Fodder School Muse-of-the-Month: Connie Fong
Connie Fong is a mixed media artist, lifelong crafter, and creative explorer living in Piedmont, California, in the San Francisco Bay Area. Over the years, she has experimented with everything from quilting and needlepoint to stained glass, leatherwork, jewelry making, and knitting. Today, mixed media art is her favorite creative outlet. Connie is also a longtime member of Fodder School, where she continues to discover new techniques, connect with artists around the world, and nurture a daily creative practice.
In addition to her personal art practice, Connie has been published more than 50 times in Stampington & Company magazines, including Somerset Studio, Art Journaling, Somerset Life, and GreenCraft. She has taught classes from her home studio, collaborated with Tim Holtz, and even had her artwork featured in a Joann craft store display. Interestingly, her college degree is in Computer Science—a reminder that creativity can flourish from many different backgrounds
Follow Connie Fong on Instagram @myartfulplay
What part of the world do you currently live in?
I live in Piedmont, California, a small city in the San Francisco Bay Area.
When did your art or crafting journey begin?
I've been making things for as long as I can remember. I started crafting when I was around 10 years old and loved sewing from an early age. I remember making stuffed animals as a child, and when I was in high school, I sewed wrap-around skirts for each of my five sisters as Christmas gifts.
Over the years, I've tried nearly every craft imaginable—quilting, needlepoint, stained glass, leatherwork, jewelry making, knitting, and more. While I enjoy exploring many creative mediums, mixed media art has become my favorite.
How long have you been in Fodder School and what keeps you coming back?
This is my fifth year in Fodder School, and I plan to keep coming back as long as Wendy and the team continue creating it. I love everything about the experience—the excitement of new teachers every month, the variety of projects, the quality of the instruction, and the incredible value.
The community is also a huge part of why I stay. The students are creative, generous, and encouraging. I learn just as much from seeing other students' interpretations of a lesson as I do from the instructors themselves.
How has Fodder School influenced your creative journey?
I've been taking creative classes and workshops most of my life, but Fodder School has introduced me to so many new techniques and approaches. I learn constantly—not only from the teachers but also from fellow students.
I love working with different art materials and mediums, and the year-long format keeps me engaged and creating on a regular basis. Having something meaningful to work on every day is important to me, and Fodder School provides that ongoing source of inspiration
What’s one project that completely lit you up?
There have been so many, but one project that really stands out is Jack Ravi's The Alchemy of Memory journal.
That lesson inspired me to follow Jack's creative work more closely. I was especially drawn to the way he incorporates old family photographs into expressive mixed media artwork. His approach felt authentic and natural, and it opened up new possibilities for how I think about working with vintage photos in my own art. It's a technique and creative mindset I continue to revisit.
Describe the Fodder School community in three words.
Creative, Sharing, Kind
One piece of encouragement for a brand-new student?
Be flexible.
Work at your own pace. Use the supplies you already have. Don't worry about following every lesson exactly as it's taught. Bring your own ideas, preferences, and vision into the projects.
The most rewarding experiences often come when you make a lesson your own.
Whether you're new to mixed media art or have been creating for decades, Connie's experience offers a simple reminder: stay open, keep experimenting, and allow your creativity to evolve.
