Artist's Statement
In my art quilt journey, I find that I am attracted to shapes that I can abstract from Nature. I also have an affinity for ethnic motifs that are timeless classics. Today while my work still pays homage to the traditional quilt, using piecing and appliqué techniques and many times starts with traditional blocks, it stretches them into new realms of interpretation, using a playful approach to explore endless possibilities. I use commercially available fabrics blending those specifically designed for quilters with clothing and home decorator fabrics. I also incorporate fabrics that are hand dyed and hand painted, many of my own creation. Lames, silks, sheers and other exotics make appearances when they answer a need that I see will work for the current idea. I construct exclusively by machine, including the quilting process, as I consider this to be the art of drawing with a needle. Lately I also hand quilt some sections of my quilts, as the look and texture I find appealing. Details are often done with thread embroidery and more recently with fabric paint, fabric pens and watercolor pencils. I will often use a fusing technique to create different and more intricate details. Many pieces are also embellished with buttons, beads, sequins and other found objects, including photo transfers.
My fine arts background has become assimilated into the design process of each quilt. I visualize the basic design in a graphic representation on paper before translating into fabric. From this design I can scale up to the finished size. I construct the quilt from this plan using piecing or appliqué techniques or a combination of both. My foundation of traditional fine arts skills (design, color and graphics) have affected my work as a quilt artist, along with my sojourn through many other related arts which I do in fact incorporate in many of my quilts. Who else would use beaded smocking to represent fish scales as seen in “the Secret Summer Sojourn of the Smocked Salmon?. |
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