Christine Barnes
Christine Barnes is a writer, teacher, and contemporary quilter in love with color. “I’ve been teaching color workshops for more than a decade, and color never lets me down-it entices me, it inspires me, it amazes me. And I am convinced that all quilters, no matter what their style, can develop a sense of color that leads them to more innovative, satisfying work. When it comes to color, intuition is experience. It’s more about practice (a kind of experience) than talent.”
Christine has degrees in costume design (UC Davis) and journalism (University of Oregon), and has written more than a dozen books on color, design, remodeling, and decorating, notably Color: The Quilter’s Guide (Martingale) and Color for Your Home (Sunset Books). She has also written for American Quilter, Threads, Quilter’s Newsletter Magazine, and For the Love of Quilting, and has appeared on “Simply Quilts.”
She lives in Grass Valley, California.
Workshop: Magic Fabrics, Special Effects
“Magic fabrics” have the power to create vitality, movement, and visual depth in a quilt-qualities that captivate the viewer and command attention. They can suggest light coming from behind the surface (luminosity) or above (luster). They can also imply forms on different planes (depth) or see-through colors that overlap to create new colors (transparency).
In this color workshop, you will create these special effects through a series of structured and improvisational color studies, then begin work on an original abstract design (such as my collage quilt “Earthscape”) or an original modular format (“Lotus Leaves” or “Squares and Stripes”). If you don’t wish to bring your own design, patterns for these three quilts will be available.
We will critique the color studies as a group to see what works, what doesn’t, and-just as important-why. We will also discuss your quilt plan in depth and tweak the design. I bring lots of examples of magic fabrics in my quilts and framed pieces to spark your creativity.
Skill: All levels
Supply List for Christine’s workshop
(Supply lists are provided by the instructor and you are encouraged to direct any questions regarding required equipment and supplies to the instructor.