Carolina Oneto
The ART of IMPROV
I am so happy to welcome Carolina Oneto to share with us all about her love and work with improvisation. Carolina is an artist currently living with her husband and three children in São Paulo, Brazil, where she is continuously creating and developing her art and teaching that WE ARE ALL CREATIVE. This belief is what initial drew me to Carolina, her open and generous spirit, her enthusiasm to share and teach others that their art matters.
Carolina was born in Chile and trained as an industrial civil engineer. She worked for in logistics until her daughter was born, she then focused her talents on teaching engineering, a job that let me spend more time with her family. After moving to Buenos Aires she had the incredible opportunity of learning patchwork with Teresita Leal and Cecilia Koppman, known Argentinian quilters. After discovering quilting she was hooked and began traveling to learn from others and to meet others with her passion. She has been pursuing her passion and sharing what she has learned and encouraging others to find and follow their creative dreams. Carolina’s quilts have been exhibited in many Quilt Festivals around the world, such as Quilt Week (Paducah, Lancaster, Des Moines, Daytona Beach, Grand Rapids, Virginia Beach), Quiltcon, Festival of Quilts in Birmingham, European Carrefour do Patchwork, Fiberart International, Festival do Patchwork Gramado and Floripa Quilt Festival (both in Brazil). Additionally, her work has been featured at art centers and galleries in Europe, USA and Chile.
She has created a wonderful community thru teaching and her classes are available online as quilting and design classes, she has also created many on demand classes for those who need to learn at their own pace and time. The online classes allow her to connect with students from many different countries, which is a very enriching experience. I thank her for sharing with us here specifically about her work and love of improvisation!
Watercolor II Carolina Oneto
What does working improvisationally mean to you? How would you define the ‘Art of Improv’?
To me working improvisationally means freedom, creativity, bravery and joy. I would define the art of improv as a place that everyone can found inside themselves, as humans we are all improvisers in every activity of our life. . .we just need to look for and explore it.
Have you always worked improvisationally?
At the very beginning when I was learning quilting I just followed patterns and tutorial. . .but soon I started improvising, in a very simple way, using my scraps and just sewing them with any rule, and it was an amazing discovery. From that moment I never stop.
Do you work improvisationally, consciously, intentionally? If so, how do you begin? If not, how do you find yourself getting there?
I always start a quilt with an intention, that could be playing with colors, shapes, telling a story or to use a special technique. With every project I start in a different way. . .sometimes could be with a drawing, a feeling, or just picking some colors from my stash to start cutting and sewing. . .it depends on the project how I will begin.
How often do you work with improvisation?
The last 2 years I have almost done all my quilts with improvisation, I realize that is the way in which I most enjoy to create and I think that one of the reason is because the process is almost more important than the final result.
Value Line and Variations Carolina Oneto
Please share a bit about your process. Do you have methods to getting started? Do you have tricks for getting unstuck? Do you have motivators to finishing up?
I like to start each new project with a tidy studio (a situation that won't last long) I love the process of selecting fabrics, colors and for this I take all the time in the world, it's like looking for the perfect ingredients of a magic potion! they must be exactly the right ones to design the quilt I want to do. . .
There are times that I select, and depending on the time of the day and the sunlight, I review these colors, to see how they look and how they change by the light and day. . . until I have the perfect mix for my future work.
I like to work with music a lot, I have a special playlist with my favorite songs that helps me to focus and brings me to a state of concentration and freedom that allows me to further advance into my creations.
Where do you find inspiration? How do you use it?
I found inspiration in many places (outside and inside), I found inspiration in math, in other forms of art, in music, in nature, but also in my memories, my life and my feelings.
What advice would you give to someone interested in trying to work improvisationally. Can you share some good advice that you received that helped you become more comfortable this way?
I would say that you just need to free yourself from the traditional, and also you need to let go of pressure, fears and prejudice. You have to let go of perfection, being a perfectionist is the best way to block yourself. Improvising is also play and experiment. Improvising is to work without a cutting list, where process and present moment are enjoyed, and where it isn’t a wright or wrong way.
Artificial Light Carolina Oneto