call has a special gift for building confidence in others at the same time as she gives constructive feedback. I appreciated her personal attention and review of my artwork. Connecting with other student artists throughout the world with weekly live video conferences was also thrilling. At the close of class, I felt confident and hopeful for my future as an artist."
~Joan Hunn
Duluth, Minnesota
Margy Johnson
Design Elements Exercises
©2015 Margy Johnson
Jeanne Hewell-Chambers
Hymns of Cloth
©2013 Jeanne Hewell-Chambers
Stitched Textiles
Jeanne Hewell-Chambers' website
"After one especially memorable art class experience in undergraduate days, I've steadfastly refused to sign up for any art classes. Despite the passage of time, I was quite reluctant to take Lisa's Design Elements class, but thank goodness I talked myself into signing on the dotted line.
Lisa's openness, her willingness to let me pick and choose which homework questions I answered and put adapt the assignments to my own perspectives and needs. Always positive and encouraging in her feedback, always offering suggestions for improvement in my work when I asked, Lisa is the teacher I wish I'd had as an undergraduate student. Had I taken classes from Lisa earlier, there's no doubt in my mind that I'd be much further along in my career of creating Hymns of Cloth.
Her vast array of knowledge applies not just to cloth (my chosen media), but to any art media. She taught me not just how to polish my creations, making them more visually resonant to viewers, she also taught me how to look at art, how to give voice to why I find certain pieces soothing, resonating, or satisfying and other pieces jarring, incomplete, or unsettling.
And perhaps most of all, Lisa and the way she organized and conducted this class showed me that it is possible to be knowledgeable about design elements and still do your own individual work.
The price was initially a little daunting, but oh my goodness, it was worth every penny and then some. I've had graduate school classes that cost much more and delivered SO much less. Now that I've started, I'm very much looking forward to my next class with Lisa.
Lisa shares her knowledge and experience generously, epitomizes the artistic spirit, and teaches form both her brain and her heart. And it makes all the difference in the world."
~Jeanne Hewell-Chambers
North Carolina
Ana Tims
Design Elements Exercises
©2014 Ana Tims
Mixed Media
Ana's website
Mary Beth Thorne
Design Elements Exercises
©2015 Mary Beth Thorne
"Thanks so much for the really encouraging words on my latest assignment! But I do realize that the reason for your good words is you and this class.
I have thought many times that you tailored this class for me … with the content, the logistics, the assignments and studying my own paintings and other artist's paintings in detail.
I really hope that all your students feel this way because it feels great! My biggest "aha" is that contrary to thinking that brushes, paint and paper were my tools, the real tools are the elements of design. I had only a basic idea of what could be done with them and this class has given me the opportunity to explore the range of options that each element has available to me.
My other classes focused on the Principles of Design and were wonderful, but this class gives me the tools to follow the Principles.
So thank you again and again."
~Mary Beth Throne
Hot Springs Village, Arkansas
Carolyn Collins
Design Elements Exercises
©2015 Carolyn Collins
Ann-Mari Franzen
"This course Elements in Design with Lisa Call suited me very well since I am living in a small town in Sweden with few possibilities to interact with other persons, interested in art and quilting arts, so this course was just appropriate for me.
The course was focused on different design elements, 1-2 elements/week, with the same structure in all six assignments. One very important part of every assignment was to evaluate your own different works as well as other artists works. In order to help and guide you through this process there were lots of questions to be answered, directed you to see and look at different aspects of the piece of art i.e. one week it was about values another week about colors.
I've learned a lot through this very thorough and structured way of looking at art and made me see what I actually see.
The class website allowed me to take part of the other students work and also Lisa´s feedback to everyone which was very instructive.
I cannot say enough in praise of the class website. It was very structured, everything was easy to find and this fact together with Lisa´s weekly emails, with among other things, complementary teaching materials was really super.
When deciding to enroll to this class my biggest fear was that I should not be able to manage the technicalities such as adding pictures, sending in the assignments, giving comments etc. but everything worked excellent and there was never a risk to miss anything.
The teaching material was very rich, interesting and instructive. Even if I earlier had some knowledge of design elements from for example having passed City & Guilds Level 2 & 3 Certificate in Patchwork and Quilting, this course has broaden and deepen this knowledge considerably.
As a teacher Lisa is very organized, committed and kind and her encouragement of the students work and giving honest critique are especially valuable. Lisa deliver everything she promise and even much more.
I really do recommend this course and am waiting impatiently for "Design Elements" part 2.
Thank you so much Lisa."
~Ann-Mari Franzen
Mariefred, Sweden
Ann-Mari's website (group site)
Laurie Russman
Design Elements Exercises
©2014 Laurie Russman
Kaylene Maalste
Design Elements Exercises
©2014 Kaylene Maalste
Caroline Szeremet
"Lisa's Design Elements class was just what I needed to get me back on track with my art.
The material presented was comprehensive and easily accessed on the web. Combine the class presentations with Lisa's own artistic abilities and her teaching skills and you have the ingredients for success. The assignments look daunting at first glance, but she generally lets you choose which ones to do. The more you do, the better your results.
Lisa also makes you feel as though you can do anything artistically if you set your mind to it.
She is very encouraging to her students but also gives you constructive critiques to learn and grow from. Also you have the opportunity to view the work of other students and learn from it.
I highly recommend her online course and I will be taking more."
~Caroline Szeremet
Hebron, Kentucky
Dianna VanderDoes
"I have just completed Lisa Call's on-line class on Design Elements and am so excited by how much I have learned! Lisa's class is the perfect blend of lectures, independent study, coaching, and design exercises.
I have taken Design classes before where the Elements were just gone over in a very cursory way. Lisa takes this knowledge to a whole new level, really studying each Element in depth and encouraging her students to make the Elements their own.
As a result of Lisa's class, I have become much more deliberate and intentional about what I am trying to achieve with my art and think that the quality of my work has definitely improved. I have also become much more adept at understanding art in general and see it with greater understanding and appreciation.
I would heartily recommend Lisa's classes for anyone who is serious about making progress in their development as an artist!"
~Dianna VanderDoes
Denver, Colorado
Lee Sproull
Design Exercises
©2012 Lee Sproull
"Each week the workshop focused on a different design element(s) like line, value, proportion. Lecture, readings, and assignments provided many different ways to experience and learn about the particular element. Most exciting, and most helpful to me, was the chance to use one of my own compositions each week as an object of study.
In answering a focused set of questions that Lisa provided, I produced a critique of my own work that yielded a specific plan for making it better. In three cases I actually implemented the plan and produced a new composition that was a great improvement over the older one.
I've always been good at knowing ""something's not right"" with one of my compositions. But now, I have a methodology for analyzing the problem and designing a solution to make it better.
This is the first workshop I've taken from Lisa. Her knowledge, enthusiasm, and organization created a terrific learning environment that motivated me to really engage with the topic–really engage as in spending 25-35 hours each week on it!
The foundation I developed in this course will certainly stand me in good stead as I move forward with my art."
~Lee Sproull
Northampton, Massachusetts
Sue Walen
Design Exercises
©2013 Sue Walen
Sue's blog
Erika Keith
Design Elements Exercises
©2013 Erika Keith
Susanne Clawson
Design Exercises
©2013 Susanne Clawson
Susanne's website
Marian Magee
Design Exercises
©2013 Marian Magee
Brady Mikusko
"My goal for this year was to move out of basic quilt making, and to move toward being an artist, with quilting as my medium. This quest led me to one workshop which was way over my head, but that experience – as life tends to work — led me to Lisa Call. I signed up for her on-line design course with absolutely no understanding/experience in design, let alone using an on-line program like WordPress.
I couldn't quite believe an on-line course could really work for me. But indeed it has. I now know something about lines, figures, texture, focal point, figure/ground, etc. I have even begun to do some sketching.
And best of all, I have begun to design a few compositions, and can see that indeed, in a few short weeks, I have moved toward my goal and I am hungry for more. Lisa has made this possible with her passion and enthusiasm for teaching and her positive, supportive engagement with each and every student.
If you get a chance to take a course from her, I highly recommend it. She will meet you where you are, I am confident of that, and help you get closer to your goal and dreams."
~Brady Mikusko
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Brady's website
Design Principles
Christy Sverre
Design Principles Exercises
©2014 Christy Sverre
Christy's website
Long long ago I took my art degree. It was inspiring and hard work but I loved it and knew I would be an artist. But I put it aside to travel and raise a family. Years later when I returned to my passion something was lacking….
I needed Art Boot Camp and found it in Lisa Call's on-line Design Principles course.
I loved the fact that I could use my own studio to produce the rigorous assignments. It is nice to have all my tools and space around me instead of going to someone else's studio to learn.
Lisa provided us with so much information that I am still going through it and now have a great resource library.
I found Lisa to be clear and helpful in her critiques.
If anyone is thinking of a refresher course or even beginning their art career, this is where I would start.
~Christy Sverre
Gibsons, British Columbia, Canada
Margy Johnson
Design Principles Exercises
©2015 Margy Johnson
"You gave us so much information in class it will more than keep me busy through the end of the year. Having at some of the tools to be informed about choices and decisions is wonderful.
I wasn't aware how much had gone in until I was helping my sister make her decisions on a couple of quilts she was working on. It was so nice to use that knowledge and see it working to achieve a good end result.
Best investment of time and money I have ever made on classes. You are right, you gave us skills that work in our individual situations rather than generic copies of your work and style."
~Margy Johnson
Milton Keynes, UK
Ann Grasso
Design Principles Exercises
©2015 Ann Grasso
Mixed Media
Ann's's website
Joan Hunn
Design Principles Exercises
©2015 Joan Hunn
"You have been the fertilizer for my new growth this year. Can't tell you how important this has been for my soul. "
~Joan Hunn
Duluth, Minnesota
Tomiko Takeda
Design Principles Exercises
©2015 Tomiko Takeda
Tomiko's website
Kaylene Maalste
Design Principles Exercises
©2014 Kaylene Maalste
Kaylene's blog
"Investing in Lisa's online courses was an investment of a lifetime, the course material was well structured with excellent lecture material and weekly follow up emails.
What I have learned was improved my view of art and also my design compositions for future art quilts. I could not believe that I now have two sketchbooks of ideas and examples. Thank you Lisa."
~Kaylene Maalste
Berri, South Australia, Australia
Anne Smyers
Design Principles Exercises
©2015 Anne Smyers
Anne's website
Carolyn Collins
Design Principles Exercises
©2014 Carolyn Collins
Intentional Piecing
Lee Sproull
Intentional Piecing Exercises
©2016 Lee Sproull
"If you can draw it, you can piece it," is how Lisa Call introduces her class, Intentional Piecing. I was skeptical that this observation would do me any good because I Can't Draw. And therefore anything I might piece from one of my "drawings" would be awful.
Lisa illustrated her observation in the first two weeks of the course by asking us to draw/sketch a traditional quilt block, like a churn dash or a pinwheel. Well, of course I could sketch a quilt block, even though I Can't Draw. She then demonstrated intentional piecing techniques to turn a simple sketch of a block into an original composition of completed blocks using free hand cutting and wonky seam lines. I sketched it; I pieced it; and I liked it. Amazing!
The remainder of the course proceeded in a similar fashion with Lisa setting simple composition goals that could be sketched, demonstrating intentional piecing techniques to use in creating the compositions, and offering generous and constructive feedback.
I loved this course! It greatly expanded my skill set for piecing. And it gave me the confidence to realize that I Can Draw in the service of creating interesting, original compositions."
~Lee Sproull
Amy Haynes
Intentional Piecing Exercises
©2015 Amy Haynes
"As a piecer, I had been making templates to create ever larger and more complicated designs, and using templates forced me to stick exactly to my designs to avoid having to make new ones for every change I wanted to make. The whole process had become quite unwieldy, and the excessive preplanning was feeling pretty confining. I make quilts because I love to cut and sew, not drive to Kinkos to have large designs scanned so I can spend hours cutting templates on photoshop.
So I was ready to see if it's true that 'if you can draw it you can piece it'
Spoiler: it really is true. And Lisa showed us how using weekly demonstrations, assignments, live reviews of our resulting compositions, and emails through the week to encourage us and to further illuminate the technique.
Lisa is generous with her time, talent and skills. The live reviews of our work were helpful and positive. Her suggestions for improvements are always kind and encouraging, meant to spur us on to work we will be happy with.
In addition to the techniques she teaches in this course, she adds design elements and principles (which she teaches in depth in other courses), and suggestions for readings on originality, confidence and other mindsets.
I would encourage anyone who wants to add another piecing technique to their toolbox, or wants to piece their designs in a looser freer way to take this class.
Lisa's classes have increased my skills and confidence dramatically. I can't thank her enough."
~Amy Haynes
Dallas, Oregon
Kay Benedict
Intentional Piecing Exercises
©2015 Kay Benedict
"Intentional Piecing was the first class I've taken with Lisa, and it was the very best thing I could have done for myself and my art!
I have a number of design ideas that seem to demand pieced construction rather than my usual appliqué or collage, and now I have the techniques in my toolbox to do that. I also have learned to loosen up and enjoy the process, rather than focusing solely on the finished product and allowing perfectionism to paralyze me.
There were so many valuable features of this workshop: demonstration videos, written assignments for guided reflections on our work, a Facebook page for interaction with other workshop participants, and a wealth of resources I will continue to explore.
Truly confidence building!"
~Kay Benedict
Vicky Stein
Intentional Piecing Exercises
©2015 Vicky Stein
"After years of making traditional quilts (and enjoying it), I was itching to translate my many ideas into abstract textile art. But I didn't know where to start.
I had been following Lisa's work as an artist and was thrilled to learn that she is also a teacher. What I didn't know is that her teaching is at the same level and quality as her art!
Her class had a beginning, middle, and end – challenging, yes, but no overwhelm.
I now have the tools that will help me translate my work at a new level – not only the technical tools but also the tools to help me better evaluate my work.
But most of all, I have a confidence and new-found joy in creating."
~Vicky Stein
New York City, New York
Terrie McAloney
Intentional Piecing Exercises
©2015 Terrie McAloney
"This is the best course I have ever taken in quilting. In the six weeks of the course, which went by too quickly, I went from "what am I doing?" to feeling very proficient. I have finally found my voice in art quilting.
I have signed up for the next course with Lisa. The courses are well laid out the curriculum is very professionally laid out and Lisa is a Super Instructor, her instructional skills and delivery are superb.
You get constructive feedback and she is always available to give feedback.
In Intentional Piecing there were ten students and everyone completed all the assignments – I have never been in a course where everyone completed. The course design keeps you moving and you know your commitment from Day 1, with all the dates for assignments, live classes, etc.
Thank you Lisa for the inspiration."
~Terrie McAloney
British Columbia, Canada
Erika Keith
Intentional Piecing Exercises
©2015 Erika Keith
Ana Tims
Intentional Piecing Exercises
©2013 Ana Tims
Ana's blog
"For six glorious weeks I took Lisa's workshop "Cutting and Piecing without a ruler" [now renamed Intentional Piecing].
Before this course I had palpitations at the thought of not using my ruler. Lisa introduced us to her techniques with gentle exercises and expert tuition. She sort of held our hands until we felt confident… and it did not take long!
Her videos are great (complete with guest appearance of her cats) and the instructions very clear. If there were any questions she was at the end of an e-mail and her replies were always prompt and helpful.
She also help me with the "Abstract" side of things and I think she understood my own questions better than I did. I really enjoyed her critiques and they helped me to move forward.
And the best part of all… I did this in the comfort of my own studio. No bags to pack, no travel … bliss!"
~Ana Tims
Haywards Heath, England
Pam Morris
"Even though I've been cutting and piecing without a ruler for 6 years, I still learned a lot from Lisa in this workshop. In addition my technique has improved wonderfully and my work now lies beautifully flat.
This is the 4th workshop I've taken with Lisa and as usual it was fabulous.
The online workshop format worked out well for me. The structure of the class website allowed me to see everyone class work and Lisa's reviews when I wished to do so. I appreciated that Lisa was always available-just like in an in person workshop. I also appreciated I had all my supplies, not just a kit I packed, but everything around me while working on the assignments.
I really enjoyed this class and I will take online workshops with Lisa again."
~Pam Morris
South West Florida on Gulf Coast
Debbie Babin
Intentional Piecing Exercises
©2013 Debbie Babin
Debbies's website
"I have now taken all three of Lisa's courses. Again she came through with abundance of good information. She speaks to me as if I am her friend and that she truly cares about my progress. She has given me excellent advice.
The skills I have learned will stay in my head; they make sense. Lisa shares how she makes her art which is not common. She shows you step by step what to do. I am glad I took this course and I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to improve their creative sewing skills."
~Debbie Babin
Indianola, Washington
Hannah Hunter
Intentional Piecing Exercises
©2013 Hannah Hunter
Hannah's website
"If you are ready to take on a challenge and exceed your expectations of what you are capable of (in a remarkably short time), Lisa is the teacher for you. Her explanations are clear and succinct, her material is well presented and she is generous with her resources. She's also patient.
If you're a bit slow to catch on to certain ideas, as I was with a particular piecing technique, she works with you until she is sure you understand.
Lisa's critiques were supportive, helpful and gave me ideas about how I could improve my art work. Questions, which we had to respond to in writing, also improved my writing and thinking skills.
I have to admit I was hesitant about the whole "critique thing," carrying memories from graduate school, but I came away feeling expansive and energized for each new project. I have no hesitation in recommending her.
Loved the online, "on my time" aspect of the class."
~Hannah Hunter
Davis, California
Tracy Warsen
"This class was a break through for me. Lisa's voice as a teacher and coach is helping me find my voice as an artist. Before the class, I wasn't even able to whisper the word "artist" to describe myself. I was passive about making art. Looking at what others were doing and thinking about what I might do. But this class pushed me. With each assignment I had to stop thinking about it and start making it…I had deadlines to meet each week.
I started working hard at my assignments. I accepted my mistakes and my "not-so- perfect" pieces as part of the learning process. So when I totally bombed assignment #2, I didn't freak out. I realized in order to move forward I had to stop comparing my work to others and start looking at what I was creating and how I could do it better. The weekly critiques have helped me step forward.
Lisa's voice as an artist and teacher/coach is amazing. This class was jam packed with instruction, demonstrations, conversations (during the weekly Q&A and through email) and information. I know I will continue to refer to the material from this class; it is rich in knowledge and training…and I know I will hear Lisa's coaching voice as I create new pieces.
Thanks Lisa for meeting me right where I am (as an artist) and showing me how to improve, motivating me to work hard and inspiring me to keep going."
~Tracy Warsen
Middleville, Michigan
Diane Hogan
"It has been an absolutely amazing six weeks of learning how to cut and piece without a ruler, a technique that Lisa Call describes as 'intentional piecing.'
The course material is presented in a logical, progressive manner that eventually leads up to the grand finale of creating your very own design and executing it in fabric. What I appreciated most was the frequent opportunities to interact with the instructor and other participants via conference calls, emails and on the course website.
I knew right away that I was in the right course for me when I read that one of the goals was "Getting loose and free and having fun!" The assignments were challenging, but Lisa provided much encouragement – she was SUPER supportive!
The self-evaluation aspect of the weekly assignments was very beneficial in terms of personal awareness and understanding. The self-evaluation was then followed by Lisa's critique which meant I gained a much clearer understanding of design elements and principles. After much struggling with value, I now have a much clearer understanding of value.
The resources recommended by Lisa were extremely helpful. I especially enjoyed reading "Art & fear" – an amazing little book very much worth reading. The opportunity to interact online with the other participants in the class was a source of inspiration and encouragement.
At the end of the six weeks, I feel confident in my new found skills and look forward to creating 'beautiful lines!' "
~Diane Hogan
Kingston, Ontario, Canada
Setting Goals
Colleen Kole
Rooflines #10
Art Quilt
©2013 Colleen Kole
Colleen's website
"This workshop helped me to FOCUS rather than spinning aimlessly for another year. With the assignments and Lisa's encouragement, I now have an intentional plan centered on my long-term goals. I developed a 1-year, 5-year and a 10-year plan in order to achieve these goals during this workshop.
Breaking this down into realistic tasks with measurable time frames, gave me the courage to move forward with my art.
I was worried that this might be another time management class. I am even embarrassed to say how many of those I have attempted. But, this class was more meaningful because it allowed me to dream and then plan for what comes next rather than waiting for it to magically occur.
I have a dream and with planning that dream, it can become a reality.
Thank you, Lisa, for another great class. It was organized, informative and a big encouragement to start the year strong."
~Colleen Kole
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Maryann Gallaher
Bats in the Belfry
©2013 Maryann Gallaher
Art Quilt
"Thank you, Lisa! This workshop has been a great help to me in planning the year ahead. After a lot of thought and hard work I am confident that my to do lists match my goals and dreams.
I will definitely be studying with you again!"
~Maryann Gallaher
Fremont, New Hampshire
Tricia Hutchinson
"This workshop has been a great help, not only in clarifying what I want to do long and short term, but it has also guided me to put in place systems to achieve these goals. I've written down goals / aims before but never broken them down like this.
I feel I've got the makings of systems to help me focus clearly on what I want to achieve and finally the means to break down these ideas into 'doable ' jobs without being overwhelmed.
Overwhelmed is something that in the past has really stopped me doing things, So Lisa may I simply say thank you, you've made me work hard these last few weeks but the results have been well worth the hard work."
~Tricia Hutchinson
Staithes, North Yorkshire, UK
Tricia's website
Maggie Winnall
Yes I Can!
©2013 Maggie Winnall
Textile Handbag
Maggie's website
"Lisa, your 'Setting Goals' workshop has been a fantastic, in depth, well supported process – a journey of discovery. I started with a to do list as long as infinity and now I have a plan, purpose and clarity.
I am excited now at the prospect of working through my projects, it doesn't seem so daunting. I like that my new to do list has traceability and is aligned with my values- it makes much more sense.
Your support and insight has been invaluable. Thank you."
~Maggie Winnall
London, United Kingdom
Angeline Martinez
"I thought I knew how to set goals before taking Lisa's Setting Goals class. I learned what my values are, my true art goals that align with those values, and how to set priorities for my goals.
My to do lists suddenly became more than busy work: the lists transformed into small steps for how to get to my goals.
Thanks to taking Lisa's class, my art and life dreams are goals with the how-tos that fit who I am. "
~Angeline Martinez
Homestead, Florida
Angeline's website
Ethel Hills
Color Block #27
6 x 6 inches
©Ethel Hills
Mixed media collage on panel
Ethels's website
"I've just finished up Lisa's "Goals" class. She packs a lot into 4 weeks, which is great. Instead of starting out with just a list of goals and how long it will take to achieve them, you start out with an over-all vision, a big picture dream of your artistic life.
From there you develop priorities and projects that support your dream. Each step helped me to redefine my dreams and chunk it down into smaller pieces. And each step keeps referring back to not only what I want to do, but why I want to do it.
Turns out the why is way more important than the how. One of my projects was to start on a new body of work. I had an idea of what the work would be, but adding the why brought up several other thoughts about what the work was really about and how to market it. These are things which will be really important down the road. I might have missed them altogether without that step.
Now I have a relatively simple way of going from my dreams, to a statement of what I want and why I want it, then on to projects and requirements (which is another place to dream without worrying about the how). Until I get right down to the task lists and then the weekly and daily to-do lists, I'm concerned with my dream and why I want to do it, not just how to do it and knock it off my list.
I know that this approach will work so much better for me than other systems that I've tried. It will also ensure that I'm working on things that support my dreams, not just things that I think I should do.
The facebook group worked really well for interchanges with class members and with Lisa. It was nice to share tips and questions. I also find Lisa's setup works well for me – a weekly lecture supplemented by emails during the week and an assignment due the following week.
Lisa, thanks for another great class."
Ethel Hills
Hampton, New Hampshire
Heather Pregger
Tuning Fork #11
©2013 Heather Pregger
Heather's website
Karen Mundt
©2013 Karen Mundt
Karen's website
Angeline Martinez
"Systems class by Lisa Call will be the most difficult class taken to date. It forced me out of my comfy artistic side into making systems for creating and sharing my art. The entire class is geared towards creating an operations manual for your creative and business practices. Systems will help you focus on what things need done and how to do those things to realize your goals, with the added bonus of hope that you may eventually hand off some of the work to someone else.
Lisa teaches by example. Systems was my third class with Lisa. She uses Systems in her creative, teaching, and marketing practices. She is so organized, with such awesome art, marketing, and class content that she has to use Systems to do all that she accomplishes. She practices what she teaches.
Systems class is the medicine we as artists need to be organized and effective when presenting ourselves to the world. Lisa gives this logical work the sugar to help artists make their own Systems to function better creatively and logically. I now have a slowly building operations manual for my creative and business practices…with many more applications waiting for creation.
Systems has already paid for itself with a simple trade that occurred shortly after the class ended. A couple traded their time for a commissioned painting. They used my system for photographing art. Now I have most of my art backlog ready for me to digitally edit and begin using in other Systems. They think they stole their painting. I know that they did about 20 hours of work that I am relieved is off my back! The scary yet wonderfully thrilling part is that this is only one example of how Systems has paid off for me so soon after completing Lisa's class!
Between Setting Goals and Systems, I am fully expecting 2014 to exceed the success won in previous years. Just by having a System to follow by me or others and clear Goals to save me from 'shiny things' has saved me hours of work and effort. If you can stand a pain from being logical, Systems will help you become organized and stay organized within your artistic practices…which means more time in the art studio doing what you really love."
~Angeline Martinez
Homestead, Florida
Angeline's website
Ethel Hills
20 x 20 inches
mixed media collage
©Ethel Hills
Ethels's website
"I've just finished up Lisa's System class. It has helped me realize the value of having a simple step by step plan for both the simple and the complicated processes of my art business. And while we have been working on developing specific systems of our own, she has been feeding us lots of excellent general information on some of the major issues we all need to deal with – studio and office organization, our inventory systems, mailing lists and contact lists.
So not only do I have the tiny beginnings of my "operations manual" for my business, but I also have several long range goals and plans for improving almost all of these bigger systems.
She has been generous with her time – answering lots of questions, giving detailed responses to homework and questions, and providing lots of additional information.
The blog format has been easy to work with and weekly assignments have kept me on schedule and on task. I love the structure of a lecture on Sunday and then 3 emails coming during the week with additional information.
Thank you."
Ethel Hills
Hampton, New Hampshire
Lisa Flowers Ross
hand dyed fabrics, machine pieced, free-motion stitching
©2012 Lisa Flowers Ross
photo credit: Jake Soper
Lisa's website
"Lisa Call's Systems class is a really good class for getting down to the nitty-gritty of what steps it takes to run your art business. Although her emphasis is on an art business, the assignments could be done for any business. Lisa is generous with her examples and information and she will guide you to create the systems that work for you.
Even though I already have some systems in place, this class helped me identify where there are inefficiencies. I can see where setting up more systems can help save me time and make tasks easier so I can spend more time creating artwork."
Lisa Flowers Ross
Boise, Idaho
Interested in taking a workshop? Available classes are listed in the online course catalog.