art Archives

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.

Need Help? Try These Low Tech Quilting Hacks

Swimmingly

Low Tech Quilting Hacks

Try these low tech quilting hacks to make to make quilting tasks easier. This post is about my favorite tools that I often use in my studio. Redirecting materials are a major motivating factor in my art. It so happens that it affects my low tech quilting hacks as well.

Threading the Needle

My regular sewing foot has a white plastic piece that holds it together. A bit of the white forms a background that allows for the ease of threading the needle. For years, I sewed clothing. Yet, never noticed this because I had no need to change the foot. As soon as I started quilting and began to use different feet, I noticed that threading the needle became more difficult.

What Had Changed?

I couldn’t figure out what had changed. It took me a while, the small white background was not longer there. So I recreated the white by using a small piece of white paper. I now keep a particularly stiff piece of white paper close at hand. For easy threading of the needle, I slip the paper behind the needle. When I use the walking foot or darning foot for free motion quilting, I can see the needle’s hole much better.

Easing of Fabric through the Feed-A Low Tech Quilting Hack

Many years ago I received a stick that looks like an orange stick used for nail care. Suzanne Cam gave them away as part of a quilting workshop. This tool has now become an indespensible tool. I use it often to grab threads, to gently guide fabric smoothly through the feed when necssary.

Moving Small Pieces- A Low Tech Quilting Hack

I also use the stick to move small pieces of fabric. For the fabric layering technique,I create my art flat on a table. I place the backing fabric down first. Then I lay the batting on top.Finally, I create the scene. At times this requires a gentle movement of small pieces of fabric or yarn. I use the stick for this. Nothing else creates a smooth curve or allows me to control the placement of small items or details.

Tiny Globs of Glue

At times I need to glue items to my fiber pieces. Often I only need the tiniest bit of glue not a glob of glue that might show. When my studio was in my home, I would use a plate from the kitchen to put the glue on. After moving to my studio,no plates were readily available.

Making Do

I flipped over the 3 ” plastic cap from the can of starch to use. To control the smallest bit of glue, I use a large needle or hat pin. When finished I can easily wipe off the residue of white glue . The pin or needle is then ready for its original intended use.

low tech quilting hack 3 — Plastic caps to control globs of glue

A Design Wall

I use a design wall to create my abstract pieces of art. It is essential for me to have a large space available. I would recommend at least 60″ high and wide. My studio design wall is about 90″ by 90″. I covered the wall with a piece of white flannel fabric. It is held in place by push pins. Portability is not an issue for me. Other quilters will swear by their expensive design walls. Don’t be fooled! Simple can be just as effective!

my large white flannel design wall design, low tech quilting hack — My large white flannel design wall design

True Confessions Time!

I am not an early adopter nor a gadget person. Quality standard tools and materials are necessary. These hacks are very low tech. Whatever works! For those still reading this post, I expect to hear a chuckle or two or daresay I, some laughing out loud at their simplicity. What simple hacks do you use? Please share.

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

New York Art Center in TriBeCa

Sand Between My Toes

New York Art Center in TriBeCa

From Laguna Beach to New York City

Shane Townley was running a gallery in Laguna Beach a decade ago when he decided he needed a broader platform for his artists – one that gave them a bigger and better chance to sell their work than just the spot on one wall in one gallery. So he launched aniPhone app that catalogs artists and galleries, where any artist can sell her work. And now he has launched NYA Gallery, which not only has the classic white box storefront on the charming cobbled block of Franklin Place, but also another 9,000 square feet of artists studios, art storage and a frame shop on the lower levels. Welcome New York Art Center in TriBeCa!

Serving the Needs of Many

The studios will be open to the public and are generally for rent by artists, but some will also be donated as residencies for artists from other countries. He and his merry band of gallerists, handlers, educators and hangers (seen above) sell 50 percent of their artists’ work online, and also have a gallery on 1st Dibs. But Townley said they still need to sell in the 3D world. “Walls and artists go together,” he said. “They will still need a space to show.”

Townley spent four years here exploring different areas and neighborhoods while painting in a studio upstairs in 373 Broadway – biding his time till he figured out the New York art market. He came up with this idea as a way to replicate what he was doing in Laguna. His timing seems pretty good. “For Tribeca it couldn’t be a better time,” he said. “We’re onto something.”

NYA Gallery
7 Franklin Place (just west of Broadway, between White and Franklin)
info@newyorkart.com
917-472-9015

New York Art Center in TriBeCa — New York Art Center, studios

The New York Art Center is new to the TriBeCa neighborhood. It has been in New York City for a number of years. Ann Baldwin May is excited and proud to be the first art quilter represented by New York ArtCenter and Gallery.

https://newyorkart.com/search?q=Ann+Baldwin+May

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

https://annbaldwinmayartquilts.com/2022/04/free-motion-quilting-hacks/

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

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 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.

green and teal art quilt with a pop of magenta — Upwelling , Tucks run the width of several pieces to create 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

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

Is it Important to Frame an Art Quilt?

How to Create Movement in Abstract Art Quilts

Several Works in Progress

Important Life Skill for Artists-Develop Resilience

Burlap and Silk,An art quilt demonstrating the contrasting fabrics of soft and hard rough and smooth

An important life skill for artists to develop is resilience. Resilience helps one weather the rough spots in life. Learn who you are. Learn what your passion is and develop it . Be authentic. Friends, family members and those close to you may not see your passion as you do. Focus on what is true and real for you. This can be hard. As human beings we rely on the reflections of those around us to see ourselves.

Following One’s own Path takes Resilience.

Developing resilience is an important life skill for artists to combat certain comments people might make. “What are you doing that for? “People will say the first thing that pops into their mind without thinking. Realize that it is okay if some people don’t agree with your choice of activity. When someone doesn’t like what I am deeply involved in, I often think about model trains. Some people are extremely passionate about model trains, something that I have absolutely no interest in.

“Isn’t that a lot of work?” Just yesterday a neighbor made that comment about all of the work I do to maintain my garden. I love doing it. I can’t imagine not doing. It is the same way I feel about my art. Passion is what you can’t live without. It isn’t work if you like doing it. Picture water sliding off a duck’s back when disparaging remarks are made. Little by little build resiliency.

Being the Black Sheep takes Resilience.

Developing resilience is an important life skill for artists tostand up to certain activities other might want you to do. When growing up my family was into sports; listening, watching on TV and attending baseball and football games. Of course, I also did these things until I got old enough to realize that I didn’t want to do it anymore. I would rather be out doing something active than watching others do it. This act of resilience was easy for me. Being the odd man out may not be as easy for some people. Of course, it would be nice if the people we care about also cared about the things that we care about. But that doesn’t always happen.

Overcoming Setbacks takes Resilience.

Setbacks can also happen. Sometimes one’s work or family responsibilities take center stage. Being a responsible person creates its own confidence and resiliency. When one knows themselves and is authentic, then moving in a new direction can support one’s vision.

Life skills for artists Develop Resilience.

Many paths lead to success. If one path doesn’t work, find another. Take the long view. A different path might not immediately be visible. Keep working towards your goal, be it personal or professional or artistic.

The poster in my laundry room has this quote on it.

“Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds.” Albert Einstein

Or as a favorite song, The Middle by Jimmy Eat World says

(partial lyrics)

“Live right now, yeah, just be yourself.
It doesn’t matter if it’s good enough for someone else.

It just takes some time,
Little girl, you’re in the middle of the ride.
Everything, everything will be just fine,
Everything, everything will be alright, alright.

Just do your best do everything you can
And don’t you worry what the bitter hearts are gonna say.”

Resilience is a life skill that can be developed and nourished. It applies to our professional, personal as well as our artistic endevours. Things happen in life that are sometimes out of our control. Don’t take setbacks personally. Just forge forward.

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

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

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

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/

How to Make Your Own Luck in Art

Dry Tree

Artists Making Your Own Luck takes Work.

Making your own luck through self promotion involves planning, organization and bravery. If you are an artist, the work begins by making great art. In this age of self promotion, one must present themselves in a professional manner.

Artists,make your own luck with People Skills.

Having strong people skills is essential. Working with people in a way that shows integrity and honesty. Be easy to work with. Go out of your way to help for example make things easier for the curator or organizer. Save those picky, finicky thoughts for when you are creating your art by yourself in your studio. Don’t create problems for others.

Artists,make your own luck by being ready to jump on an opportunity presents itself. This takes a bit of bravery.

Be consistent in your production of posts blogs or newsletter. Show that you are dependable and reliable.

Be someone who others want to work with. When a new opportunity comes up, they will think of you. Conversely, when I am planning a project or activity, I will leave out people who having proven to be a problem to work with in the past.

Dress the part.

Be yourself. Be authentic. But in general the public expects an artist to dress a bit differently. Sometimes I dress as a person working in an upscale gallery might.

When I am at a reception for an individual show or a group show, I wear something that identifies me as an artist. As a fiber artist I have made special clothing that I save for shows. Save the paint covered clothing for your studio.

Keep your own name tag with you. You never know when you will be at a meeting or a show where they forget to make name tags. I was one show where they made me a name tag. They had my name and a photo of my art on it. They even placed it in a plastic cover.That is the one I saved. Perfect.

Have unique business cards with you at all times. My cards are small handmade art quilts.People love my business cards. They illustrate what my art is while giving the contact information on the back.

Artists,make your own luck by Recognizing the Strengths of Others

Others in your field have strengths that should be recognized.Share or post about others, not just yourself all of the time. Promote the work of your friends or other people working in your field. It encourages others to look at your posts.

They are some people’s posts that I just delete because they just always about themselves and do it too often.When I share about others’ work, I find more people share items about my work.

Authenticity

Part of being an authentic person is realized our own strengths and weaknesses. While one may lead with their strengths, one must also develop their weaknesses. It is not as much fun and it is often a lot of work. Many artists find meeting with the public the hardest part of their job. Others find the paperwork and organization to be difficult. Overcoming a weakness begins with baby steps. Choose one weakness to develop your skills in and take small steps to improve in that area. Taking a class may help. Being brave helps.

In conclusion, what may appear as good luck is often the result of hard work, bravery, planning, and organization. Be persistent and don’t give up. Magic isn’t instantaneous.

You may want to read other articles on this topic,Ten Proven Ways to Make your Own Luck by Deep Patel.
https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/286336 https://annbaldwinmayartquilts.com/2020/04/forging-your-own-art-path/

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

https://annbaldwinmayartquilts.com/2019/09/becoming-more-creative/

Something New? Fusion of Art and Science Show

Blue Collider Event Display in Stitching, CA

Fusion of Art and Science Show

Originally published By Lisa Renner in University of California, Santa Cruz student newspaper.February, 2019.

A collaboration of Art and Physics

First of all,what happens when artists visit science labs and hear scientists explain their work? Find out by attending the exhibition The Fusion of Art and Physics on view in March,2019. R. Blitzer Gallery,2801 Mission St.Santa Cruz,CA Originally,UC Santa Cruz physicist Stephanie Bailey conceived of the show to feature works created by 17 pairs of artists and physics graduate students. Last fall, Bailey organized another science-art collaboration with the show Motors Surround Us. That show had pieces of art created from simple electric motors made by introductory physics students. https://annbaldwinmayartquilts.com/2018/07/why-art-and-science/

Meet Two Collaborators

In the beginning, Dr. Bailey linked Bryson Bost,an artist, and Johnny Davenport, the physics doctoral student together. First,the young scientist showed Bost the instruments he uses to explore really thin crystals at the lab. Then, he also showed him how it is possible to see what the crystals look like on an atomic scale. Finally,Bryson Bost,a 36-year-old artist, creates intricate patterns using acrylics and pigment inks “You could actually see the spaces in between atoms,” said Bost. “It was like I can’t believe I’m seeing a pocket dimension. It’s almost science fiction.”

A Whole New World

In addition,Bost felt honored to get a chance to see a world that he has no experience with. Moreover, Davenport’s explanation of his work was enthralling. “It’s so advanced you feel like you’re talking to a messenger of some god,” Bost said. For example,“You feel like you’re getting in touch with some strange divine formula for the fusion of art and science show.

No Jargon allowed

For his part, Davenport said he enjoyed the opportunity to translate his ideas into ordinary language. Aboveall, he avoided technical jargon. Similarly,Davenport thinks scientists spend too much time in their own world. “A lot of times we fall back on technical language to be able to communicate complicated concepts,” he said. “The hardest thing to do is to distill it down to something presentable to a different medium or a different audience. But science isn’t just intended to benefit scientists.” The move for scientists to communicate with the general public is extremely necessary in these times.

Creating Began

After that first dialogue, Bost went back to his studio. First, he began working on the creation for the show. The atomic-level images he saw inspired his art.After that, he created a piece filled with intricate patterns. Furthermore,his materials included acrylics and pigment ink. In all, he spent about 40 hours. What happens when artists visit science labs and hear scientists explain their work? Find out by attending the exhibition The Fusion of Art and Physics on view in March,2019. R. Blitzer Gallery,2801 Mission St.Santa Cruz,CA.UC. Santa Cruz physicist Dr. Stephanie Bailey conceived of the show to feature works created by 20 pairs of artists and physics graduate students. Last fall, Bailey organized another science-art collaboration with the show Motors Surround Us. This show had pieces of art created from simple electric motors made by introductory physics students.

Video of the Show

Video of Fusion Show at R. Blitzer Gallery (partial) Highlighting the Collaboration of Art and Physics at R. Blitzer Gallery, Santa Cruz,CA March, 2019. Music by Robert Blitzer observed by Charles Sutten, artist.

The Collaboration

Meanwhile,the collaboration between local artists and Ph’d Physics candidates at the University of California,Santa Cruz is over. Yet, I learned that there is a wide range of study within the field of physics. Above all,some scientists are studying theorical physics using a chalkboard, chalk and a computer. However,others are doing a variety of experiments in labs.

Dr. Bailey’s Brainchild

Firstly Dr.Bailey, a non artist , organized an art show, Fusion .In addition,it is part of a mission to bring the concepts of physics to a wider public. Certainly,“Art is a much more friendly and inviting way to attract people than physics,” she says. To clarify,Dr. Bailey worked with mosaic artist, Beth Purcell to organize the show. Above all,the artwork is more than a few pieces of beautiful art. Moreover,they can be considered extraordinary teaching tools. In other words something a professor can bring into the classroom to convey an important concept in physics.

Tauna Coulson is the curator

Similarly,the artists involved also exhibited a wide range of study; painting,glass, fiber, and multimedia. Tauna Coulson, is the curator of the show is working hard to make sure everything comes together.http://coulsondesign.com/author/tauna-coulson/ In conclusion,at the end of the 2019 school year, Dr. Bailey moved to Chapman College in Orange County, California. Their gain UCSC’s and the Santa Cruz community’s loss.

Something New? Fusion of Art and Science Show

https://annbaldwinmayartquilts.com/2018/06/collaboration-of-physics-and-art-1/ https://annbaldwinmayartquilts.com/2018/07/inspiration-and-the-collider-event/ https://annbaldwinmayartquilts.com/2018/07/inspiration-and-the-collider-event/ https://annbaldwinmayartquilts.com/2020/03/a-scientifically-inspired-art-quiltatlas-in-rose/ https://annbaldwinmayartquilts.com/2019/01/collider-event-displays/ https://www.chapman.edu/our-faculty/stephanie-bailey https://www.etsy.com/shop/annbmayartquilts/

Check out This Article of Fusion of Art and Physics

Randie Silverstein's glass piece

starbursts made out of glass although they look like flexible strings Article of Fusion of Art and Physics — Randie Silverstein’s glass piece

Article of Fusion of Art and Physics-For those of us who are neither physicists nor artists, it’s easy to think that there is no overlap between physics and art. But a new show in Santa Cruz called Fusion of Art and Physics aims to remind us that there are ways to build bridges between the two.

Fusion of Art and Physics Show opens at the R. Blitzer Gallery on March 1,2019. It features the results of 17 collaborations between visual artists and physicists. After the show’s opening reception, participants will share what they learned from each other in a panel discussion.

UC Santa Cruz physicist, Dr. Stephanie Bailey

The show is the brainchild of UC Santa Cruz physicist Stephanie Bailey, who has attempted to blend lessons from the humanities into her teaching of physics. Bailey’s idea was to pair up a roster of Santa Cruz County artists with grad students and faculty in the physics department at UCSC. Like Jane Austen’s Emma, Bailey played matchmaker, looking for complementary interests between artists and physicists. Her own pairing put her with mosaic artist Beth Purcell. Together, Bailey and Purcell built mosaics on musical instruments to illustrate standing waves, the vibrational waveform often created in music.

Art Enhances Science

“I don’t consider myself an artistic person at all,” says Bailey. “But I still very much welcomed working with an artist.”Bailey’s sales pitch to her fellow physicists was audacious. Art, she told them, isn’t a distraction from science—it enhances it.

“I really believe that working with an artist can enrich the work of a physicist, lead them to think about their problems in new and different ways, and even create a few a-ha moments,” she says.

Brad Burkhart

Santa Cruz sculptor Brad Burkhart https://burkhart-sculptor.com/ didn’t need convincing. Burkhart’s partner on the physics side was Hendrik Ohldag. He is a physicist from the Stanford Synchotron Radiation Laboratory where he studies magnetism. Burkhart entered the partnership already inspired. He is quick to share his favorite title Art and Physics: Parallel Visions in Space, Time and Light by San Francisco surgeon Leonard Shlain.

“I’ve always been interested in the overlap between the arts and the sciences,” says Burkhart. “It’s [Shlain’s] premise that art leads science by 50 years or so. Artists come up with a visual framework that is later discovered and proven by scientists.”

Gates of Paradise

Inspired by the Gates of Paradise at the Baptistry of Florence, Burkhart turned his artistic attention to creating small bas-relief panels from high-fired clay that are similar to what he saw in Florence. Burkhart visited his scientist partner Ohldag in the physicist’s lab, and Ohldag returned the favor by visiting Burkhart during Open Studios. Eventually, Burkhart created a series of his relief panels guided by feedback and comments from Ohldag.

“I’m going to have a description of how we collaborated. I’m going to have Hendrick’s comments on the four sculptures as well,” says Burkhart.

Randie Silverstein,glass artist

Glass artist Randie Silverstein says that her collaboration with physics grad student, Alex McDaniel led to an enormous breakthrough in my work. I’ve been doing glass art to explore the material further. Then I conceived of and manipulated the materials in ways I hadn’t done before. Randie’s work took off in a totally new direction.

For Bailey, the non-artist who found herself curating an art show, Fusion is part of a mission to bring the concepts of physics to a wider public. “Art is a much more friendly and inviting way to attract people than physics,” she says. Of the work she created alongside mosaic artist Beth Purcell, she says that the artwork is more than a few pieces of aesthetic pleasure. “I consider them extraordinary teaching tools, something I can bring into the classroom to convey an important concept in physics.”

‘Fusion of Art and Physics’ runs through March. Opening reception is Friday, March 1, 5-9 p.m. Artist and physicist panel discussion on Saturday, March 16, noon-2 p.m. R. Blitzer Gallery, 2801 Mission St. Extension, Santa Cruz. slbailey109.wixsite.com/fusion/blog.

http://goodtimes.sc/santa-cruz-arts-entertainment/art/fusion-art-physics/?

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See Clay and Physics at Work

Fusion of Art and Physics Show

Fusion of Art and Physics II — Brad Burkhart, clay artist

Brad Burkhart, clay artist participated in the Collaboration between Art and Physics. He is a lover of Physics as well as clay scultpure.Brad recommended that I read Art and Physics a book by Leonard Shlain. It truly opened my eyes to the science of art.

Brad Burkhart shares his process-clay and physics

Since finishing my sketches for the project, I have been turning them into clay relief form. Due to time issues,not all sketches could become sculptures for the group show on March 1. My goal was to finish 4 of the 6.Notwithstanding this goal was daunting. Each of the clay pieces require over a month of slow drying before firing. By necessity, I sped up the drying process. I used an electric heater in the studio. Moreover, I devised an open lath support under the sculptures to allow them to dry faster. Finally, I found local potters,Steve and Bonny Barisof. They agreed to do this firing for me.

The process-

Below are a few photos of the transformation from sketch to sculpture.

Firing is always an unpredictable process. This one was no exception. The three top pieces came out beautifully. However, apparently I had not dried the bottom one enough. Unfortunately, it fell apart in the kiln.

But the disintegration of piece #4 led to some new insights. My wife and I discussed the broken piece. We decided to mount the main pieces on a board. A quote on Chaos Theory is its show title. After that, we named the other pieces in a similar way. As a result, using physicist quotes or theories added to the exhibit.. I invited Hendrik to participate. In the end we went with my wife’s suggestions for the show. In other words,her suggestions were easier to understand by average viewers. However, I present them both below because they are both insightful. I am still deciding on final names for the pieces. Although I have definitely embraced Hendrik’s name for #3.

Hendrik’s Suggestions: 1.) Superconductivity by John Bardeen, Leon Cooper, John Robert Schrieffer 2.) What is it? Fermi-Dirac or Bose-Einstein 3.) Einstein, Soccer and Gravitation Waves 4.) Parity or no Parity, Noether, not Hamlet will answer this question.

Wife Ann’s Suggestions: 1) “Things” Can Be Regarded on One Level as Structures and on Another Level as Processes —-T. R. Young

2) By Making Everything as Small as Possible the Waves Become Much More Agile and Faster —-H. Ohldag

3) Are You the Observer or the Observed?

4) The Final Outcome…Is Radically Affected by Tiny Changes in the Initial Conditions —-S. Morgan

Notes on Ann’s titles:

1) Young, TR: Chaos Theory & Human Agency http://www.critcrim.org/redfeather/chaos/chaosindex.html

Complexity theory also denies the concept of the objectivity, or separation of the observer from the observed (Young 11).

4) Steev Morgan: Applying Chaos Theory to Artistic and Cultural Practice

Continuing Work at Hendrik’s New Lab

In addition to preparing sculptures for the show, I have continued to interact with Hendrik at his new lab. I am awaiting his comments about having my piece “What’s Your Sign?” in his new lab at the Berkeley Cyclotron. He is just getting started there.

In the meantime, we discovered that the research conducted at SLAC resulted in a significant breakthrough in understanding the speed of magnetic waves. Previously it had been thought that 1 mile per hour was the limit. But they discovered through the experiment that if materials were made small enough, this speed could increase up to 500 miles per hour. This is particularly significant because computer memories use magnetic storage. With the right design, it now appears possible to significantly increase storage. Moreover,while lowering energy use significantly.

Naming a Piece at the New Lab

I try to name my works through a group consensus process. We have been attempting such a process at Hendrik’s new Berkeley Lab location. We hung an unnamed piece in the researchers’ lounge with a suggestion box nearby. See the piece below with set of suggestions. Feel free to participate in the process by e-mailing Hendrik or myself your suggestions. I envision sorting these out along with names for the show pieces later this spring.

https://slbailey109.wixsite.com/fusion

https://annbaldwinmayartquilts.com/2019/02/fusion-of-art-and-physics-show/

https://annbaldwinmayartquilts.com/2018/07/inspiration-and-the-collider-event/https://annbaldwinmayartquilts.com/2018/06/collaboration-of-physics-and-art-1/

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Why Does One Make Art?

Greys,pinks and purple fabric in this abstract inspired by a winter sunset,Why One Makes Art — Winter Sunset 23″ h x 22″ 2018

Burlap and Silk 24" x 23" 2015,Shades of gold, brown, and white fabric transparent,rough, silky and shinyWhy One Makes Art — Burlap and Silk 24″ x 23″ 2015

yellow orange and white fabrics mix with textured netting Why One Makes Art — Cheddar and Triscuits,30″ x 28″ 2015

I find Cheddar and Triscuits a perfect name for this art quilt.Cheddar is the name of the color used in. The cheddar and white traditional quilting blocks contrast with several types of redirected high end fabric from the San Francisco Design Center. Fiberous netting and decorative threads and synthetic raffia add texture. I couched other decorative threads and rickrack on a strip of fabric. Then I cut them into smaller pieces to add where needed.

Circuit Board 15" x 14" 2015, greens and oranges in this abstract art quilt. The fabrics looked like a circuit board. — Circuit Board 15″ x 14″ 2015

When I first saw the fabric with the dashes on it, I immediately thought of a computer circuit board. I added many redirected fabrics in this piece. Decorative threads couched on a long strip of fabric and then sliced into pieces add interest. Pulling in colors similar to the fabric with dashes was fun. It was done without much thought but with much necessity.

Brown and blue layered fabric pieces create stratification. Adorned with bone beads. — The Quarry 21″ x 31″ 2015

The Quarry uses found materials,beads and the color,brown that I usually avoid. Someone created fabric with a process of marbling paper in several colors, black, blue and reflective blue and pink. The stratification formed by these fabrics was a new idea to me. Bone beads added a 3D effect as if they were layered under the ground and just peeking out of a cliff.

In Conclusion

Playing with the contrast of fabrics or your chosen materials lets you create something unexpected. An outlier can suggest a new direction or technique to follow in the future. It is up to the artist to make that decision. Or maybe the success of the project that will make the decision for the artist. Make your art like your life depended on it! Because it does!

https://annbmayartquilts.etsy.com/

https://annbaldwinmayartquilts.com/2022/12/how-to-break-your-own-art-rules/

For more information, on creating abstract art quilts read these posts.
https://annbaldwinmayartquilts.com/2018/05/work-in-progress-winter-sky-sunset/

https://annbaldwinmayartquilts.com/2017/10/a-work-in-progress-sunlit-boulders/

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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How to Use Redirected Fabric in Art Quilts

Kelp Dwellers 25″ x 25″ A piece of multicolored blue sheer fabric is a perfect background for this underwater fantasy.

Use Redirected Fabric in Art Quilts

Redirecting materials inspire.

Use redirected fabric in art quilts to design something new and inspire yourself to create. I find unique fabrics not like those sold in a regular quilt store among redirected materials.

Discontinued fabric from a decorator’s studio

A sample of linen fabric from a decorator’s studio becomes the main design element with the addition of zigzagged or couched yarn. The colors; black, white,, and grey attracted me before I saw that this linen actually had greyhound dogs printed on it. My fondness for dogs aside, I didn’t want the dogs to stand out. I accomplished this by rotating the fabric and couching yarn to it. Next, I cut the fabric into twigs and branches to suggest tree tops. Then, I placed the branches on a sky blue indigo fabric background to complete the art quilt.

Friends’ Suggestions

Although dyeing fabric is a great way to redirect materials, it is a bit too messy for my situation. But many of my fabric friends have done it. The sheet that the dyed fabrics are wrapped in to carry home often is colored in an interesting way . Thanks to that warning, I was prepared when I recently took an indigo dyeing workshop. The background fabric for the sky was indeed the bedsheet that had used to carry my other dyed pieces home.

The Process-

First,I choose the fabric. I liked the way the curved lines of the dogs’s backs created movement on the fabric.

grey and black dogs, Use Redirected Fabric in Art Quilts — Greyhounds on linen

Next,I choose the yarn colors that I wanted to use, grey, green, and black yarn. I couched the yarns with matching threads so that the sewing threads wouldn’t stand out.

black grey and white fabric with green and black yarn ,Use Redirected Fabric in Art Quilts — Black, grey, and white fabric with green and black yarn couched yarn

Next,I continued adding yarn curving it as I zigzagged(couched) it onto the linen.

More beige, grey, black and white yarn couched onto the fabric

Then,with more yarn, it is more difficult to identify the dogs.

Use Redirected Fabric in Art Quilts — The dogs disappear.

Continuing,I kept adding more yarn and zigzagging it down. For thicker lines, I wrapped 3 pieces of yarn together.

Different view of the fabric with threads couched

Ready to cut the Fabric into Branches

Finally, with this fabric, I cut out the tree branches,twigs and sticks. I put the backing fabric flat on the table. Then I added the batting on top. Then I added indigo dyed fabric for the background. Next, I basted them with a touch of glue. I assembled the tree on top and basted it.

Lastly,I covered the finished top with tulle and free motion quilted the layers together. I finished the edges by adding a 2″ facing folding it to the back and hand stitching it. Finally, I sew a fabric sleeve or tube onto the top back for hanging with a dowel and fishing line.

You may be interested in this previous blog post as well.
https://annbaldwinmayartquilts.com/zig-zagging-yarn-to-create-fabric/

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

https://annbaldwinmayartquilts.com/2020/03/using-discontinued-fabrics/

The completed piece of art is totally made from redirected materials; linen and backing material from the San Francisco Design Center, redirected yarn from my sister-in-law, redirected tulle from a wedding, and redirected background indigo fabric from a bedsheet. My heart’s desire is complete;making beautiful art from repurposed materials.

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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/

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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/

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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Low Tech Quilting Hacks

Threading the Needle

What Had Changed?

Easing of Fabric through the Feed-A Low Tech Quilting Hack

Moving Small Pieces- A Low Tech Quilting Hack

Tiny Globs of Glue

Making Do

A Design Wall

True Confessions Time!

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New York Art Center in TriBeCa

From Laguna Beach to New York City

Serving the Needs of Many

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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 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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Following One’s own Path takes Resilience.

Being the Black Sheep takes Resilience.

Overcoming Setbacks takes Resilience.

Life skills for artists Develop Resilience.

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How to Get Started

choose Your colors

Make details with decorative threads.

On the Design Wall

Balancing Colors

Sewing Smaller Pieces Together

Sewing More Pieces Together

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ATLAS Revisited

Collaboration between local artists and PhD physics candidates

Techniques

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Artists Making Your Own Luck takes Work.

Artists,make your own luck with People Skills.

Dress the part.

Artists,make your own luck by Recognizing the Strengths of Others

Authenticity

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