Category: Art Quilts

Art quilts often use traditional quilting techniques to create a wide range of wall art. Art quilts can now be found in museums and galleries along side paintings and other media.

https://www.saqa.com/

About the Quilt Artist

My art quilts are all about the quilt artist creating abstract, whimsical or impressionistic pieces. Inspiration comes from the natural world as well as from Mexican and Native American influences. My materials of choice are often redirected fabrics from the San Francisco Design Center and found objects. Art quilts free me to play with color and texture. My technique, Scribble Quilting allows me to create movement on many of my pieces.

TWO INSPIRATIONAL ARTISTS

I owe some of my inspiration to two artists from Santa Cruz County, California. Meri Vahl, an award winning art quilter has been recognized nationally for her work. Teacher of the fabric layering technique, she was patient. Understanding that each student brought individual strengths, weaknesses and abilities. Ellen edith;friend, art quilter, fabric designer and artist extraordinaire made whimsical, personal quilts. Her influence lives on well beyond her life. I have great appreciation for these two local leaders of the art quilt world.

SAQA (STUDIO ART QUILT ASSOCIATES)

I am proud to be part of an evergrowing group of art quilters. SAQA started by Yvonne Porcella in Northern California in 1989. It has grown to an international organization. Art quilters have transformed the quilt into a 21^st Century art form. I continue to explore new forms and ways of working with unusual materials on this journey.

ABOUT THE ARTIST,BIO

I was born and raised in Palo Alto, California. In high school I studied sewing and clothing construction for two years. I continued to sew much of my wardrobe. In 1974,I took my first quilting class at a neighborhood fabric store. Over the years, I continued to sew clothes and make quilts for my family. I stopped counting bed quilts at 300. After teaching 30 years in Watsonville as a bilingual teacher, I retired to spend more time on creating art quilts.

MY FIRST ART QUILT

Homage to a Dancer,45″ x 56″

In 2008, I made my first art quilt, Homage to a Dancer. It reflects my participation in Los Méxicas,the University of California,Santa Cruz ballet folklórico group.

A STUDIO IN THE ART CENTER

In May of 2016, I opened a studio in the Santa Cruz Art Center, 1001 Center St. Downtown Santa Cruz. I have space to work and display my work. For First Fridays and Open Studios, I fill the lobby with art. In June, 2019 New York Art Center accepted my work into their gallery. 7 Franklin Place, TRIBECA, New York City.

AWARD WINNING ARTIST

Great Blue Heron at Dusk,31″ x 25″

Great Blue Heron at Dusk entered into an art show in 2010. The following year it won a merit award at the Olive Hyde Art Gallery in Fremont,California.
In 2013, Visions of New Mexico won third place in the Neo Membreno Vessels 2013 Show at the Western New Mexico University Museum in Silver City, New Mexico.

African American Quilts On Display

Arbie Williams. "Medallion" (1987), quilted by Willia Ette Graham

Art Museum inherits 3,000 African American Quilts

Charles Desmarais October 16, 2019Updated: January 30, 2020, 10:08 am

Arbie Williams, “Medallion” (1987), quilted by Willia Ette Graham.

A Gift of nearly 3,000 Quilts

Over all a gift of nearly 3,000 quilts, was announced Wednesday, Oct. 16,2020. Furthermore, all of the quilts were designed and produced by African American artists. Officials of the UC Berkeley Art Museum announced the gift. Eli Leon put together the extensive collection over more than three decades. Dr.Leon was a white Oakland psychotherapist. Meanwhile he became a respected expert on African American quilts. When Leon died in 2019, he left the quilts and a few other items to the Regents of the University of California. https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/Eli-Leon-scholar-and-collector-of-African-12757330.php

The Unusual Gift

Subsequently,the gift will add 15% to the museum’s permanent collection, said BAMPFA director Lawrence Rinder, in an interview with The Chronicle.

Stories of Communities of Color

Furthermore,the quilts help to broaden the horizons of art history. In addition this will include the culture and the stories of communities of color. In just the past few years, exhibitions of works by artists of color have been taking place in museums worldwide. Above all,collectors and institutions are trying to diversify their collections. https://datebook.sfchronicle.com/art-exhibits/why-is-african-american-art-having-a-moment-the-reasons-are-as-varied-as-the-art-itself

Major Commitments

In addition,the two largest visual arts organizations, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art and the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, made major commitments. This year, SFMOMA sold a key Mark Rothko painting to raise millions of dollars . For example,this will enable the museum to broaden its collection through purchases of works by women, LGBTQ artists and artists of color. After that,the Fine Arts Museums acquired 62 works by 22 contemporary African American artists . Rosie Lee Tompkins, Untitled (1996), quilted by Irene Bankhead.

Similarly,Lawrence Rinder knew Leon. In the past,they had worked together on an exhibition of the quilts of Rosie Lee Tompkins. In addition,more than 500 works of Ms. Tompkins are part of the the gift. Moving forward, Mr. Rinder will curate a larger Tompkins show as his final project before retiring He said the quilts are decidedly not “folk art.”

It’s Art Art

Likewise,“Not to me,” he was quick to say. “I think it’s ‘art art.’ I don’t make those distinctions. To clarigy, labels like that justify the exclusion of people who are less well off or people who are not white.

“Some people think if you slap a label , it can help us understand where it comes from.On the other hand, I don’t care about any of that at all. Most importantly,I see emotion, expression, technical skill. … The rest doesn’t matter to me in the least.”

Monin Brown and Hattie “Strawberry” Mitchell

Adventurous Designs

For example,Leon tended to collect adventurous designs. However,it was not because the works look modern. “He believed deeply in a connection to African traditions. He conducted research on motifs, patterns and methods that he saw as rooted in Central Africa,” Variations on a Theme,artist unknown

Funds for Conservation

After that,Rinder said gifts and grants are being sought to fund conservation of the fragile works. Moreover, he believes the university is committed to their care and display. Furthermore in a statement, UC Berkeley Chancellor Carol Christ said, “BAMPFA is uniquely suited to ensure that these wonderful works of art receive the exposure and attention they deserve.”

Gladys Henry, “Medallion” (1992), quilted by Rose McDowell.Edited for space
https://datebook.sfchronicle.com/art-exhibits/uc-berkeley-art-museum-inherits-grand-trove-of-nearly-3000-african-american-quilts Charles Desmarais

Charles Desmarais is The San Francisco Chronicle’s art critic. Email: cdesmarais@sfchronicle.com Free weekly newsletter: http://bit.ly/ArtguyReviews

https://www.etsy.com/shop/annbmayartquilts

https://annbaldwinmayartquilts.com/2020/07/political-quilts2008-2014/

https://annbaldwinmayartquilts.com/2017/08/eli-leon-collector-of-quilts-and-other-items/

https://annbaldwinmayartquilts.com/2020/07/political-quilts2008-2014/

See a New Vista with these Mexican Inpired Fabric Collages

Abuelita''s Treasures

Mexican Inspired Fabric Collages

Most Importantly to honor the Indigenous People

Mexico is home to numerous distinct indigenous people each with their own customs and languages. Certainly each of the 29 Mexican states has several native costumes influenced by the mix of Spanish, Mestizo and indigenous people. Moreover,most festivals have roots in the indigenous past. Primarily, these are the roots that I celebrate when I make my fabric collages. Moreover,the desire to create a way to combine by love of sewing with my love of Mexico inspired the start of my art quilt life. Similarly,my Mexican inspired fabric collages evolved from that. Above all,I create the collages with fabric, details and found objects that I identify with the Mexican experience.

Mexican fabrics, yellow,black,red — Frolic of the Lizards,34″ x 34″

Mexican fabrics, yellow,black,red,bandana — Flowers for her Hair,29″ x 29″

Many Ways to make Fabric Collages

First, I start by choosing the fabrics and colors that go together. In addition,my design wall helps me to find their “special” spot. Moreover,it is important to decide what will go on top of the space beforehand. Jewelry or a finished iconic piece of fabric may be highlighted like a bandana or an arpillera. If the piece has many busy objects, then there needs to have an open calm space as the background. Popular trends in handcrafts of past generations in the United States were likewise popular in Mexico. Tatting and doily making were crossborder trends. I sometimes choose these for my pieces.

Sewing the Pieces Together

Next I sew the fabric pieces together. Then I pay attention to the order in which I need to sew the items on. Depending on the embellishment, I may quilt the whole top firstand then hand sew on the embellishments afterwards. Artist made 3D figures, flowers and hair bows add interest. Found objects including antique huipil pieces may be used. Colorful ribbons remind one of the movement and action of folkloric dancing. Sometimes I will fuse fun fabric pieces to the top.The whimsy flows.

Mexican inspired — Mexican Fireworks,23″ w x 33″h

Mexican fabric collage — El Senor y La Senora Win Loteria,31″ x31″

In Conclusion

Finally,these fabric collages are fun to sew together and embellish. Furthermore,I hope that you will be inspired to create you own. In addition,please feel free share them with me.

In conclusion,here is a link to some of my favorite blogs. The Thelmdatter posts are historical and informational about the diverse handicrafts made in Mexico. Unfortunately,the blog has been discontinued.

https://creativehandsofmexicodotorg.wordpress.com/author/thelmadatter/

https://annbaldwinmayartquilts.com/2022/07/art-solutions-came-to-me-in-a-dream/

https://annbaldwinmayartquilts.com/2020/07/political-quilts2008-2014/http://ann

https://www.etsy.com/shop/annbmayartquilts

The Joy of Following your Heart

blueVirgen de Guadalupe

The wisdom of the art world says that an artist should develop one identifiable portfolio of work. The audience should be able to recognize the work as work from the artist. At a later date, the artist may move in a different direction.Yet, isn’t following your heart why artists make art?

Following your Heart

My soul directs me to do something different. I must listen. So I have three portfolios that I take turns making; Mexican Inspired Fabric Collages, Nature Art Quilts and Abstract Art Quilts. Usually I make five or more pieces before moving on to another portfolio. The work remains fresh and new to me in this way.

Mexican Inspired Fabric Collages

Mexican themed fabric collage inspiration for listening to myself — De La Sierra, fabric collage

Mexican inspired fabric collages drew me to begin my art career. I gather fabric, details and found objects that I identify with the Mexican experience to use. The art pieces are mostly machine pieced together. Some embellishments require hand sewing. Whimsical, unusual effects are fun to include. To not make them would prevent me from following my heart. I draw on my knowledge of Spanish. I learned so much from my experiences dancing with Los Méxicas, the University of California at Santa Cruz’s Mexican folk dance group. Other influences include my travels to Mexico and my thirty six year elementary school teaching career working mainly with children of immigrants from Mexico. Following your heart takes many forms.

Abstract Art Quilts

an abstract art quilt in pale blue, light green and cream colors — Sandy Shore, an abstract art quilt

“Ann Baldwin May’s quilts are like abstract paintings.” Dave de Give
“Oh, I didn’t realize that the art was a quilt.” I thought it was a painting. A visitor commented during Open Studios art tour. She had only seen a small photo of the abstract work in a catalogue.

No fabric squares or blocks. No patterns. I create color, texture and movement using tucks, decorative threads and fibers with undulating quilting stitches. I use pieces of mostly redirected fabric to create my abstract art quilts. Art quilts free me to use a wide range of colors. Art quilts free me to experiment with unusual fabrics.

Nature Quilts

Tree Along Creek, art quilt, inspiration for listening to myself — Tree Along Creek,art quilt,32″ x 27″ 2019

My third portfolio is my nature quilts. I make trees, landscapes, seascapes and underwater fantasies. These fabric landscape and seascape collage art quilts use the fabric layering technique. I cover them with tulle and free motion quilted together. The tulle remains to hold the pieces in place but it is often invisible. Sheer fabrics and synthetics add a watery effect to the scenes. The art quilts are often colorful and whimsical. Some pieces I call underwater fantasies .

You may be interested in reading more about the techniques I use to create these art quilts.

https://annbaldwinmayartquilts.com/2020/03/fabric-layering-technique-another-look/

https://annbaldwinmayartquilts.com/2020/04/an-abstract-art-quilt-sunset-through-the-forest/

https://annbaldwinmayartquilts.com/2019/11/mexican-inspired-fabric-collages/

https://annbaldwinmayartquilts.com/2019/12/coming-into-my-own-as-an-art-quilter/

https://www.etsy.com/shop/annbmayartquilts

/https://annbaldwinmayartquilts.com/2023/02/see-unfinished-projects-in-a-new-way/

Know Thyself? Myself, the Artist

De La Sierra

Myself, the Artist.I am an artist. The tools I use are fabric, threads, batting and a sewing machine. If you look in my studio, you would see a sewing machine, cutting boards, rotary cutter, scissors and tools generally found in a sewing room or fabric studio. However, the items on the walls are quite foreign to a sewing room. Underwater fantasies, abstract art and maybe a Mexican inspired collage adorn the walls of my studio.

Myself, the Artist

How do you do that?

Sometimes it is hard for people to understand what they are seeing. Perhaps they recognize a fish swimming though kelp. “How did you get it to look like the light is reflecting off of the water? What? It is covered with what? I don’t see it. ” Myself, the artist explains the fabric layering technique. I lay the backing down on a table.Then I lay down the batting (soft center of a quilt). Next, create the scene. Finally, I cover the whole piece with tulle netting. After free motion quilting the layers together the tulle netting disappears. The tulle netting remains on top but it can’t readily be seen. Some nettings have extra sparkles on it that reflects the light like water.This answers the question,what do I do?

Traditional Blocks

Quilt blocks (squares) sewn together to create tradional bed quilts. Those blocks are made from patterns. The patterns may be new or a hundred years old. Myself, the artist comes from that world. I love the charming bed quilts that I have made. I just don’t do that anymore.

No more Patterns

I no longer use commercial patterns. When I buy a pattern, my expectation is that it will be correct. If if is a pattern for clothing, I pay attention to the measurements on the back. I expect the pattern to fit. Since I have been sewing clothes since high school, I have used many patterns for myself and my children. Sadly, more often than not, the clothing made from following these patterns carefully did not always fit.

The last straw for me was when my daughters were 3 and 4 years old. I was working full time. Yet, I wanted to make them each a dress with a pinafore. The pinafores were the same size as the dresses. The pattern had not adjusted them to be bigger to allow them to fit over the dresses. I was so disappointed. The dresses and pinafores were wore separately and loved to death by my daughters. I never bought another pattern after that.

Who created the Fabric Layering Technique?

Laura Fogg created the fabric layering technique. Meri Vahl learned it from her. I learned it from Meri Vahl. We are all art quilters located in Northern California. I create my own landscapes and underwater fantasy scenes from fabric. While the techniques are similar, each art quilt is unique.

An underwater scene including sea dragons,Myself, the Artist — Swimming With Sea Dragons, an art quilt,This is what I make.

Abstract Art Quilts

Abstract art quilts are also visible in my studio. The abstract pieces I make are designed on a design wall. My design wall is a large wall covered with white flannel. The fabric pieces stick to the flannel. I can move the pieces around until they find their spot. High end redirected fabrics from interior designers add a unique quality to my art. I choose solid colors but also fabrics with texture and movement that appeals to me. This answers the question,what do I do?

an abstract art quilt black and white with bits of color,Myself, the Artist — Gridlock II, art quilt This answers the question,what do I make?

Mexican inspired Fabric Collages

Mexican inspired fabric collages add whimsy to my studio. They reflect my love and respect for the Mexican culture. I love playing with the bright colors. Three dimensional found objects may also be hand sewn to the finished top.

whimsical art fabric collage,This answers the question,Myself, the Artist — Shopping With Ladybugs and Lizards, art quilt

Other articles that may be of interest to you.

https://annbaldwinmayartquilts.com/2017/07/underwater-fantasy-art-quilt-a-work-in-progress/

https://annbaldwinmayartquilts.com/2019/12/coming-into-my-own-as-an-art-quilter/

More about my process of making my abstract pieces.

https://annbaldwinmayartquilts.com/2018/05/work-in-progress-winter-sky-sunset/

https://www.etsy.com/shop/annbmayartquilts/

Want to Be More Creative?

American Democracy,2019 3D details are visible.

Are you curious about how to become more creative? Have you ever thought how creativity works? Is someone born with it? Is it a developed skill? Or is it magic? I personally feel that it is a bit of all of those things. But for the most part, creativity is based on a lot of practice, making mistakes and hard work.

Becoming More Creative

They must be a Genius.

I am not very musically inclined. Upon hearing a complicated piece of music, I would wonder how did someone create that? I would have no idea how the piece was put together. I assumed that the artist created the piece all at once. Therefore, they had to be some kind of a genius to be so special and creative.

Creativity is not a Fixed Entity.

More recently after creating many original art quilts, I have a clearer idea of how creativity works. Creativity is not a fixed entity. It must be nurtured and developed. The musicians might be very talented but probably they worked a long time on a particular piece working bit by bit. Maybe even different people contributed different parts. Ever notice that some people write the music and others write the words? People have strengths in different areas.Their genius takes years of practice.

Making Choices

When beginning an art quilt, first I decide what type of quilt I will make. Will it be an abstract, a nature piece or a Mexican inspired fabric collage? Then I begin to choose the colors based on the fabrics and materials that I have. It helps me to have a vague idea of where I am going. But I keep it flexible in case,I want to change things. Sometimes I start by making a lot of really interesting parts to be focal points. It could be a fabric doll, couched decorative threads or ribbons or 3D textural piece.

Plan something. Then Work to make it Better.

For an abstract art quilt, I begin by choosing a three color palette before adding light and dark hues. It is best to have an idea of what I am going to use these special details or parts for so that the colors I choose will work with the project. But there have been instances when these details haven’t worked as first intended. So were put aside and saved for another piece.

After choosing the colors, I take my first steps of laying the pieces on my design wall. Then I ponder, what I could do to make it better. How can I make it more artful or interesting? How can I add texture or movement to the piece? This is an ongoing process. I make those adjustments and continue on.

Fresh Eyes

Taking a break. Coming back to look again with fresh eyes is helpful and necessary. It is amazing how our eyes can fail to see things. Even when trying to look for errors and they are right in front of our face.

In Conclusion

After making over 400 art quilts, I have a clearer idea of how creativity works for me. Time in the studio working to create art is a must. I am motivated by the way different materials work together. Themes or colors may be the same but rarely do my pieces look similar. Serendipity does occur and should be embraced when it happens.

How I Found Inspiration for an Abstract Art Quilt

blue bird — Splendid Fairy Wren from Australia

Inspiration for an Abstract Art Quilt

Most artists will say that inspiration is everywhere. I certainly do agree with that statement. For example,my friend, The Lady Who Loves Birds, https://www.ladywholovesbirds.com/ sent me this photograph of the Splendid Fairy Wren of Australia. Isn’t this an incredible bird? The colors are inspirational. I immediately knew that I had to use the colors in a subsequent abstract art quilt.

First,I gathered by fabrics, medium blue, black and white.

Then, I put the sample fabrics on my design wall.

trying out locations, balancing shapes and colors step2

Next, I sewed some pieces together. I begin to try out locations.

Then, I continue to sew pieces together and find the right spot for them. I look to balance color, shape and details.

black and blue art quilt — on the table pinned , ready to be quilted step4

Finally,after the top is sewn together, I choose the backing fabric. I place it on a table. Then I cover it with the batting and the finished top. I pin the three layers together. This is called a quilt sandwich. Then I quilted the sandwich together using my scribble quilting technique.

Naming the Piece

I usually don’t do political art work. Yet, as I spoke about the quilt and called it by its colors, “my black and blue piece,” something hit home. During the summer of 2019 when I was working on it, I felt like the American democracy was bruised black and blue. American Democracy, 2019 seemed like a logical title.

A Funny thing Happened on the way to my Next Quilt

After I began gathering medium blue, white and black fabrics for American Democracy, 2019, I neglected to refer back to the fairy wren photo. Only after I had finished the piece and did I take another look at it. Much to my surprise, I realized that the bird actually had a lot of purple on it. I immediately set about creating a second piece incorporating more purple. Here is the result, Splendid Fairy Wren, abstract art quilt.

purple black ,white medium blue abstract art quilt — Splendid Fairy Wren
30″ h x 25″ w

https://annbaldwinmayartquilts.com/2019/08/adding-color-to-your-art-quilts/

https://annbaldwinmayartquilts.com/2017/04/scribble-quilting/ https://annbaldwinmayartquilts.com/2017/04/scribble-quilting-part-2-the-process/

black and blue abstract art quilt — American Democracy,2019,28″ h x 27″ w

Helpful Hints

When trying out fabrics, I always start with larger pieces. Then after cutting or fitting in place, they may be much smaller. The sewing takes up some of the fabric. It is always better to have too much than too little.This is the completed art quilt.

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Need Punch? Add Color to your Art Quilts

Splendid Fairy Wren Australia

Adding Color to your Art Quilts

Color is probably the art element that attracts and motivates most artists to begin work. For most people it is the most engaging aspect. For my take on this subject, I am going to focus on how I choose to adding color to my abstract art quilts. In general, I chooose 3-4 colors to work with. Then I find the range of hues from light to dark to add for balance and interest. I often use bright colors while I find a pale palette of beiges and whites to be very calming. I work on a large white flannel design wall.

To begin, Where do I get my ideas? How do I decide on which colors I want to work with? Most of my materials are from FABMO, a non profit that gets castoff materials from designers. Swatches of a wide range of colors with slight variations provide a lot of choices. Here are some ideas I have inspired me to get started.

A Photograph

A friend sent me this photograph of a colorful bird from Australia. Rarely do I work from photographs. I will not be using the bird however, the hues of purple,blue and black will be in an abstract art quilt in the near future.

Look Down

While working on a piece,I tossed the extra fabric in a box on the floor next to me. I did this repeated. At the end of the day, I looked down and saw these wonderful grey and lime green colors together. I gathered them up and put the in a special place to work on later. This was the piece inspired by leftovers. May I note that I usually don’t use these colors.

Lingering Fog,34" x 34" 86 x86 cm 2019, a grey,white and lime green abstract art quilt — Lingering Fog,34″ x 34″ 86 x86 cm 2019

Using Up Materials

Sometimes I just start a project with materials or colors that I want to use up. I might have too big a piece of fabric or too much of one color. Some artists might find this idea very unorthodox or even unsettling. When I started City Lights, I had a pile of blue fabric that I wanted to diminish. Sand Between My Toes allowed me to make use of whites and beiges. Sea Turtles is not an abstract art quilts but I had a large piece of blue synthetic fabric that I used for the background. The turquoise plants are also created from fabric I wanted to use up.

City Lights, lots of blues and purples with pops of other colors, 24" x 22" — City Lights, a fabric art quilt,24″ x 22″

Sea Turtles,an underwater fantasy art quilt,Sea Turtles 35" x 23 " 2014 — Sea Turtles 35″ x 23 ” 2014

an abstract art quilt in pale colors — Sand Between My Toes

Use the Palette of a Commercial Piece of Fabric

A fabric friend suggested this to me several years ago. I have to admit I couldn’t wrap my mind around this idea for a long time. Go to a fabric store. Look at the colors on the commercial fabrics. Very experienced designers work to create these prints. Choose a palette that you would like to use. You don’t need to use the fabric just let the colors inspire you.

In my abstract art quilt, Spring Break I did use some of the fabric. However, the process of chosing the materials was driven by the colors of the original piece of redirected linen. I looked for complementary colors from the fabrics I already had.

Spring Break, an abstract art quilt of blues, yellows and green — Spring Break

Multicolored Blue Linen Fabric — I built the fabrics around this piece of fabric.

In conclusion, inspiration for art can be found in many unusual places. Inspiration comes from spending time in your studio. Keep your mind open and inspiration will appear.

Here are some other articles that you may be interested in.https://annbaldwinmayartquilts.com/2020/03/using-discontinued-fabrics/

https://annbaldwinmayartquilts.com/2017/12/the-amazing-story-of-fabmo-how-two-dedicated-people-can-make-a-big-difference/

https://annbaldwinmayartquilts.com/2020/01/creating-movement-in-abstract-art-quilts/

The following article is about Spring Break, art quilt.

https://annbaldwinmayartquilts.com/2017/09/abstract-art-quilts-a-work-in-progress/

https://www.etsy.com/shop/annbmayartquilts/

How to Create Texture in Art Quilts

Under the Shady Tree detail 2

Creating Texture in Art

Techniques for creating texture on a flat piece objects are subtle. In other posts, I addressed other aspects of my mantra, Color!Texture!Movement! Moreover, adding color or movement creates a bolder statement. Above all,color impacts the viewer first and then movement next. But texture may even go unnoticed. However, now I will share my ideas for creating texture in my art quilts.

Tucks Create Texture

For instance, tucks are small seams sewn on the edge of a fold. Yet, a series of 3-5 tucks create texture. For example, in Upwelling they represent the layers of earth movement. Furthermore,this technique is also helpful to reduce the size of a piece of fabric by just a small amount.

green and teal art quilt with a pop of magenta — Upwelling, 30″ x 34″ Tucks run the width of several pieces to create texture.

Naturally Thick Fabrics

On the other hand,corduroy or other thick fabrics add texture by their nature. Look for fabrics that naturally have an interesting texture like dupioni silk. Unfortunately, these fabrics are often challenging to work with. Most importantly,develop your skills so that you will be able to work with them more easily.

Couching Decorative Threads

In addition,couching (zigzaging)different threads on fabric adds texture. First,I couch threads on long strips. Then I cut the pieces apart to use as fabric. In addition,this is a good way to utilize small pieces of yarn or decorative threads. At the same time,use the same color of thread to emphasize the line aspect of art. in this way,the focus will be on the color of the yarn not the color of stitching thread.

abstract art quilt in golds and light browns,Desert Sands, 16" x 21" 2015 — Desert Sands, 16″ x 21″ 2015

Three Dimensional Objects

Furthermore,add texture with 3D objects. In addition,artistic people may create their own 3D object using fibers. Here I included two fabric figures that I had previously made. Similarly,on the male figure, I added a serape for the Mexican theme. Likewise,embroidery thread hair,jewelry and lace completed the female’s figure.Finally,I added found plastic objects.

a Mexican inspired 3D art quilt — El Senor y La Senora Win Loteria

True Confessions Time

Ultimately,sometimes I am motivated by just using up materials. What items can I add to my art to finish it up? As a result, this random technique led me to a positive ending. I had about 8 designer samples of short threads in different colors wrapped together. Spontaneously I decided to add them to the foot of a tree. Don’t they look like grass? Boy! did this work!

a tree with a fence,fabric art,
Under the Shady Tree, 37" x 25" 2019 — Under the Shady Tree, 37″ x 25″ 2019

decorative threads are used to look like plants growing at the base of the tree — Under the Shady Tree detail 2

Start with Fiber

Fun With Fiber 6, Fiber container holds southwestern fabrics, burlap background — Fun With Fiber 6

Start with fiber. Here I used a redirected folded fiber piece. I added a found Mexican(Aztec inspired) clay head and redirected fabrics. Then I attached it to a highly textured piece of burlap.

In conclusion, the techniques to add texture include tucks, thicker fabrics, couching decorative threads, and adding three dimensional objects. There must be other ways to add texture.
Do you know of any? Please respond with your suggestions. I am open to new ideas.

How to Create Movement in Abstract Art Quilts

These articles may also be of interest to you.

https://annbaldwinmayartquilts.com/2020/04/an-abstract-art-quilt-sunset-through-the-forest/
https://annbaldwinmayartquilts.com/2017/06/couching-threads-and-creating-fabri/

https://annbaldwinmayartquilts.com/2019/01/couching-zigzag-…-to-art-quilts-2/

How to Improve Your Next Art Quilt

https://www.etsy.com/shop/annbmayartquilts/

How to Create Movement in Art Quilts

Winter Sunset greys,pinks and purple fabric in this abstract art quilt.

Creating Movement in Art

Above all as an artist I am interesting in creating movement in art.That is how I answered this question.“What are the essential elements you want your audience to know about your work? What do you want them to take away from seeing your art? “ asked a fiber artist friend.

She is well versed in the deep discussions generated by involvement with the Artist Conference Network. The ideas I had been thinking about came together. The question brought my ideas into focus; color, texture, movement. At this time I would like to address creating movement in my abstract art quilt pieces.

Subtle Wavy Lines

How does one make movement on something that is inherently static and flat? At first, I attempted to make every seam a curved line. That turned out to be a poor choice that affected the over all shape of the piece. I learned some straight lines are important for shape and balance. Another true life lesson learned, the importance of balance. Choose seams carefully for the visual impact. They may be wildly or gently shaped curves.

Activity on the Material

To begin, I choose the fabrics with movement in mind. I look for interestingly curved shapesthat are part of the fabric’s design. When I cut them up, they add interest and drama. They catch the eye and draw it in.

When I first selected this fabric of elongated greyhound dogs, I didn’t even notice the dogs just the colors and the shapes. I couched threads, rotated the fabric and then sliced the fabric into usable pieces. The shape of the animals disappeared yet the movement of their bodies remained. Other fabrics provide a pop of action to the piece. Creating the illusion of movement is an essential part of my abstract art quilts.

grey and black dogs — Greyhounds with some couching of yarn

black and white branches on an indigo died background — Skyward, the finished art quilt

Couching Decorative Threads

Couching decorative threads is another technique that is an essential part of my tool box. I sew multiple colored threads or yarns on to a strip of fabric. Then I cut them up into random lengths and use them as fabric. At first,the main purpose was to add texture to my pieces. Yet, sewing the threads in undulating parallel lines creates the slightest of distortion and movement.

An abstract art quilt with lavander,pink, and grey colors — Long strips of cotton with the threads couched on them.

Adding Tucks

Adding tucks is another technique that started out as a way to add texture to a piece. However, movement was created at the same time. Tucks are small seams that run along the folded edge of fabric. When quilting over a series of parallel tucks they are folded up or down. This creates an illusion of movement.

Using the Design Wall

I create my abstracts on a design wall. I take time to balance the colors, fabrics, and quiet spaces for eyes to rest. Looking at the piece with fresh eyes may take several days or longer before sewing all the pieces together. Abstract artists have the added benefit of being able to rotate the completed piece. They check to see if viewing the piece from another direction it may actually improves it. It just might happen. Just because it was conceived and executed in one direction doesn’t mean that it cannot look better “upside down.”

Creating Movement While Quilting

In addition, the quilting process adds movement. I begin quilting in the middle of the piece making basically a large grid about 5” apart. Then the fun begins. I start quilting from corner to corner gently turning the fabric slightly side to side as I quilt. The thread line creates the movement. If the thread color contrasts with the fabric color, then the threads stand out. When the thread color matches the fabric, the thread may seem to disappear, yet the movement remains on a more subtle level. Many viewers look closer to try and understand how that affect can be.

an abstract art quilt using African fabrics — Mossy Rocks, an art quilt

“It Dances.”

A former colleague of mine made an unsolicited comment about my work, “It dances.” Her remark touched me on several levels. Years earlier she admitted that she had no interest in attending an art quilt show. So when I heard her comment, I felt that I had truly opened her eyes to a new art form.

The Importance of Movement in Art Quilts

As you can tell movement in an art quilt is important to me. Yet not all art quilters share my view. A trend in quilting art quilts seems to be creating as many stitching lines on a piece as possible. These lines tend to be straight lines with about ¼” spacing . They may turn at sharp corners.

Does your quilting squash your fabric?

While attending a recent national art quilt shows, I noticed that almost 75% of the quilts had such quilting. I admit that such narrow line quilting may be effective for some pieces. The skill level is high for the artists that work that way. However, this style makes me cringe. Squashing and smashing the fabric into flat controlled pieces actually saddens me.Such tight stitching suffocates the fabric preventing it from moving or breathing.

In Conclusion

I create movement in several ways in my abstract art pieces. Some pieces of fabric are chosen based on their design element of movement. Couching decorative threads and tucks into gently waving lines adds subtle movement. Pieces are sewn together in a curve line piecing technique. Finally the artist generates wavy lines all over the piece quilting the three layers of fabric together.

Other resources that you may be interested in.

You may be interested in finding out more about the Artist Conference Network. It is an artist driven organization supporting artists as their more towards their artistic goals. Groups meet periodically to share and review each artist’s goals.

Home

https://annbaldwinmayartquilts.com/2017/04/scribble-quiltin…rt-2-the-process/

https://annbaldwinmayartquilts.com/2017/04/scribble-quilting/

https://annbaldwinmayartquilts.com/2017/06/couching-threads…d-creating-fabri/

https://annbaldwinmayartquilts.com/2019/01/couching-zigzag-…-to-art-quilts-2/

How to Improve Your Next Art Quilt

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Is it Important to Frame an Art Quilt?

How to Create Movement in Abstract Art Quilts

Several Works in Progress

Art Quilts at New York Art

Sand Between My Toes

Ann Baldwin May Art Quilts proudly announces that the following abstract art quilts are now on display on the website of New York Art; Beach Umbrellas, Sand Between My Toes, and Sunlit Boulders. They will be displayed in the future in the New York Art Gallery, 7 Franklin Place , TriBeCa, New York,10013.

https://newyorkart.com/search?q=ann+baldwin+may

https://newyorkart.com/

Turquoise, yellow , and green fabrics in this bright art quiltArt Quilts at New York Art — Beach Umbrellas, 37″ x37″ 2016

Brown, green and cream colors of fabric in this art quilt,Art Quilts at New York Art — Sunlit Boulders
31″ x28″ 2016

Light colored fabrics with a pop of gold and blue in this art quilt,Art Quilts at New York Art — Sand Between My Toes 30″ x 25″ 2015

https://annbaldwinmayartquilts.com/2021/02/visual-arts-network-santa-cruz-county/

How to make an Abstract Art Quilt with Sunset Through the Forest as as an example.

How to Get Started

choose Your colors

First, I prefer to choose a few contrasting colors. Then I search through my materials for fabrics, decorative yarns and threads in those colors. Sometimes I also choose lighter and darker hues of the same colors.

Make details with decorative threads.

Next, it is fun to make patterns with the decorative threads. For this piece I used the decorative threads to make several parallel lines on the fabric. I cut long strips and sewed the decorative threads in long lines.Then I randomly cut the long strips into 3 or other odd number of pieces. Creating texture- done!

green yellow bits — Several different examples of decorative details

On the Design Wall

Next, I display the potential finalist fabrics on my design wall. My favorite choices are fabrics with movement and interest. Then, I also make sure that they are places for eyes to rest by including solid colors.

green yellow bits on design wall — Trying out green and yellow bits of fabric randomly placed on the design wall

Balancing Colors

Next, balance out the colors and textured pieces so that they are not all on one side of the piece. Don’t be afraid to take a break to come back to view the work with fresh eyes. A fresh look is always helpful in looking for ways to improve a piece. How will one’s eyes move around the art work? Elimination of fabrics can still take place.

green yellow farther along — Balancing the fabrics and colors

Sewing Smaller Pieces Together

Continue to sew small pieces of fabrics together. Then remember to balance colors and fabrics so that they are equally spaced about the piece. Use this advantage of a design wall to view your whole piece.

Sunset Through Forest, art quilt — Small pieces are sewn together

Sewing More Pieces Together

Continue sewing pieces together and checking for balance.

finished top Sunset Through Forest — finished top, Sunset Through the Forest

Finishing

Lastly,I scribble quilt the three layers together to create an added level of movement. Scribble quilting is a technique I named using a flowing quilting line created by moving the quilt side to side while quilting with a walking foot.

Time to Learn about the Newest Art Genre-Art Quilts

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Sea Dragons? Who Doesn’t Love Them?

Seadragon with Yellow Fish

See Sea Dragon Exhibit at Birch Aquarium

Sea Dragons Exhibit at Aquarium,Birch Aquarium,San Diego.

All things considered Seadragons & Seahorses, Birch Aquarium’s new permanent exhibition that brings seadragon conservation to the forefront. Above all,the exhibition is home to Weedy Seadragons and several species of seahorses and pipefish.

For the first time ever, Birch Aquarium has successful bred Weedy Seadragons behind the scenes of this exhibit. In short,only a handful of aquariums around the world have bred these unusual fish. The babies are not on display, but you can learn more about their exciting birth on our Seadragon Breeding Program page.

Sea Dragons Exhibit at Aquarium — Birch Aquarium,Scripps San Diego,CA

Why Seadragons and Seahorses?

The husbandry of seadragons is increasingly vital due to the impacts of climate change, warming oceans, and illegal collection of wild populations, whose numbers are still widely unknown.

Birch Aquarium has been successfully rearing seahorses in captivity for nearly 25 years. Similarly, that makes us a leader in the field. Furthermore,we hope this new exhibit will result in our first successful seadragon breeding.

Weedy Seadragons

Surprisingly,these seahorse cousins use their bright coloration and seaweed-like appendages to hide among the kelp-covered rocky reefs of temperate southern Australian waters.

Monterey Bay Aquarium

From the first time I saw sea dragons at the Monterey Bay Aquarium, I was fascinated. Was it a plant? Was it an animal? Seadragons and sea horses are surprisingly cousins. Unfortunately, for the interested public the Monterey Bay Aquarium exhibit is no longer. The sea dragons returned to the wild as the Aquarium often does.

I have created several art quilts inspired by the sea dragons. However, nothing is quite like seeing the real animal. That is why I was so excited to hear of this new exhibit and the excitement that it is generating.

https://annbaldwinmayartquilts.com/2019/01/collider-event-displays/

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How to See Much Art in a Day?Juried Open Studios 2019

Juried Open Studios 2019

Announcing my participation in the juried Juried Open Studios 2019. Sponsered by the Arts Council of Santa Cruz County.
Saturday and Sunday, October 5-6 , October 19-20. Moreover,my venue is at the Santa Cruz Art Center, 1001 Center St. located in the Historic Downtown Santa Cruz. Above all, I fill the lobby with Color! Texture! Movement! from11 to 5 pm each weekend. In addition,free motion quilting and curved line piecing demonstrations take place throughout the day.

Juried Open Studios Tour 2019 — Lingering Fog, art quilt

County Wide Event

Similarly,artists from all over the county open up their studios for three weekends in October. As a result of so many artists residing in the county, the group is divided in half. One part participates on the first weekend of the month. The second part participates on the second weekend of the month. After that,any artist can open their studios for the third weekend called the encore weekend.

bright blues, greens and yellow fabrics in this art quilt Juried Open Studios Tour 2019 — Beach Umbrellas,an abstract art quilt

This will be my fourth year of participation in the Open Studios Tour featuring over 300 artists. Although my studio is small for Open Studios and First Fridays, I hang my art quilts in the lobby of Santa Cruz Art Center. I fill the artium or lobby with Color! Texture and Movement! There is room for from 10-20 large art quilts.

You may also be interested in these links.https://www.artscouncilsc.org/

https://www.etsy.com/shop/annbmayartquilts/

https://annbaldwinmayartquilts.com/2021/02/visual-arts-network-santa-cruz-county/

See my art, ATLAS Revisited in Art Quilting Studio

Art Quilting Magazine cover, June,2019

ATLAS Revisited

ATLAS Revisited, an art quilt inspired by the ATLAS at CERN is on page 127 of the Summer Edition,2019 of Art Quilting Magazine.

Collaboration between local artists and PhD physics candidates

First, Dr. Stephanie Bailey, Physics professor at the University of California, Santa Cruz announced collaboration between local artists and PhD physics candidates. My daughter‘s boyfriend is a physicist. As a result, this former history major thought that participation would be a good way for me to connect with him. However, my student collaborator studies theoretical physics. First,he showed me photos online of collider event displays. Smashing subatomic particles together creates a collider event display.They create predictable patterns and colors. Some look amazingly like fiber. I choose a photo of ATLAS at CERN to make my art quilt.

Techniques

Generally, I don’t work from a photograph. My inspiration usually comes from how the materials play with one another. However, due to the special circumstances of theoretical physics, I was forced to work from a photo. This required me to work backwards. I usually don’t do that. Working backwards entails thinking through each process of making your art piece before getting started. I had to figure out what would go on last. I had to have an idea of where I would end up and the steps to get there before even starting.

After that,I chose my fabrics based on the colors of the photograph. I had to eliminate some aspects of the photo due to size limitations. I hand stitched a running stitch of contrasting embroidery thread for some pieces. For others I strip pieced and then cut them apart. I made the starburst in the center by couching or zig zagging yarn. Light machine quilting was done by curved line stitching I call scribble quilting. See all of the collaboration art pieces at the R. Blitzer Gallery in Santa Cruz, California March, 2019.

https://annbaldwinmayartquilts.com/press-coverage/

Links that might interest you.

https://annbaldwinmayartquilts.com/2018/07/inspiration-and-the-collider-event/

https://annbaldwinmayartquilts.com/2019/01/collider-event-displays/

https://stampington.com/art-quilting-studio/

https://www.physics.ucsc.edu/faculty/Faculty-Awards/index.html

https://www.etsy.com/shop/annbmayartquilts/

New Kind of Talk-Pechakucha Laser Talk

Spring Break, 32" x32", $695.

Pechakucha Laser Talk

First of all,I prepared this Pechakucha laser talk in anticipation of presenting it at an art quilt meeting. The Pechakucha,a Japanese word for chitchat. To clarify it is a format that gives a speaker a limited amount of time to discuss a topic. For example, I would have 4 minutes to present a limited number of photos to on one topic. At the same time,numerous presenters of a variety of topics are able to share. That is to say that I prepared to discuss my passion for making art quilts from redirected materials. Moreover,FABMO, a local nonprofit is where I get my materials from. http://fabmo.org

My Art Quilt World

To begin,I do nature art quilts, abstracts and Mexican inspired fabric collages. Furthermore, I am very passionate about using redirected materials and threads to keep them out of the landfill. My inspiration comes from the materials I find at FABMO . I have been a volunteer there for many years. To clarify,I brought photos from three pieces that I completed recently to present at this Pechakucha laser talk. So I could share the process with you.

Spring Break, an art quilt

Blues , greens and light colors on a piece of linen,Pechakucha laser talk — Paisley pattern on linen

First I choose the fabric, Here is the material I started with. I liked the variety of color and decided to use the colors as a basis of an abstract art quilt.

green and blue pieces of fabric on a design wall,Pechakucha laser talk — Step 1 Beginning to place pieces on the design wall randomly

Next, I couched decorative threads and yarns with the idea of making interesting details. Then I cut up the strips randomly to use as fabric. Following that trying out other fabrics on the design wall.You can see several examples of redirected couched ribbon and yarn on different colored fabric.

Blue, yellow and green fabrics with ribbon and yarn couched on it,Pechakucha laser talk

Finally,the completed piece using scribble quilting. Scribble quilting moves the quilt side to side while quilting to create flowing lines of sewing.

Skyward, an art quilt

grey and black dogs,Pechakucha laser talk — Greyhounds

Black and grey dogs on a white background,Pechakucha laser talk — Greyhounds in another direction

Originally, I chose this FABMO fabric for the movement and stark lines. But when choosing the fabric,I didn’t even noticed the dogs. They were not of interest for me. First,I began to couch green and black threads.

Redirected yarn is couching on the black and white material,Pechakucha laser talk — Here, I zigzagged a variety of colors.

Then,I continued couching other colored threads. Some of these threads were light blue but read more like grey against the light grey part of the fabric.

Black and white fabric cut into form branches on a blue sky ,Pechakucha laser talk — Can you believe that the tree is made from the same material?

Finally, I was ready to use the fabric to create tree branches. Using the fabric layering technique,I laid the back fabric down on the table.Of course the back is also another piece of material from FABMO. I covered it with batting and I laid an indigo dyed piece on top for the sky background.

Completed piece of black and white branches on a sky blue background.Pechakucha laser talk — The finished art quilt just showed the tree tops.

The finished piece,Skyward,succeeds in its interplay of light and dark on the branches. On the other hand,one doesn’t notice the dogs at all.

Under the Shady Tree, an art quilt

A leafy tree leans over a fence. — The finished art quilt, Under the Shady Tree made from redirected materials.

Next is the finished piece of under the Shady Tree. Aficionados of redirected materials may recognize the fence fabric. To clarify, I used the fabric layering technique.

Tree branches with leaves fallingPechakucha laser talk — Unusual materials can be used in unique ways.

Furthermore,notice several leaves with bluish and gold colors. To be clear,I used a multicolored synthetic knit that kept rolling up in other projects. I couched it to help it lay flat. Then I cut it into leaves.

tree branches against a beige background — a different view

Last but not least,Shiny sheer fabrics add interest.

Multicolored threads around the base of the tree,Pechakucha laser talk — Take apart details and see what interesting fibers one can find.

Creating Texture

Moreover,texture is created by taking apart fabric details. They can be used as bunches of threads to add interest. One can also find decorative threads,ribbon and small cording . Lastly, I laid it on the foreground , covered it with tulle netting and free motioned quilted the three layers together.

To sum up,I am all about color, texture, and movement which I create using redirected materials. Thank you for letting me share some of my recent works with you.

In conclusion, learn more about these techniques.

https://annbaldwinmayartquilts.com/2020/03/fabric-layering-technique-another-look/

https://annbaldwinmayartquilts.com/2017/04/wacky-fun-quilting-again/

To learn or refresh your memory about this all volunteer organization you may read the following article.
https://annbaldwinmayartquilts.com/2017/12/the-amazing-stor…a-big-difference/

‎https://annbaldwinmayartquilts.com/2019/12/coming-into-my-own-as-an-art-quilter/

http://annbmayartquilts.etsy.com/

https://annbaldwinmayartquilts.com/2018/11/use-redirected-fabric-in-art-quilts/

https://www.etsy.com/shop/annbmayartquilts/

Social Justice Sewing Academy Making the World Better One Quilt at a Time

Academy of Social Justice

SARAH C. RICH JAN 2, 2019

sjsa-3 — (Photo: Courtesy of the Social Justice Sewing Academy)

The afternoon quilting workshop at Hillcrest Elementary School in San Francisco, California, meets in a mobile classroom behind the main building. After the school day is over. Then sixteen kids have walked across the basketball court, dropped their backpacks, and headed for a table piled high with colorful fabric. Then they cut out silhouettes and gluing block letters.For example, a red appliqué stop sign reads Stop Deportation. Or the letters LGBTQ underscore a feminine face with a small of a black mustache. Then the caption says Let Me Be Me.

Sara Trail

Sara Trail, the 23-year-old founder of the Social Justice Sewing Academy organizes these quilting bees for activist youth. She’s raced over from her day job teaching high school courses to incarcerated adults.

Inspired by Trayvon Martin’s death

Trail says that social justice work became urgent for her when she was a high school senior in the wealthy Bay Area suburb of Walnut Creek. It was February of 2012, she recalls, and she’d just celebrated her 17th birthday. On the opposite side of the country, a boy she didn’t know had also just turned 17. Someone she might never have heard of except that shortly after his birthday, he was killed.His slaying made national news. It was Trayvon Martin.

Trail was one of the few black kids in her neighborhood. When Martin was killed, she says, she didn’t yet fear the police. She says that her parents were protective and focused on scholarly achievements. “I did swimming and reading and piano,” Trail says. However, from age four, she sewed. Quilting enabled Trail to express the intense feelings that Martin’s death aroused.After that, ” I started making my first art quilt,” she says, “which was Trayvon’s face.”

A few months later, she began her freshman year at the University of California,Berkeley. In addition,she also began tutoring at a nearby public school. Then,she decided to try using craft as a way for students to comment on the issues that touched their own lives.

Quilting and Social Justice

Quilting might seem too quiet and slow to hold teenagers’ attention. But it has always been a kind of social media. For centuries, quilting circles have been a space for women to discuss their lives and to seek support. Quilts themselves have served as a mode of communication where others failed or posed a threat.

a small grant

At the end of her senior year at Berkeley, Trail founded the Social Justice Sewing Academy with a small grant. She used the money to buy sewing machines, supplies, and public transit tickets for students. In the mornings, she taught ethnic studies and critical consciousness. In the afternoons, the issues would inspire sketches for a quilt square. I paid attention to the student’s interests.If they mentioned redlining, then we would look at maps of their area. Later they would find out how many buildings had been foreclosed. Research how many families were given predatory loans Trail says.

Seasoned Quilters Help Out

Trail built a worldwide network of seasoned quilters through Instagram. She mails the students’ fabric squares for final stitching to the experienced quilters. Most of them are older, white, and living in places where they rarely come into direct contact with youth from disadvantaged backgrounds. However, they are eager to help and share their skills.

“C is for Colorism”

Bianca Mercado participated in an Social Justice Sewing Academy workshop as a 17-year-old at her high school in Massachusetts. She created an alphabet quilt with 26 social justice statements. Her “C is for Colorism” block was mailed to Colleen Haraden-Gorski, a water-resource specialist in California. Haraden-Gorski researched color discrimination. Then she decided to stitch in a rectangle of brown fabric with a script reading brown paper bag. The added detail refers to the custom among African Americans to compare their skin tones to brown paper.

Touring Around the Country

Now, Mercado’s quilt is touring exhibitions around the country. Moreover, it often hangs among more traditional patterns, surprising viewers accustomed to tamer geometries. From the quiet patchwork of fabric, the young artist’s voice speaks loud and clear.

In Conclusion

The Social Justice Sewing Academy now has branches all over the country. Due to the work of Sara Trail, her dream has expanded.https://annbaldwinmayartquilts.com/2020/07/political-quilts2008-2014/

http://annbmayartquilts.etsy.com/

sjsa-2 — (Photos: Courtesy of the Social Justice Sewing Academy)

sjsa-1 — (Photos: Courtesy of the Social Justice Sewing Academy

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Sometimes Working Backwards is the only Way to Create

ATLAS from CERN, 30" w x 32", $4200.

Create art by working backwards.

Working backwards means thinking through each process of making your art piece before getting started. To create this collider event display, I had to figure out what would go on last. Then I thought about what each previous step backwards would be. What steps would I need to get to the finished product?That worked fairly well except for slight changes at the end.

Working backwards is a Different Way of Thinking

Working backwards to create art is a new and different way of thinking for me. Usually,I create my art quilts differently. As each part is completed, I reflect on what I can do to make it better or more artisitic. Generally, I don’t work from a photograph. I complete one step before even thinking about the next part. Motivation and inspiration comes from how the materials play together. Working backwards is a different way of thinking for me.

Reflecting

I reflect on how I can make it more engaging as each part is completed. Then finally, how the quilting might enhance the piece. For better or for worse,I rarely consider the quilting until the top is finished. But the whole point of this collaboration is to look at a project in a new way.

Beginning Steps to Create Art by Working Backwards

Choosing fabric and detail stitches

Running stitch with yellow embroidery thread.working backwards — 3.Running stitch with yellow embroidery thread

green, yellow , black fabrics sewn together in a starburst design,working backwards — 4. Attempting to create the starburst effect

Changes

Several fairly large changes happened at this point. I wanted to cover the cream oval with yarn to create a shadow as in the photo. But the effect wasn’t what I wanted. Luckily, the fabric was loosely woven together so I was able to pick out the threads one by one until they were gone.

Do I have to match the photo?

I also struggled with matching the photo. When I gave myself permission to not match the photo and make a work of art to my liking, I felt much better. I finished the quilt with my artist judgement in mind.

edges turned to the back and handsewn ,working backwards — 6. The finished art quilt

In Summary

With this collaboration I adjusted my decision making processes. Photographs of the collider event displays(CED) were mandatory. My collaborator showed me some collider event displays that he felt would lend themselves to work in fabric and yarn. I chose several from the suggested group.

Thinking Ahead

Using a photo as a guide, I had to have an idea of what each step would be, before beginning at all. I almost always use fabric that I have on hand. The size of that fabric then determines the size of the piece. If I quilted the three layers together first,then I could know the exact size that the CED would have to be. I had seen other art quilters quilt their work first, so it wasn’t a new idea. Just something that I had never done.

Pay Attention When Going Backwards

You have to pay attention to where you are going when walking backwards or working backwards. Working backwards just takes a bit more of a plan. It is a lot more safe than walking backwards.

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I Love Mistakes-Learn from Them.

We all make mistakes but then learn from them. I Love Mistakes-Learn from them. I would like to share some mistakes that I have learned from. All mistakes are not bad. Errors are often touted as being something to avoid. Keeping one’s mind open can lead to embrasing errors as a good discovery. Postits and the microwave oven, for example, were originally mistakes.

grasses in the wetlands with a moon overhead,Mistakes that I have Not Regretted — Grasses in the wetlands with a moon overhead

A Fabric Layering Technique Example

While working on a wetlands fabric layering piece, some fabric turned under at the top. This unexpectedly added movement and added interest to the marsh. I continued doing it and added it to my toolbox. I Love Mistakes. Learn from them.

An Abstract Example

One example is how I discovered a signature detail of mine by mistake. When working on abstract pieces, I generally first pull out all of the possible fabrics within my chosen range of colors. A particular color was missing. Not finding a bigger amount, I solved my problem by sewing some small pieces together at odd angles to make a large enough piece of material. It pleased me,I liked the way it looked.

I Love Mistakes-Learn from them.

This example is how I discovered a signature detail of mine by mistake. I started to do it more. sewing small pieces of fabric together (about 1-1 1/2″ long) that had been trimmed off other pieces. Not wanting to waste any fabric anyway, I now often include some small pieces sewn together to each of my abstracts. I is now my signature detail.

greys,pinks and purple fabric in this abstract,Mistakes that I have Not Regretted — Greys,pinks and purple fabric in this abstract art quilt

Tension Takes Over

Another example is the day the tension on my machine seemed to have a mind of its own. The sewing machine started to pull the bobbin thread from the bottom up to the top of the fabric. Stitches looked like dots. I liked the effect. I tried it using different colored threads. Using a cream colored fabric,I preferred a black thread on the bobbin(bottom) and a cream colored thread for the top. I adjusted the tension so that the bottom thread would pull up and create dots .

white fabric with black thread pulling to the top — stitches with poor tension

decorative stitches created by black thread being pulled to the top of white fabric — Knots, detail showing stitching with poor tension

In Conclusion

Keep an open mind towards mistakes. Are they interesting? Do they make your piece more interesting? Then accept your mistake. Learn to love and accept mistakes.Learn from them. Add the technique to your toolkit and use it. Embrace new discoveries.

https://annbaldwinmayartquilts.com/2017/09/inspiration-from-one-fabric/

https://annbaldwinmayartquilts.com/product/grey-laotian-reverse-applique/

https://www.etsy.com/shop/annbmayartquilts/

How to Start An Art Conversation

Ann Baldwin May Art Quilts

Starting An Art Conversation

The art conversation must start wherever the art viewer is. Everyone is certainly familiar with the materials I use to make my art, fabric. When the art viewing public has a personal experience with your artistic materials does this have a positive or negative effect on how they view your art? Does it make the art seem less worthy of their attention or somehow less valued? Or just the opposite?

The Fabric of our Lives

I create art quilts, wall art from fabric,the material that literally the whole world has a relationship with. Many times I repurpose the fabric of my own clothing into my art.When we go shopping for clothes, touching the fabric is part of our decision making process. What will it feel like against the skin? The Do Not Touch signs in my studio does not always deter everyone. We are used to touching fabric.

Start with Gramma’s quilt and move on

Often we share a common experience about a grandmother’s handmade quilt. Creating bridges in communication is helpful.This beginning must move on to a discussion of the actual art or the process to make the piece. No matter the artistic form, the conversation begins where the studio visitors are. Then it can move forward to explain the different processes.

I explain that I often use redirected materials from the San Francisco Design Center. This affords me interesting fabrics that are unique and definately not available at a quilt shop. Quilt shops cater to traditional quilters who must use 100% cotton because their quilts need to be washed. My wall art does not need to be washed.I am free to use unusual fabrics.

Remarks from Visitors to my studio Worth Repeating

“Oh, I didn’t realize that it was fabric! “

“Looking at your art is like taking a mini vacation!”

“You are taking an old art and making it new.”

From the comments I have heard, it is easy to believe that people recognize art when they see it no matter the materials.

https://annbaldwinmayartquilts.com/2020/04/forging-your-own-art-path/

Learn more about art quilts from SAQA, Studio Art Quilt Associates.

http://www.saqa.com/

https://www.etsy.com/shop/annbmayartquilts/

Something New? Is That a Quilt? Wow!

Wow! Is That a Quilt?

That’s a Quilt? Wow! That’s a quilt!

Come and be surprised yourself! Most importantly, a lobby full of abstracts and fabric trees! See lots of new small minimalist assemblage made during the shutdown in addition. A studio full of underwater fantasies and Mexican inspired fiber art. Similarly also available are throw pillows, artful king sized pillow cases, art on mouse pads and mug rugs, Mexican inspired fabric collages or abstract wall art. Certainly,found objects and redirected materials are always a possibility.

https://annbaldwinmayartquilts.com/product/girls-play-sports/

Other smaller items available. For example, very large fabric gift bags, $20. or free with purchase over $100.
Open Studios 11-5pm second and third weekends in
Oct.9-10,Oct. 16-17,2021
Santa Cruz Art Center 1001 Center St. Downtown Santa Cruz,CA.95060

Wow! That's a Quilt? — greys,pinks and purple fabric in this astract

Open Studios 2021

In short,artists from all over the county open up their studios for three weekends in October. In addition there are so many artists that the county is divided in half. First,one part participates on the first weekend of the month. Next,the second part participates on the second weekend of the month. However,any artists can choose whether to open their studios for the third weekend called the encore weekend. Furthermore,there is a free app to help people navigate all of the artists. You can find the location of other nearby studios. The app tells you how far away another studio is.

In the Beginning

In the beginning,Mexican inspired fabric collages drew me to begin my art career. I use fabric, details and found objects that I identify with the Mexican experience. Moreover,these art pieces are mostly machine pieced together. However,some embellishments require hand sewing. Whimsical, unusual effects are certainly fun to include.

https://annbaldwinmayartquilts.com/2019/11/following-your-heart/

https://www.etsy.com/shop/annbmayartquilts/

https://annbaldwinmayartquilts.com/2021/04/birds-in-art-quilts/

Time to Learn about the Newest Art Genre-Art Quilts

Ann Baldwin May Art Quilts

Newest Art Genre-Art Quilts

The newest art genre-art quilts are one of the newest genres to enter the field of art. Back in 1989 The Studio Art Quilt Associates(SAQA)https://www.saqa.com/ began in Northern California by a group of about 50 artists. As a result,it has now spread across the globe and grown into a membership of over 4000. Yet,not all quilt artists use the same techniques nor materials. After that,there is a wide variation. Fabric is the medium. Likewise,two or three layers of fabric may be used for the final product.

Studio Art Quilt Associates(SAQA)

Since their start,SAQA promotes art quilts as fine art. From SAQA’s website, Studio Art Quilt Associates, Inc. (SAQA) is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to promote the art quilt: “a creative visual work that is layered and stitched or that references this form of stitched layered structure.”
Over the past 30 years, SAQA has grown into a dynamic and active community of nearly 4,000 artists, curators, collectors, and art professionals located around the world. Our vision is that the art quilt is universally respected as a fine art medium.

In addition,SAQA offers a wide range of resources for its members. Consequently,the entries in their shows are of the highest quality and expression.

The Fabric of our Lives

First of all,clothing or fabric is near and dear to our hearts. We all wear clothes for our whole lives, sometimes twenty four hours a day. Furthermore,we wrap ourselves in extra layers to stay warm. That is to say that quilts represent home, love and well being especially at night. Moreover, idioms in various languages attest to the depth of fabric’s affect. In the same vein,the texture of its weave reaches deep into cultures, past and present.

A Family Member’s Quilts

To begin,many conversations that I have had about art quilts start with a reference to a family member’s hand made quilts. This bothers some artists who want to distance themselves from seamstresses and the bed quilters. Not me though, I started out making bed quilts. In other words,I know the pull and charm of them, notwithstanding the love they embody. Abstract art or fabric collages use similar techniques as traditional quilts. Yet their function is quite different. They are not diminished by the quilts people wrap themselves in.

Shared Experiences

Furthermore,creating bridges in communication is more helpful than not. We have a possible entry to conversation through our shared experience with fabric. Yet, for the artist,this beginning must move on to a discussion of the actual art or the process to make the piece.

Museums

Above all,top notch museums have shed light on quilt artists with their gallery shows. This has helped to elevate the interest and value of all art quilters. Only then can the art viewing public begin to understand fabric as part of the artist’s palette of materials.

Long may this newest art genre-art quilts prosper and grow! Feel free to ask questions to further your own knowledge.

https://www.etsy.com/shop/annbmayartquilts/

https://annbaldwinmayartquilts.com/2020/05/mexican-drawn-thread-work-by-leigh-thelmadatter/

https://annbaldwinmayartquilts.com/2017/08/eli-leon-collector-of-quilts-and-other-items/

https://annbaldwinmayartquilts.com/2019/12/african-american-quilts/

Art Museum inherits 3,000 African American Quilts

A Gift of nearly 3,000 Quilts

The Unusual Gift

Stories of Communities of Color

Major Commitments

It’s Art Art

Adventurous Designs

Funds for Conservation

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Mexican Inspired Fabric Collages

Most Importantly to honor the Indigenous People

Many Ways to make Fabric Collages

Sewing the Pieces Together

In Conclusion

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Following your Heart

Mexican Inspired Fabric Collages

Abstract Art Quilts

Nature Quilts

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Myself, the Artist

How do you do that?

Traditional Blocks

No more Patterns

Who created the Fabric Layering Technique?

Abstract Art Quilts

Mexican inspired Fabric Collages

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Becoming More Creative

They must be a Genius.

Creativity is not a Fixed Entity.

Making Choices

Plan something. Then Work to make it Better.

Fresh Eyes

In Conclusion

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Inspiration for an Abstract Art Quilt

Naming the Piece

A Funny thing Happened on the way to my Next Quilt

Helpful Hints

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Adding Color to your Art Quilts

A Photograph

Look Down

Using Up Materials

Use the Palette of a Commercial Piece of Fabric

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Creating Texture in Art

Tucks Create Texture

Naturally Thick Fabrics

Couching Decorative Threads

Three Dimensional Objects

True Confessions Time

Start with Fiber

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Creating Movement in Art

Subtle Wavy Lines

Activity on the Material

Couching Decorative Threads

Adding Tucks

Using the Design Wall

Creating Movement While Quilting

“It Dances.”

The Importance of Movement in Art Quilts

Does your quilting squash your fabric?

In Conclusion

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How to Get Started

choose Your colors

Make details with decorative threads.

On the Design Wall