I’ll admit it, I was a little hesitant about applying for the Kay WalkingStick Critical Feedback Workshop. I hoped if I could get in I would get valuable information from her that I would not likely have a chance at again. I was right. Kay accepted only 10 people from the pool of applicants and I was honored to be one of them.
On Monday we gathered in the assigned room, all feeling a little nervous with our art and souls laid out for her to review. She had asked each of us to bring a CD of our work, but also at least one actual piece, explaining that you just can’t have a substitute for seeing, smelling and feeling the work.
Each of us went in turn talking a bit about our work and answering Kay’s questions about our intent, our process or our symbolism. I won’t discuss any specifics of what was said in the class because it was all so personal, but I can share some of the questions Kay asked of us so you can ask them of yourselves:
1. Do you spend at least a couple of hours in the studio every day? (about half of the people in the room were able to say yes, but Kay said that was better than she thought it would be.)
2. What is your goal for your art career? (Have your work shown in a museum, pay your bills and feed your family or somewhere in between — it’s all valid)
3. What are you looking for when you go to look at art? Does your work fulfill that need?
4. Who is your favorite artist and what do you expect their art to do for you?
5. What subject do you want to investigate?
6. How to do conceptualize your work? How do you begin (through color, image, idea)?
7. How are your pieces related to one another, if at all?
8. What symbolism are you trying to convey?
9. Who is your audience? What do you want your audience to see?
Later in the day Kay met with each of us individually and I was thrilled (and relieved!) to hear that she heartily encouraged my plans for a new series (based on the work above) and helped me focus the path I’ve laid out for the next several months. When asked if I should try to work some of my ideas out on paper versus complete paintings she said, “Don’t just work the ideas out any way you can, work them out EVERY way you can.” Excellent advice. I feel like I now have new tools for evaluating my own art and how to become more focused in my work.
6 comments
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June 11, 2008 at 7:47 pm
gl.
wow. that sounds risky and rewarding! way to go! nice to have new tools & solid support. 🙂
June 11, 2008 at 8:50 pm
Bridgette
Those are some great questions. Invaluable. I’m going to go and answer them for myself now! Thank you for sharing.
That must have been a great experience. Intimidating, yes, but totally worth it.
June 13, 2008 at 5:42 am
Sharon
I don’t work with wax (yet!) but I am enjoying the sites that show examples. I found yours by a link from Judy Wise. May I post these questions on my blog? I’d love to pass them along after I answer them myself!
~Sharon
http://e14studio.blogspot.com
June 14, 2008 at 8:41 am
embracingencaustic
Sharon, I’d be happy to have you re-post those questions. They are just my notes from Kay’s critique. I think we should all be answering these questions and I know I still have some work to do on them. If anyone else answers these questions online please leave a link here so we can all benefit!
June 15, 2008 at 9:40 am
pam farrell
Hi Linda:
I just noticed that you have my blog on your blog roll–many thanks! and glad to be here.
Sounds like you had a fruitful and stimulating conference…and congrats on your book. You’re a busy lady!!!
Just thought I’d add my 2cents about Kay Walkingstick. About a year and a half ago, I had a consult with her in her studio. Brought some of my work and spent a couple of hours with her. I have to say I am still referencing her comments and critique from that session as I work. At the time, I had no idea how much her comments would resonate with me, and I agree that these questions from the workshop with her are a valuable resource.
Thanks for posting them!
Pam Farrell
September 20, 2014 at 4:05 pm
Ponderables · Layers of Meaning
[…] Conference, a list of questions asked by Kay WalkingStick in her workshop (as reported by Linda Womack). These are wonderful questions; questions that I wish that someone had asked me 20 years ago […]