What advice can you give me about buying art?
Buy what you like, not just what matches the couch. Ask about the quality of the materials used. For instance, are they artist quality or student quality paints and mediums? If buying sight-unseen (like through the Internet), ask what the return policy is if when you see it you are not happy. Ask if the artist retains copyright after you purchase it. Are you buying the original or a reproduction? Ask what you need to know about cleaning especially if it is fiber / textile art.
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What happened to the quilter's resources, such as patterns and instructions, that were here?
I feel there are better resources online for quilters, not to mention books and publications. I want my site to be more about me, as an artist, than as an educator. It was also very time consuming to keep coming up with new additions, time I would much rather spend in the studio than in front of the computer.
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Do you still create and sell your fabrics (Artistic Fabrics ®
) ?
Yes I still create my own hand-painted fabrics, using Setacolor fabric paints, for my own use and that of friends. However I do not produce any for sale at this time, other than special commissions. I may start producing some panels for sale (online only) once my new studio is built (Summer 2009).
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Why have you stopped teaching?
Well, I stopped flying, I don't want to do all the traveling, and the quilt industry (from my view) is predominately geared towards high-end machine work which I no longer do. However, I wouldn't say I put on the breaks hard and firm as I am always open to share what I do. I still have others in my studio regularly.
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Do you still go to the major quilt shows?
No. Another national quilt teacher once asked me how long I was going to do "this" - referring to the quilt circuit. I replied, "As long as it is fun." I enjoyed the students, and visiting with the other instructors I had become friends with on the road, but the business of the industry was getting in the way of my enjoyment. It is much more fun to stay in the studio and play than it is to do otherwise. I no longer follow "whats happening" in the quilt world but I do review each issue of Quilting Arts Magazine.
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Have you really stopped using sewing machines all together?
Yes (well almost). As a former spokesperson for Pfaff, I still like their wonderful machines, but have watched the industry in general make so many advancements that I see a change in skill happening. It seems to me skill isn't about who can do what themselves but what their machines can do for them - or worse, who can afford the top-of-the-lines and who can't. I mean do we really need machines that cut the thread automatically? I was getting so wrapped up in software and automation I felt I was losing the simple joy of creating with fabric and thread. I see this as a loss in the basic traditional art / craft of quilting. I saw the sewing machine as a tool but with automation it seems we are the tool for the sewing machine. However, I do happen to enjoy handwork, I know many don't. I will occasionally open up my mother's old Kenmore, which resides in a cabinet acting as a plant table most often time, when general mending is needed or it is time to sew a binding on.
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Are your quilt books still available? Will you write more?
Generally, no. Again, the business of quilting was getting in the way of actual studio time so I stopped supplying distributors with my books. I will occasionally sell or give some away but I doubt you will find many left in any stores. No I don't see myself writing any more, at least not quilt related. When I see a new quilt book I often think, "Do we really need another book on that?" However I have been approached about writing a book on my painting techniques for one of my suppliers.
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How come you have removed so many of your quilts from this web site?
I have been gradually changing the web site to reflect what I am doing now. I have been reluctant to show much of my new creations, mostly until I build a better representational body of work, but I have let some "teasers" creep on here. I thought it best just to show some selected samples of quilts, what I used as teaching examples and what I like the most. However, I am working on a couple new series of art quilts which will be featured here in due time.
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What is the difference between a studio artist and a regular artist?
An artist is an artist, period. The term "studio artist" refers to someone who has a place or room dedicated to making art - a studio. This usually means that creating art is a full-time endeavor, as opposed to a hobbyist. It also infers the studio artist is interested in exhibiting and selling his/her work. It does NOT infer that the hobbyist is any less skilled or receives less joy from creating art.
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What else do you do besides art?
I read, A LOT ! I devour books, all kinds... stories I can lose myself in and books I can learn from. I love to learn. I can read 2 or 3 novels a week and that is between other books I am studying. I have a lot more time to do so than most since I do not have a family to raise nor do I watch television (well DVD's occasionally). Also, I sleep a lot less than the average person. I discovered the resources of interlibrary loans, alibis.com, and the local used book stores so I have greatly increased the volume of books calling out to me nowadays. I enjoy gardening and spend many hours a day with my dogs who are completely abnormally overly obsessed with playing ball. Can you say "spoiled?"
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Where do you get your creative ideas? Inspiration?
Oh that's easy - everywhere and in everything. I am never at want for inspiration. I see interesting colors, textures, designs, and such in everyday objects we most often take for granted, in Nature (especially where I live), in other's Art (not to copy but another's art moves me to think, "Okay but what if he/she did it this way?" for instance.) I "work" very close with another artist who shares in my studio space and we often challenge each other indirectly, play off one another's ideas, and often just go "exploring" whether that be in the city, the local wilderness, in books, exhibits... and sometimes we get a new product and ask ourselves, "Okay lets see what we can each come up with to do with this (only then do we bother to read the directions or instructions). It helps that I am willing to experiment. Just because it is "always done this way" or the product is meant for this or that, well that doesn't mean we have to adhere to this. It might be easier to take art lessons but I rather enjoy stumbling along without direction, that way I find my own path.
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What advice can you share with a beginning artist?
Play, experiment, read, share thoughts and ideas, explore resources and other's art, dive right in, try new products, and by all means don't fret about getting messy. Take a class if you lack direction or fear starting out from scratch - get out with others playing too. Be fearless in sharing your goofs, you might be surprised what comes of it.
If it stains, wear gloves. If it says, "Do not inhale" do not take that as a challenge. If it warns to keep away from a heat source, at least go outside when you try to torch it to see what happens (and have water nearby, trust me on that).
You will learn more by studying the pictures than reading the text. Directions are loose guidelines and are not Rules. If at first you don't succeed, Laugh.
Give yourself "your space" even if that is a closet with a table in it or you announce, "The kitchen table is MY space right now so everyone (kids, spouse, etc.) get away! Pretend I am invisible and solve your own problems for the next hour."
Open your mind / heart to God, the muse, the little artist within (whatever) to take you away (creatively) to someplace you might not have ventured otherwise, even if you go screaming and kicking, just go along.
Oh and please... Think Outside The Box, you aren't breakfast cereal.
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What kind of fine art paints do you use?
All of my paintings are made with artist quality acrylic paints. Oils take too long to dry and yellow and crack with age. The new acrylics are more versitile than ever. I make sure each paint has the highest rating for light fastness. I won't be around for centuries but my work will. I will often use the paints right out of the tubes (a la prima) or if I need to dilute them, I do so with acrylic mediums. I want the binding strength and color/pigment saturation to be as high as possible.
I use Golden, Liquitex and Blick professional acrylic paints and mediums. Although I like to support local businesses, I purchase these from dickblick.com. It is an hour drive to the city so it is more convenient to buy online, and their prices are much lower than suggested retail, and I can shop 24/7/365. I like to have a supply of "everything" so usually have on-hand every color produced, and mix from there - but you only need the basics.
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Why isn't your email address on your web site?
Well that is because of all the software robots (bots) roaming the world wide web collecting email addresses for the evil people / companies who want to thrust (spam) advertisements in my face in an effort to try to entice me to buy things I don't need or want, or to convince me I should donate or contribute to their cause or scam. So, I have created the form on this site (see CONTACT on the menu) where you can email me, which does not contain my real email address in the form script that makes it work. Sure when/if I reply you will then have my address but then again you aren't trying to sell me real estate, Viagra, bonds from a third world country... need I say more?
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You used to give other artists free web pages on your server. Do you still do that ?
No, occasionally yes, but very rarely now-a-days. When I come across an artist who absolutely has to get a site up to share work I think is incredible, I step in. But otherwise no I do not do that any longer - only because I try to spend as little time in front of a computer as possible. Well, not counting when I am surfing for my own pleasure or doing research but even then I limit myself. I think the Internet is the next best thing to chocolate but don't want to lose myself in it as so many young people are today. However, I do still have the easy, simple, web page tutorial I wrote on this site to aid the totally clueless (and that isn't a bad thing) in creating their own web pages without having to hire someone or buy expensive, needless software.
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What do you paint on?
I make my own supports (what one paints on) by covering hardboard panels with canvas (adhered with acrylic medium) instead of one or the other. Then I prime them with layers of gesso. I like the look and texture of traditional canvas but feel stretched canvas frames are too easily damaged. Conservators agree that paintings on panels have held up better than those worked on stretched canvas frames. The canvas is wrapped around to the back so all edges are finished and painted. Each back is painted as well so the panel is completely resistant to moisture damage.
To prevent warping, I fix braces to the back of the panels before adhering the canvas. This also allows me to create supports which lay flat against the wall (fig.1) and which are suitable for framing, or supports with deep sides (fig.3) which are painted as part of the work, and require no framing, or supports which make the painting seem to float off the wall (fig.2). Bracing is canvas wraped for fig.1 and fig.3, and sometimes fig.2 if deep. Large paintings have center bracing (fig.4) for additional strength.
The completed paintings are coated with clear acrylic medium for added protection.
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