One piece of advice for all new artists is to join art organizations. Have you considered becoming an artist? Are you ready to take those first steps towards beginning life as an artist? Join a large local art group or a national organization or both. Usually these groups are full of artists and people who love art. It is a great introduction into the greater art world. Just join an art group.
Important Decisions
It is your decision as to whether you are advancing a hobby or trying to sell your art. While each path is unique, just as each media is unique, there are some overreaching themes that apply to all genres. Regardless, one piece of advice for new artists is to join a local and a national art group. Your will find others who share your passion when you join an art organization.
Join Arts Organizations.
Join a larger local arts organization. There you will become acquainted with people in the community that you want to move into. This is also a great way to find out about upcoming shows. Often times opportunities and Calls for Art come through these organizations such as donations or the sale or other materials. I recently saw a weaving loam for sale. That would be a special interest item for the right person. For me, my eyes were totally opened. I had no idea how the art world worked or how the word got out. Oh, that is how they find out things. https://artscouncilsc.org/
Join the national organization for your particular genre of art. One piece of advice for new artists would be to attend their meetings and/or conferences. I attended a number of conferences for art quilters when I began to put myself out there. People from all over the world attended. After the conference, we remained internet friends. I also learned so much about the ins and outs of my art form. Of course, there are other ways to learn but there is nothing like being a member of a national or international group of related artists.
My Unique County Supports Artists.
My home county, Santa Cruz County, California is one of the top five counties for working artists. The Arts Council Santa Cruz supports the arts and artists in many ways. Each month the walls of the County Administration Offices are decked out with the art of local artists. I never understood how that happened until I moved out of the traditional quilt world into the art quilt world. The County Arts Council sends out a call for entry each year to those on their email list or otherwise affiliated with them. They choose artists to show in December for the following year. The curtain was pulled back on of how this was done in a good way.
Meeting Artists with a Common Interest
Enough can not be said about meeting people who share a common interest. Life’s conversations are more informative and interesting when strangers share a common passion. If one is starting out, an artist with more experience can easily answer many questions. Try an make the artist share your same type of art. This interaction can happen through social media. However, one must be aware of variations due to local conditions. Try and connect with local artists doing what you do are what you want to do. It can be a formal or an informal meeting.
Donations of Materials
Donations of materials are welcome for a new artist. I remember when I was just starting out, materials were expensive. I relished the opportunity to gather items for free. Many times items that are no longer needed are shared within the group. Organizations make it easy to get the word out or to pass along no longer needed items. Take advantage of that.
Conclusion
Of course, becoming an artist involves time honing one’s artistic skills. If one take one piece of advice for new artists, join an arts organization. The group could be local and a national group for your artistic interest. After that, first steps towards life as an artist should include getting to know your arts community, organization and fellow art fans. The world of opportunities will appear before your eyes.
Consider this one way to advance your art,the art critique. Do you feel tnat you have reached a certain level? Feeling comfortable with your skill level? Having your art work critiqued can be a powerful experience. One needs to be confident enough in themselves and their work to explain their process, inspiration or project clearly. Furthermore,one must be open to listening to suggestions and new ideas.
At first glance the words, art critique sounds like criticize. Nothing could be farther from the truth. The art critique looks for the strengths of a piece and ways in which the artist may improve their piece and/or their technique. It can be a learning process for all involved. Providing guidelines or a structure for participants helps everyone to understand the process.It can be a valuable learning experience for all participants.Most importantly, the art critique should give the artist a way forward . What is the artist’s plan for further development for the future?
There are many online resources for critiques. A critique should be more than just ” I like this” or “I don’t like that.” Probing questions that require deep thinking on the artist’s part about one ‘s choices is more helpful. This is the hard part for participants. Each must be prepared to participate is a meaningful way. Moreover, this can take practice, Repeated opportunities to discuss one’s art work and critique the work of others in this way help.
Furthermore,knowing the art critique process beforehand helps everyone to be able to participate on some level. Ideally, as artists we will internalize the questions so that we will ask ourselves these deep questions while we are in the process of creating our future pieces.
Suggested Norms of a Critique
All participants are familiar with the process before beginning. Ideally they will be able to read the procedure well in advance.
All participants will develop a probing question of interest to them.
All participants will actively join in.
A non threatening environment is essential. Focus on the process not the individual artist.
Practice the procedure many times. With ongoing critiques rotating so that each artist will have their work viewed and discussed.
A wide range of art levels experiences is valued.
A Coaching Organization
Attending a meeting of the Artists Conference Network was a powerful and inspiring experience for me. This national organization has a well developed program and coaching structure. Each artist designs their own plan including timeline. Therein lies the power; the artist is in control of their own path. However, the time committment is substantial. I attended with a friend hoping to start a local group. Unfortunately, a local group wasn’t formed.
Artists Conference Network https://artistconference.com/ outlines the art critique process. The following is from their website. The Artist Conference is a network of local communities of artists trained in the coaching structure. They coach each other weekly towards their goals and share their creative work at meetings every two to three weeks. The structure is equally effective for amateurs and professionals, and the communities welcome anyone working in any creative field of endeavor, even if you don’t call yourself an “artist”. Check out their website for a group near you.
One Critique
Several years ago I volunteered to get my work critiqued at a regional SAQA(Studio Art Quilt Associates http://www.saqa.com/ ) meeting. This proved a new experience for me. We met in Oakland, California about 75 miles from my home in the beautiful studio of one of our members. A meeting full of friendly faces and a wide range of skill sets was a perfect spot for the art critique to take place. However, it was a one time event.
Another Critique
Another experience I had with critiques was with a small fiber group I was a member of. It was helpful that we met regularly and were comfortable with each other. We formed our group with the idea of celebrating fiber in many of its wonderful forms. However,our artistic experiences were very different. Our lack of experience in the process of each others’ work hindered our ability to contribute to the art critique on a highly skilled level.
Both of the critiques I participated in would have benefited from a clear format to follow. Repeated practice with the critique process makes for a positive experience for all.
Try sparking your creativity by limiting materials. If you are like most fiber people or quilters, you may have lots of boxes or bags filled with random materials. Shake up your creativity by choosing only one box to use. Limit your materials for your next project to that one box or one bag. Make it work! Of course, you can break your own rules if you need to to use a unique fabric or item that will go perfectly in your piece.
Spark Creativity by Limiting Materials
I find having a studio full of materials limiting and stifling at times. Sometimes new productivity and creativity can come from limiting materials. Stuck in a rut? Maybe trying this will help. Long ago a librarian told me that sometimes having less books on a shelf increases book check outs. Spark creativity by limiting materials. Sometimes less is more.
Fabrics with couched (zigzagged threads) prepared previously but unusedI originally planned to use these materials for a small underwater fantasy.
My first plan was to make an underwater fantasy with a Mexican inspired twist. I listened to the materials as they led me in a slightly different direction in my first two pieces. Finally by the third piece I hit my original goal of a seascape with Guatemalan fabric fish. It’s your art. There is no right or wrong, just different.
Geeko Fun, art quilt, 9″x 9″ 23 x 23 cmGreen Gecko, art quilt, 8″ x 9″ 20 x 23cmGuatemalan Fish, blue underwater seascape art quilt 9″ x 9″ 23 x 23 cm
Stuck in a rut? Try this technique to help you see things differently.
Solving little art quilting problems are different from the fixing bed quilts issues. One does not have to match seams like when making traditional quilts. If I have an error I can just cut it off with my rotary blade rather than ripping out seams. I still use my seam ripper but just not as much. This is not to say that issues don’t come up. They are just different issues. Some of these solutions apply to sewing in general as well as art quilting.
Solve Basic Sewing Problem
Anticipating Issues with Good Habits
Some suggestions to solve little art quilting problems begin with good habits. Of course the best way to fix problems is to anticipate them before they happen. Always make sure your fabric edge is straight. It might look straight but line up the plastic cutting ruler edge anyway. Make sure the fabric edge is straight. Even fabric straight from a shop might not be cut straight. Advice from construction workers, Measure twice to cut once.
Keep your machine free of dust.
Use a pipe cleaner to keep your machine’s mechanism free of dust. Look for holes in the machine for the pipe cleaner to enter safely.Remove dust carefully. Be careful not to disrupt interior settings. Vacuum the interior monthly if you sew a lot. It is amazing how much lint thread may shed. Remove lint from between the grooves of your feed dogs. I have been known to remove the lint with a large pin. A clean machine makes perfect stitches. Once I took my Husquvarna Lily into the shop because the zigzag stitch wasn’t working. The stitch was fine but my machine was full of lint underneath.
Watch your Speed.
Aim to maintain the same speed as you sew. The speed of throttle affects your stitches. Going fast and then slow can create inconsistent stitches. Attempt to keep a steady speed when stitching. Listen to your machine. It will tell you when your speed is changing. Especially on mindless tasks, we tend to daydream and not pay attention to the speed that we are pushing on the pedal or throttle.
Trouble Threading the Needle
If you are having trouble seeing to thread the needle on the machine,here is an easy fix. Get a white piece of paper. Double thickness or paper that is a bit stiff helps. Place it behind the needle and hold it there while threading the needle. The white makes a clearer background to see the needle’s hole. Other tips-Please wear your glasses. Trim the edge of thread before threading. Wet the end of the thread with saliva so the end isn’t frayed. I personally have not had luck with needle threaders. Maybe they will work for you.
Thread Trimming
Did you know that you can use 1 side of the scissors to trim a thread,sort of like a knife. This especially is helpful when the thread is coming out of the fabric.Trim as close as you can to the fabric with just one blade of the scissors. If you trim normally with the 2 points of the scissors coming together, one can accidently snip the fabric. This small nip in the fabric is difficult to fix. Some of us learn things the hard way.
Some Suggestions to Solve Little Art Quilting Problems.
Tucks to the Rescue
Tucks to the rescue. Sometimes a piece of fabric is just a bit too big for where it needs to fit. Yes, you could just cut off a piece of the fabric. But why not try to turn a problem into a solution. Create more texture for your art quilt by making one or more tucks . This may be useful when one is working within a particular size requirement. Tucks can be different sizes. They can be sewn close to the edge of fold or 1/4th inch (1cm) or farther away. Make a tuck or two that runs the whole length of the piece of fabric. I discovered the power of tucks when the slightest bit of extra fabric was too much.
Use the Crease or Fold to your Creative Advantage.
I often repurpose materials. Sometimes a piece of fabric comes with a crease or fold. It can be difficult to remove the crease even after using spray starch. Try this solution. Use the crease or fold to your advantage. Create a tuck or several rows of tucks. Sew the stitching line as close as you can to the edge of the fold. Problem solved. While creating an original art quilt, use the fold to your advantage. A series of folds can be moved to one side or the other to create movement as well as texture.
A series of tucks create texture and movement.A strip of fabric with a hard to get rid of creaseSew a tuck to remove a crease
A variation- Sew several lines of folds. Remember the rule of three or odd numbers. You may sew the tucks 1/4″ (1 cm) away from the fold. To create movement and texture, iron the segments of the tucks in different directions.
Solve little Art Quilting Problems by Thinking Before you Cut
Sea Canyon Depths, 40″ x 17″ 102cm x 44cm
Think how can I save time or effort while cutting this fabric. I add a lot of foliage to my nature art quilt pieces. I started out cutting individual pieces. By accident I discovered that while cutting one piece, I could create a second piece that would be a mirror image. Less fabric would be lost. Just don’t cut all of the way through to the far end. Stop at the top of what you are cutting. Turn the fabric around and continue down the other side instead of cutting all of the way to the opposite side. Not difficult do if you stop and think before cutting. Just another way to solve little art quilting problem.
Sea Canyon Depths, 40″ x 17″ 102cm x 44cm
This technique could create mountains, foliage or another running pattern.
Sea Canyon Depths, 40″ x 17″ 102cm x 44cm An underwater work in progress
Sometimes experienced quilters forget about all of the little tips that they have learned along the way. I try and point a few hints here that I have learned.These are just a few of different technical problems or creative issues one might encounter.
More that once people have visited my studio and commented “You are so brave.” “What? Why?I am brave to do my art? What do they mean? “First of all, being brave is taking action even though one is scared or afraid. On the other hand,being a brave artist is discovering one’s artistic strengths, developing them, and staying true to them. That I have tried to do. As with many things, it is a work in progress.
Am a brave person?
Ultimately, I don’t feel brave in my day-to-day life. Following rules on the road keep us safe. I don’t want to get caught doing something that I am not supposed to do or that I would not be proud of. I follow the rules. For this reason, I don’t consider myself brave. There are real things in this world to be afraid of. I know that. On the other hand, some things are easy for me that I know others struggle with. Talking with the public is easy for me. As a retired school teacher, I am used to speaking to many unusual types of people.
Doing my Art is not Scary.
Blowing glass at temperatures of 3000 degrees is scary. But sewing and playing with fabric is not. When making art quilts, I have no problem taking chances. I am doing what I want. For me,being a brave artist is easy. My three portfolios that I must make are Mexican inspired, abstracts and nature art quilts. My pieces do not always look similar. After all, what fun would that be?
My small studio in the Santa Cruz Art Center has three walls to display my art, a design wall, a design table and a table with my sewing machine on it. I can work here and yet open my doors to the public for First Fridays and Open Studios. A fortunate possibility,yes. I am not sure how that makes me brave. Maybe trying new fabrics styles and techniques in bright colors makes me brave.
Creating involves Pain.
Have you ever noticed that creating art involves pain or an uneasiness? When I first begin a project but I do not yet have a clear idea of the direction the piece will take, is when I feel pain or an uneasiness in the pit of my stomach. Once I have a clearer idea of the direction my piece will take the anxiety goes away. However, that is different from fear.
A brave artist pushes through and doesn’t let the anxiety stop them. In that case, then I am brave. Gathering my experience in making traditional bed quilts and then switching gears to art quilts just felt right. I do take chances with fabric and design. I forge ahead without much thought. When I am starting a piece, I don’t worry too much about my choices. If I make a mistake, I can always make another piece. Then I will own the fact that I am a brave art quilter.
A Good Sense of Color
Visitors to my studio have told me that I have a good sense of color. This comment always takes me by surprise. Where does this skill come from? I have never studied art or the color wheel. On the other hand, I did start sewing my own clothes in high school a long time ago. I remember designing and planning out my outfits. I paid attention to the variety of colors and textures in my wardrobe. Doesn’t every teenage girl do that? I assumed so.
So fast forward. . .decades ahead I fall into art quilting after making bed quilts for many years. I realize that without knowing it I had been trying out colors my whole life. For part of my 36 years as an elementary school teacher, I taught at an arts infused school. I did receive a wide variety of training in the arts including drama and dance. When guest artists taught my class in sketching or drawing, I took part so that I could repeat their lesson in the following years. But no work foccussed specifically on color.
Trying is the first step to being a brave artist.
Recently an acquaintance mentioned that she wanted to start sketching, yet she was afraid to. Afraid of what? It is a passtime activity. Sketching is not something to be afraid of. It is supposed to be fun and engaging. Give it a try. Become a brave artist.
Why am I not afraid?
I asked myself why am I not afraid.One reason is the familiarity with my materials. Having used fabric for so long, it is second nature to me. Quilting is the thing that I have to do. I will do it even when it has become boring or I have done it all day. It is part of who I am and what makes me me.I am not afraid of being myself.
Homage to a Dancer,45″ x 56″ 115 x 142cm
Fusing Two Passions
As I moved into art quilting I looked to fuse two of my lifetime passions, dancing and sewing. Sewing clothes since high school, I had made over 300 bed quilts. In addition, I had performed with a local Mexican folk dance group. My passion led me to direct my school’s annual Cinco de Mayo Dance Presentation. My students learned dances . I sewed costumes. My goal was to make something that combined my sewing skills with the movement and bright colors of a Jalisco dance skirt.
First of all a lot of thought went into it before I even started because I wasn’t sure how to accomplish this. The Jalisco skirt was the easy part. I had made the braid to wear when I performed. The plastic bag was from a trip to Mexico. On the other hand, what would the background be? The 3D dancing outfit was sewn onto a contrasting background of traditional 2″ green squares. I was extremely passionate about presenting this piece. It meant a lot to me. Furthermore,I liked it so much I made another 3D quilt with a blue background.
Market Day, 40″ x 51″102 x 130 cm
Is this Art?
Back in 2009,I entered these two pieces into major art quilt show. I was being a brave artist putting myself out there for the first time. When they were not accepted, I thought that maybe they weren’t art. As I have gained more insight into the jurying process, thanks to SAQA(Studio Art Quilt Associates), I realized that; the curator works to create a unified vision of a show. My wonderful art pieces do not fit easily with others.Disappointed but not deterred. I kept creating art. I liked trying out different materials and styles to see how they played together.
Furthermore,sometimes what people say says the most about themselves. They are not brave to try something new. It is hard for them to try and create something new.
Over all,to me being brave is taking action even though one is scared or afraid. Creating frees me. It is something that I have to do. I keep going although not everyone around me understood my passion. Maybe being a brave artist is to continue to work without encouragement trying new styles, fabrics and techniques. Being a brave artist is staying true to yourself and your artist vision of the world. In that way it takes bravery to be an artist.
A winter storm is hitting the central coast of California on a day I had planned to create new work. Furthermore,I prefer to choose my colors and fabrics when my studio has natural light comes through the ceiling level windows of my studio. I am ready to go but the natural light is not so bright. By all means,make art in a less than perfect situation
In the Shadow of the Mountain, art quilt , 25″ x 20″ 51 x 64 cm
Therefore, I forge ahead. Throwing caution to the wind I begin. I tell myself that I will not finalize anything until the light is brighter. Yet I feel more free to not worry or stress, always a good way to create. This piece is not headed to a museum or even for a show. Just something fun to work on or play with. Be brave. Make art in a less than perfect situation.
The winter storms continued as I gave myself permission to choose colors in a less than perfect situation. In reality things aren’t too bad. I have heat and electricity. I have materials to make art. Motivated? Yes. I am just lacking as much light as I would like. I work in the brightest spot in my studio which happens to be on my ironing board. Throw caution to the wind and choose colors. It might not be what you planned but do your best anyway.
The Cove, 8″ x 8″ 20 x 20 cm
Turn it into a Learning Opportunity.
Most importantly,I notice that some color choices are less forgiving than others. Certain lime greens have to work perfectly with other greens to be included. Certain reds need to play together well also. I could avoid these colors and just play it safe. But what fun would that be? I decide that deep reds will be okay to work with.
On the one hand,some of my favorite pieces are hills with trees. Yet, I had never felt successful doing mountains. This day layers of mountains glide into one another filling the landscape with a variety of bright and muted colors. I don’t work from photographs. To be honest, it took me many years for my inspiration of the mountains surrounding La Quinta, southeast of Palm Springs, California to fall into place. Familar sheers as well Guatemalan woven fabrics filled my comfort zone yet were used in a new way.
Before I knew it I was off, creating layers of mountains criss crossing one another. Continuing to make art in a less than perfect situation propelled me in a new direction. Incorporating sheers for reflecting lights and using my Mayan fabrics in a new way held my interest through several art quilts.
Southwest Mountains, 24′ x 24″ 61 x 61cmShiny Mountain, 24″ x 24″ 61 x 61 cm
Sometimes working in a less than optimal situation is necessary. This forces one to address new ways to solve solutions. Furthermore, it can become a learning experience. Do not wait until the “perfect” situation arises to create art. Create where ever and whenever you are. The best artists remain resilient.
http://www.saqa.com/ Studiio Art Quilt Associates- International art quilters organization
These are my fabric business cards. I use small bits of fabric and batting to create these small 3″ x 4″ (8 x 10cm) business cards. Surely, the materials would be normally tossed in the trash. Of course, making these cards is more time consuming. In spite of that, it is a lovely way to use the fabric and reduce waste while creating these unique business cards.
As my business grew,the info on the card changed.At first my studio was in my house. Later I rented a spot at the local arts center. Now I include the address of my studio. Because my cards are hand written, changes can be made easily. Yet, in the beginning my main motivation was to find a practical use for all of the little bits of fabric and batting quilters generate.
Reactions to my Unique Business Cards
In reality, the first time I handed out a card to a work colleague, she actually screamed. It was a scream of joy and excitement. That gave me a clue that I was on to something.
More recently,I often get a positive response when I offer the cards to people. If someone seems interested in my art, I say, “Would you like one of my business cards?” I can tell that they are about to say no thank you until they see the small art quilts with the info written on it. Pointing to the small pieces of fabric,”These are your business cards?” Most do not pass on choosing one. People choose seriously the one they really like the best.
Sometimes people don’t want to take one thinking that it took me so much time to make it. I have to convince them that that is what I made them for. Some do choose to take a digital photo instead. Each card is a unique little piece of colorful art.
A New Art Medium
Art quilting is a new art medium that many are not familiar with. Each business card is a small example of an art quilt. By sharing these examples, I feel that I am educating the public to what an art quilt is. Hopefully, they will show their friendsand share what they have learned.
An Increase in Sales?
Have my unique business cards caused an increase in sales? That is hard to answer. My business has increased over the years. However, I am not sure that I can attribute it only to my cards. I can say that I have been remembered by others because of my cards. That is a definite win. I hope that the cards might spark a conversation or two.
a newer version of my business card
A Community Connection
Art connects a community. Open Studios and First Friday Art Walks are about more than selling art. Even though a sale is always a wonderful result. These events offer the community to have a conversation about our lives and our passions. In these Post-COVID times, feeling seen and heard becomes more important. My unique business cards help to connect community. They give people a little bit of art to take away with them. Furthermore, this small token is greatly appreciated.
One of my handmade fabric business cardsfabric business cards
My Central Coast California Community
My Central Coast California community has suffered real losses in the past several years through major forest fires, floods, and of course, the pandemic. When someone visits my Santa Cruz Art Center studio, I have no idea what they have been through. A recent visitor commented that he enjoyed seeing the unique fabric art quilts that I created. He especially liked my use of reflective sheer fabric for a pop and imaginative color combinations. He totally got what I was doing.
Moreover,there was something about the way he appreciated my unique business card. When he left and said, “Thank you for this lovely gift.” He inspired me to write this post.
I love my unique business cards for all they do. They are a simple yet powerful act of kindness, a sharing of art. They are an attempt to reduce and reuse materials while creating a step towards making my community a warmer, kinder place to be.
Do you have rules for yourself when making your art? You make the rules. You can break your own art rules. For a long time I had a rule for myself that once a piece of art was finished, I would leave it alone. I chose to not change or update a piece.
When I started exploring art quilts I didn’t really know what I was doing. As I got better and more confident, I decided to leave my previous work as it was. Could it be improved? Yes. But why not just move on. Oddly enough, while I knew I could do better, some of these early pieces sold.
Well, a decade passed. Now, I have a better sense of myself as an artist. I decided to take another look at certain pieces. I gave myself permission to rework a piece. If I make the rules then I can break the rule. I liked this freedom and lack of guilt. Break your own art rules.
A Prolific Artist
My fellow artists have called me prolific. That also means that I have a lot of work on hand. During the pandemic I took a different view, reusing a former piece in response to the George Floyd murder. I reused a beige,cream and black abstract art quilt (12″ x 14″ 30 x 36 cm) as a background. I appliqued a black male figure with a sparkly golden heart on top of the abstract piece. Break your own art rules.
Honoring Black Men 2020, 12″ x 14″ 30 x 36 cm $125.
Luckily,this piece was successful. I repeated the process with a cream colored abstract with green accents. This time I added a woman dressed in a skirt and serape for a Mexican theme.
Green and beige abstract art quilt form the background for a Mexican woman with a rebozo(shawl). 10″ x 12″ 25 x 30cm
Pumpkin pie,this abstract quilt began the background for a Day of the Dead skeleton.
Pumpkin Pie,
7″ x 8″ 18 x 20 cmPumpkin Pie reimagined with a skeleton,7″ x 8″ 18 x 20 cm
Breaking a Sewing Rule
I recently broke a sewing rule. I have been sewing since high school which is a long time ago. Somewhere along the way I got it into my head that when hemming a seam I should top stitch it. The stitches would supposedly look better that way. Recently I sewed several large fabric gift bags. First, I folded 1/4 ” fabric from the top and then another 1 1/2″ fold over. To sew this seam down easily, I sewed the seam down on the inside of the bag instead of on the front. However,if there was a difference it was slight.
Gridlock I ,black and white abstract art quilt 33″ x 31″ 84 x 79 cm
I cut up Gridlock I, a large black and white abstract piece( 33″ x 31″ 84 x 79 cm)into 4 smaller pieces. They are not all the same size to maintain a detail. However, because it is an abstract the four pieces work well independently. Changing a finished piece is something that I would never have done in the past. I broke my own rule. I come from the traditional bed quilt world. To me, this quilt seemed small compared with a double size bed quilt that I was used to making. However, as wall art it is too big. Many people don’t have a large wall to accommodate such a piece. Changing one’s mind is acceptable. Give yourself permission to do it. Break your own art rules.
What rules do you make for yourself? Maybe you have rules about certain colors or materials you use? Break your own art rules. No one will know or even care. Creativity might even flow!
What happens to unfinished quilt projects often called UFOs? See these quilt projects in a new way. Maybe they have mistakes or were not coming together asthe original maker intended. Someone may have passed before being able to finish a piece. Many times they are given away. I find these new opportunities in my quilting guild’s flea market.
Some of my first steps into creating art involved taking someone else’s unfinished projects and rethinking how they could be used. Looking back after a decade, I realise that seeing these quilt projects in a new way helped move my creativity forward. Maybe it can do the same for you.
This is a photo of a snapshot I took of this traditional quilt. I found the tulips at a garage sale along with the remaining pieces of fabric. The people were ecstatic that a passionate quilter would finish their mother’s quilt. I used the extra fabric to design and create the sashing and other blocks including the bargello,the stepping stone pieces.
Sorry No Photo
I adopted someone’s squares with colorful 3D stars. I reimagined them as Mexican pinatas. Then I added an iguana to watch the pinata fun.Unfortunately I don’t have any photos of the whimsical piece. Partly because I had no confidence that they were worthwhile. Partly because I completed it before digital cameras made taking photos so easy. However, the quilt did sell at the quilt auction at our annual show.
I made this traditional blue and cream baby quilt from discarded half triangle blocks. Before one is aware, your brain stretches to think in a different way.In addition,it frees your mind to consider a new way of looking at the blocks. Train your brain to do things a bit differently. Leave patterns and instructions behind. Seeing quilt projects in a new way exercises the brain.
With some blocks, I discovered that they had been discarded for a reason. Maybe they were not enough of them to do anything with. Sometimes the blocks were not all the same size. Yet I persevered. I continued to use these unfinished quilt projects in a new way to create a new unique quilt. Little did I know that this unknown direction would lead me down a path to see things differently.
Birdhouse Blocks
I found these bird houses many years ago. Someone had put a lot of work into making them. Yet around that time, I moved away from working with traditional blocks. They remained stored away.
Finally, I decided to pair them with an art quilt tree that I had made. The scene seemed a bit empty of birds in spite of being two main habitats for them. Therefore, taking an environmental angle,I named the piece Remember Birds ?
For many years scrub jays and robins made common appearances in my yard. Yet now I am actually overjoyed to see these previously common birds. I am not sure why they are no longer common. We did have a devastating forest fire not too far off. Or was it the many aggressive crows that had moved in?
True Confessions Time
I am not a fan of commercially made patterns. In my sewing days,I had several bad experiences which I blame on the commercial patterns I used. We pay our money and expect them to deliver. I have never used an artist made pattern. Using a pattern is not an option for me. Maybe that makes it is easier for me than for some to take this path towards creativity.
Unknown Paths
Sometimes we start down paths that we don’t even know are taking us somewhere. We are just trying something new. We have no idea of the ultimate affect they will have on our artistic lives. That is what happened to me. I saw beautiful traditional blocks that were put up for adoption at my guild’s flea market. Someone had put a lot of work into these blocks. Saving me time and energy I thought maybe I could use them for one of my quilts.
In Conclusion
Consider seeing unfinished quilt projects in a new way by reusing someone’s blocks . This is something anyone can do where ever they are in their quilting path. You are the boss. You make the choices. Will they all be successful ? Maybe yes, maybe not. But that is how we learn.
Why do you begin an art quilt? Each person’s motivation to start an art quilt is different. Many people begin with a photo they want to copy. Others learn a new technique that they want to try out. Most of us are motivated by the fabric. My motivation is a bit different. Many times I decide it is time to use up a particular fabric or material. For instance, I have had the material for too long. Moreover,it is time for it to go. Yes, I realise this sounds a bit wacky.
City Lights, 22″ x 24″ 56 cm x 61cm
Of course, part of the challenge for myself is to use the fabric in an artistic way. City Lights started because I had a lot of blue cotton fabric I wanted to use. I made it in 2012 at the beginning of my art quilt career. It was juried into the All About the Blues in the ARC Gallery in Chicago.
Beginning an Art Quilt
My attitude of trying to use up fabric frees me up from a certain attachment to fabric. Moreover, I work intuitively. I do not draw or design an image to begin. That is not the way I work. I like to see how the materials fit with one another. Friends call me a prolific artist. Maybe being unfettered to the design process or creative process frees me to create more. I hear people say that I worked so long on a piece that I couldn’t sell it. That is not me. I love my work but I am a bit more detached.
Sea Turtles, Art Quilt
Sea Turtles 35″ x 23″ 89cm x 58cm
Surprisingly some of my most successful pieces were made when I decided to use up materials. I had a piece of turquiose blue fabric with metallic dots or bumps on it. I had had it for a awhile. All in all, it seemed like a perfect beginning for the background of an underwater fantasy. That is how Sea Turtles started. What makes a piece successful? Foremost in my opinion, I like the way it turned out. In addition, Sea Turtles sold.
Improvisional Quilting
Improvisional quilting is the term for the way I work. I do minimal planning. I choose one of my portfolios whether nature, Mexican inspired or abstract. Then I choose a color wave of 3-4 colors. Next, I see how different fabrics play together. I eliminate those that don’t really go well together. Finally I sew them together. In a nutshell, that is how I work.
Reducing and Redirecting
Reducing and redirecting fabric is a major motivation for me also. Luckily, I have access to discontinued high end designer fabric samples. These unique fabrics stimulate creativity. However, great art can be made with just about any material. One problem this causes me is that because I want to use up the fabric, my pieces become larger, around 40″ x 60″ 102cm x 150cm. Yet many buyers live in smaller places which may limit sales for a larger piece of art.
Sharing Your Process
When I hear others share their process or way of working I often think “Wow, that is really different from the way I do things.” They sure put a lot of time into planning and the execution of their piece. One process is not better or worse than another one. We all have our own unique way of creating. Drawing and planning is just not the way I work. Of course, time is not an issue when making a precious heirloom for a loved one.
No Art Degree
Furthermore, I have noticed that people with a strong educational experience in art have high expectations for what they should be doing and how they should be doing it. However,I am not fettered by an art degree or even many art classes . I come from the sewing clothes and traditional bed quilt world. I create art with those techniques. Yet, I harbor no preconceived notions about what I should be doing in the art world. I am as surprised as anyone that my work is selling. My motto is work hard and have low expectations. That way everything can only be up from there. Remember, creating is supposed to be fun.
Above all,whatever one’s motivation or inspiration to get started to create is fine. One way is not better than another. Part of art’s job is to take us to a different place, a better place. Relax and don’t sweat the small stuff. What motivates you?
Art Quilters, see fabric in a new way. Above all, creating art is about seeing things in a new way. A class or video frees us to learn new techniques. However,the technique one uses is not the only part that makes the quilt an art quilt. Art quilters often use traditional quilting techniques and others to create something new. In this post, I will focus on seeing fabric, our basic material, in a new way.
Our Sight is Unique.
In reality, one’s sight is unique. No one sees things the same way. Moreover, our perception of colors is individual. In addition, hues change depending on what color is next to it. Furthermore,the amount of light available also affects the way we see colors. Nonetheless,knowing these things frees me to not worry so much about having to find the perfect color. Numerous variables affect the hues and values anyway.
Remember, vision actually takes place in the brain. Connect with what your brain is saying. However,make sure your brain is not sending you negative talk. But truly observe the lines,shapes, and images printed on the fabric. Consider how they could be used and perceived in a unique way.
See Fabric in a New Way
While pondering a piece of fabric,a quilter might start with how one would normally use the fabric. Start there. But then quickly leave that thought behind. Imagine a different way to use the fabric. One that you haven’t done before.
Yet, how do we truly see fabric in a new way? Turn the fabric upside down or sideways. Use the back side of the fabric instead of the front. Furthermore,look at parts of the fabric that can be cut and used differently. Large flowers or other large prints may be cut into smaller pieces to become parts of something else. Make your work impressionistic. Let the viewer decide what they think something is.
Rebirth of a Forest
Limit the Line of Vision
Some people find it helpful to limit their line of vision. Use a small empty photo frame or cutout cardboard frame to focus one’s eye.For example,move the frame around on top of the fabric while blocking out the rest. Some find it easier to focus their attention with this simple tool.Use this to choose a part of the fabric that you want to use in a new way.
A Personal Example
Rebirth of a Forest 29″ x 22″ 73cm x 56cm
May I share a personal example? I had fabric printed with what looked like whole coffee beans to me. Nonetheless,that is what I was reminded of. I couldn’t get that image out of my brain. I tried to see the fabric in a new way. Then I thought that maybe others wouldn’t see coffee beans. It became the trunk of a tree in Rebirth of a Forest after our devastating forest fire. Similarly, practice looking at the fabric in a new way.
Steamy Rainforest,an art quilt, 15″ x 15″ 38cm x 38cmMexican Iguana, an art quilt,23″ x 21″ 58cm x 53cm
Other Ideas-Reimagine the Fabrics
Start with a fabric that you normally might not use. Maybe choose a so called ugly fabric. How would you make it appear better? For instance, what can you put next to it so that looks more pleasing? If you usually use one fabric style, attempt to use it in a way that you have never have. For example, I recently used Guatemalan fabrics to create the branches and foliage in landscape quilts, Mexican Iguana and Steamy Rainforest. Previously I had used the Guatemalan fabric only as a strip or a block. Furthermore,imagine a different way to use a fabric from what you usually do. Above all any new skill, practice is important. Moreover,practice takes time.
Skies Over Lake Atitlan, 24″ x 29″ 61 cm x74 cm,an art quilt. This is how I would normally use Guatemalan fabrics.
New Colors
Try colors that you are not comfortable with. Furthermore, a new color combination is a good way to shake patterns up. If this is difficult for you, just change the hues and tones of fabric as a baby step. Practice with a small piece if necessary.
Let the Fabric Help You
How can the fabric help you with something new? We have all tried to find shapes and figures in clouds. Think of it that way. Multicolored batiks and other fabrics can add colors and shapes. What do you see in their fabric patterns? Then cut them out and use them in this new way.
A New Style of Fabric
Choose a different style of fabric from what you usually use.If you usually use stripes, try a batik. Use the fabric for a totally different way. The result will be surprising. Use large Asian flower fabrics as a rock. When cutting or designing a shape, imagine the fabric as material. Ignore the print that normally grabs your eye. Once I chose a fabric based only on the curved lines. It was only later that I saw that the lines were actually greyhounds dogs.
Skyward, 25″ x 23″ 64cm x 58cm art quilt made from greyhound dog fabricCan you see the dogs underneath the couched threads?
Ways to Focus on the Fabric
Notice the lines and shapes of the objects printed on tbe fabric. What do they remind you of? Practice seeing something unique that the manufacturer didn’t plan.The result may be surprising. Reimagine the fabrics to add a new spark to your art quilts.
Focus on the positive space and negative spaces. Positive space is the object itself. Negative space is the space around it that is not the object. Focus on the angles and lines both horizontal and vertical. How can they be highlighted in a new way? Notice the shapes, contours, shadows, and groups of lines of the object rather than the object. This is not easy at first. Give yourself time to practice seeing things differently.
Don’t be Afraid to cut up Fabric.
So often I hear people say that they love the fabric so much that they don’t want to cut it up. Or that they are afraid that cutting the fabric will ruin it. This thought pattern prevents one from trying new things. One must move past these thoughts to create art. Enjoy the fabric for a while but not forever before using.
Bag of Cultural Gems with Day of the Dead fabric 29″ x 22″ 74 cm x 56cm
True Confession Time
I confess that I had a piece a fabric for a long time without cutting it. A Day of the Dead Mexican skeleton fabric hung on the back of my studio door a long time. Then I cut it up and used it in several art quilts.
Another confession I have to make is I tried making landscape quilts matching the items printed on the fabric to the scene I wanted to make. I searched for rocks printed on fabric. To be honest this gave me a supreme headache. I am not prone to headaches. It was not fun either. I have since chosen to create my own rocks.I use both solid fabric and printed fabrics. However,the printed fabric is not printed with rocks.
Overlook, 35″ x 26″ 89 cm x 66cm Notice the of solid fabric rocks. The tree truck is made from a floral piece of linen, couched with yarn.
In Conclusion
Reimagine the fabric to add a new spark to your art quilts. I offer different ideas to use in a wide ranges of techniques and skill level. Some lend themselves to one technique over another. For example, cutting out fabric and adding to a landscape art quilts may be an easy place to start. However, continue exploring. Small changes can have a big affect.
Take baby steps. It can be scary to try something new. Give yourself time to get used to it. Like any new skill, practice is important. Practice takes time. We all get stuck in a rut. It is easy and comfortable to do things the same way that we have always done.
An artist is curious and open to new things. Being creative starts with asking questions? How can I make this better or different? What if I did this a different way? Experiment. Move away from the conventional. Take what you learned in a class and make it your own.Create a point of view and share it with the world. Begin by seeing fabric differently.
I hope that these ideas inspire you. I would love to see what you come up with.
What do you call these animals? I call them sowbugs.
How sow bugs taught me to be persistent in art. Sow bugs, pill bugs,rolypollys, or maybe you use another name are a common garden inhabitant. Surprisingly these bugs are crustaceans not insects.Sow bugs are more closely related to shrimp and crayfish than to insects. Nonetheless, by observation, sow bugs taught me to be persistent in art.
Several decades ago my husband and I bought an old farmhouse. We gutted the interior before adding new drywall and a new interior. Part of the process involved knocking down an old brick chimney. In reality the chimney didn’t seem to be of much use. We did save and reuse the bricks. My unskilled labor was put to use separating the bricks from the crumbling cement and stacking them for later use.This of course took numerous days of labor.
Sow bugs taught me how to be persistent in art.
As I separated the dirt and the bricks, the sowbugs appeared. At first, as I dug out the bricks, I didn’t pay much attention to them. I kept working, separating the bricks, removing the dirt and stacking bricks. I started to notice their behavior.If dirt from a shovel landed on the sow bugs,they dug themselves out and continued on their merry way like nothing had happened.They were not deterred. The bugs were persistent. I was amazed. If I had a load of dirt dumped on me, I would have to stop for at least a minute. The visual of the sow bugs continuing on stayed with me all of these years. They taught me to be persistent.
So Called Human Qualities
I have come to realise that many so called human qualities are rooted in our animal past. Compassion and love are not as unique to humans as previously thought. Science has shown animals to be generous and empathetic among other qualities. Persistence seems to be one of them.
An artist needs to be persistent. That just means that you keep going. Keep trying. Don’t get confused into thinking one needs to be annoying as in pestering. Putting oneself out in the world is not easy. One must not give up. Give yourself permission to take a break at times as needed. However,forge on no matter what dirt the world dumps on you. If the lowly sowbug can continue on, surely an artist can too.
Who isn’t entralled with the incredible colorful childrens’ prints available? I chose fabric based on the colors or animals I wanted. However, I never paid much attention to scale. As shoppers we buy these fabrics with great plans in mind. Yet when one gets home, it can be difficult to match the fabric with others due to scale issues. The animals on childrens’ prints are often not the right scale or size to go together. Pay attention to scale.
Color or Animal
The sea theme and colors are the same but the scale is not. So much to keep in mind.Small whales, the largest is 2″ or 5 cm
The above piece of fabric with whales never seems to fit with other materials. The “largest” whale is 2 inches long,much too small. It seems strange that a whale would be considered too small.
It bears repeating that we usually we choose fabrics based on the particular animal or color of the fabric. Last on the list or not there at all is the size or scale of the print. The print artist can choose to make a small animal large or a large animal small. To my brain, it is most pleasing if the animals printed on the fabric have a similar size and scale. There are always exceptions of course depending on the quilt style. For example,place a large print in the middle of the quilt to highlight it. Then add smaller prints on the sides.
I Spy Quilts
I Spy Quilts are generally patchwork quilts using many fabrics printed with different everyday objects on them. The game is named for the guessing game, I Spy. One person says I Spy an item. The other person tries to find it quickly. In a variation one person describes an item as a clue to find it. This game is especially fun for a young child developing their language skills and vocabulary. The purpose of an I Spy quilt may be to engage in child’s play. However, paying attention to the scale of the items will make the quilt more attractive between games.
A Recent Donation
Recently someone gave me large donation of children’s fabric. Big hopes and dreams for loved ones that didn’t get made. Maybe the children grew too fast or changed their interests. Maybe life prevented the sewer from completing the project. Seeing so much charming fabric made me realize the importance of scale. It also made me think of the challenges it presents.
Quilting with children’s prints is fun. Choosing a color range makes for a more pleasing overall effect. The scale of the animal or object is not the most essential part. However,consider scale for more pleasing artistic endevour. Yet,the affect of scale can not be ignored.
Talking to the public about your art is important. However, it is not always an easy thing for artists to do. My home town has a vibrant art scene. Long before I had even considered becoming a quilt artist, I attended local art shows. Naturally, I was drawn to the fiber arts. During this time I had several experiences that informed my later experiences dealing with the public.
Talking to an Artist
At one art event the artist made beautiful artful jackets. I wanted to say something. Yet, I had no idea what to say. I just admired her work. Perhaps I would just say,” Hey,I sew too.” I had no clue as to what I expected her to say.
Knowing how to Engage the Public
Knowing how to engage the public can be difficult. I patiently waited while she spoke with someone else she seemed to know well. When their conversation was over, she turned and walked in the opposite direction from me. It was obvious that I had been waiting to talk to her. Much disappointment on my part. I don’t know what I expected but being left alone was not it. Instead of connecting with a fan, she literally turned her back on her public. Why did she do this? Was she shy? Possibly? or uncomfortable speaking to strangers? Not comfortable talking about her art? It is hard for me to know. It is likely one of these issues.
Another Fiber Artist
Another time a few years later, I spoke with a fiber artist. She cut up antique paper to create abstract art. Having viewed her art several times, I really liked it. The conversation went something like this. “I think you are my favorite artist.” Dead silence.I am not sure what I expected her to say. But what I didn’t expect was nothing. No response from the artist. Aren’t we generally taught to at least say thank you when someone gives one a compliment? It seems that she missed an opportunity to talk about her work. She could have asked me which was my favorite piece or maybe given me a sales pitch of some kind.
What I have Noticed as a Artist
Now that I am an artist, I am on the receiving side of comments. I have noticed that sometimes the public will make unusual comments. The public is not always sure of what to say. At times it comes out strange. Sadly, I can’t remember an example to share. Yet,I believe that people just want to make a connection with the artist.
Don’t get Waylaid by a Weird Comment
Rather getting stuck on responding to the weird comment, I usually just take it that the person wants to interact with the artist. So I reply with information about myself. For example, I talk about my three portfolios, how I got started in quilts and then switched to art quilts.This tactic has proven successful.
One Visitor’s Technique
Many visitors return each month on the First Fridays Art Tour.One such visitor to my studio always said “What is new? Show me your new work.” His young son came in alone while his father remained next door with another artist. The son also asked the same thing. They had a practiced system for engaging artists. Artists can develop a similar plan.
What I Learned
What I learned from these experiences. Obviously artists are all different individuals with unique personalities. Meeting the public is not easy for many.Talking about ourselves or our work is also something people are often not comfortable with. How to fix this situation?
Be Prepared.
Talking to the public and knowing what to say takes practice. Create a laser statement about your work. This is often called an elevator speech. Describe how you work in a few sentences. Practice so that you are comfortable with what you want to say. It could include a bit about your background, inspirations, art process or how long you have been doing art. Remember that you are basically inviting the public into your space. It is your job to make them feel comfortable. It is your party! Welcome your guests!
Be aware of how you are using the phrase, thank you. Thank you is often used in several different ways without us being aware of it. One way that we use it is to end a conversation or transaction. In the art world, we want to keep the conversation focussed on our art. After an artful compliment, follow up with your motivation or inspiration for the piece. Practice makes perfect. Pertaining to a sale, I was once advised to say,”Congratulations on purchasing a piece of art” rather than thank you. By using this phrase, the conversation is elevated for the better.
Treating people with respect is a definite. Respond as you would normally with a direct response. Speak to others as you would like to be spoken to. Relax, smile and do your best. It will get easier.
I recently sold a piece at a First Fridays event. The person loved the small Mexican inspired art quilt. As we finished the transaction, he specifically thanked me for explaining my work to him.
Build on Previous Successes
Often times artists enter the art world after success and experience in other fields. Many of the skills from other jobs transfer well to the second career as an artist. Written and oral communication skills,organizational skills, computer skills and cross job descriptions. Rely on those skills to build your confidence in your new career.
Be Intuitive.
Being intuitive when engaging the public can help you decide the direction of conversation. Recognize that all conversations will not result in a sale. Many people begin sharing about their family’s experience with quilts. If they have a family heirloom at home, will they want to buy another one from you? That is unlikely, in my opinion. Are they fellow quilters? Then they may be interested in your materials and what your process is. Are they beginning to move into the art realm? Maybe they would like to sign up for a class or mentoring.
Knowing when Not to Talk.
Knowing when not to talk to the public is important too. Picking up on little clues helps. Being in the moment helps. During one Open Studios event, a couple came in. They looked around a lot and seemed interested. I tried to engage them in conversation on several topics without much luck. They were not speaking much to each other either. I kept quiet. Later I realized that they were in disagreement as to which piece to buy. My discussion was getting in the way. They bought a large underwater fantasy. Yet, this couple did not desire a lot of interaction.
Get Help.
It is fairly difficult for all artists to possess the wide range of skills necessary for an art career. One should consider developing the skills that they lack. If that is not possible, then get help. If you find that it is just too much for you to interact with the public, find a friend or family member to help you. There is nothing like having someone else singing the praises of your work or what you have accomplished. Especially if they do it in a professional way.
Ways to engage the public.
Disclaimer- I am not an expert on communications. There are many great articles on the internet on this topic. That said my first career as a teacher required me to speak to awide range of people.
Dress the Part.
I like to dress the part something on the artistic side that might identify me as the artist. Before I even say anything, they know that they are in my space. This is time to put on your professional hat. I wouldn’t wear a paint splattered shirt. But that is me. If you are showing your work in the hopes of selling it, then it is the time to show your professional side.
Greet People
Greet people. Make them welcome in your space. Let them know that you are the artist. During First Fridays I display my art in the lobby of the Art Center. My studio is a small area in an unusual corner that is not always obvious. So I point out where my studio is. I bring out my work for First Fridays Art Tour and our annual Open Studios. What is obvious to you may not be obvious to the first time visitor. Use a simple explanation of your situation or layout to engage them.
Practice makes perfect. Think ahead of time of certain information that you would like to share with the public. How long you have been working on your craft? What is your process like? Where do you get your materials? What are you inspired by? Talk about your newest pieces.These are just examples. Speaking to strangers about your art does become easier with practice.
Artist made fabric business card about 3″ x 4″ 8 cm x 10 cm Artist made fabric business card about 3″ x 4″ 8 cm x 10 cm
Listening to what someone is saying is important. Each art show is an opportunity to learn and develop one’s skills. Keep an open mind. Every conversation is not about making a sale. Enjoy. Feel out the situation. Be authentic. Some people want to talk while others don’t. One has to be open to either situation.
Remember Maya Angelou’s quote,”I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” Did the visitor feel welcome? Did the visitor learn something about your art? Talking to the public is what Open Studios is all about.
Issues I need to work on
Issues I need to work on while talking to the public.My town is on the tourist trail. I often ask where they are from. That is fine. My mistake is that I will talk about a trip I took to their area rather than drawing attention to my art or my process. Some topics are easier to talk about than myself and my art. I need to direct the conversation to my art and my process.
Engaging with a Fellow Fiber Artist
More recently I went to a local arts fair. I wanted to connect with a fellow fiber artist. He sold jackets with ethnic fabrics as I often used. Mentioning that I have made my own clothes and now I do art quilts. Furthermore I commented that I had just spoken with a fellow artist who was wearing a vest he had made. I was looking for an artist to artist conversation. But this fellow couldn’t switch gears. He kept showing me fabrics that he had available to make a jacket out of. Listening and switching gears can be hard.
The Story Continues
The story continues. A few months after our first encounter this artist came to my studio. I was in the middle of a project. Yet, he popped in and said, “I just wanted to say hi. Don’t want to interrupt. I am also a maker. ” Oh, what kind of a maker are you? As he spoke I realized that I had met him before at this studio. I told him this. I mentioned that I had read something about his work in the local press. His demeanor was quite different from our first meeting. We all have our bad nights. We all just need to do our best and be kind to one another. The important thing is to listen and learn from our experiences. My impression of him is totally different after our second encounter.
In Conclusion
In conclusion, thank you for letting me share some experiences that informed how I talk with the public. Be yourself. But make the people feel comfortable entering your special space. Knowing what to say to engage the public takes practice in order for it to become second nature. With time it should become easier. Enjoy the time sharing your art.
Art Quilters, how to discover your artistic signature. Every great artist has a signature style or technique. A signature style is something the artist includes in each piece that identifies the art as uniquely theirs. Without looking at the name, we know who made the piece. Sometimes we can tell the style and time period of the art piece just by looking. Yvonne Porcella, founder of SAQA added black and white checkerboards to many of her pieces. What is a favorite technique or style of yours? What do you readily include in each piece? While my example are my art quilts, the process for recognizing an artistic signature is similar across genres.
How I Found One of my Artistic Styles
I fell in love with these small geometric pieces.
Art quilters I discovered one of my artistic style quite by accident while working on a very large abstract quilt commission. The piece was almost finished. I needed only a little bit more maybe 6 ” .Yet, there was a only small amount of fabric left. Not worth going to to store for.Nonetheless, I had a bunch of 2 to 3 inch pieces of fabric. I sewed those smaller pieces together.Surprisingly, they formed interesting geometric shapes. At the same time, they saved the day.
Art quilters how to discover your artistic style accidently.
Furthermore,I liked the affect. I started sewing leftover pieces of fabric together to make a bigger piece.Then I added these geometrically shaped pieces to other works of art. Basically I feel like I discovered an iconic signature style for my work. A win-win situation-Making interesting shapes while finding a use for small fabric pieces.
Discover Other Artistic Styles
There are several other techniques that I generally like to use. I found these when I wasn’t looking for them. But I repeated them and now I generally use them. Art quilters discover your artistic style. What techniques or themes do you use often?
Rusty Leaves,29″ x 21″, 2021
In my tree quilts, I often make the leaves reach beyond the edges to form an irregular finished edge. When I first did this I tried to create something unusual. It proved very popular with the viewing public. Many people comment on being drawn to it. Sometimes the edges begin about half way up the right and left sides continuing across the top of the art quilt.
Overlook is covered with tulle netting, a signature technique.
Fabric Layering Technique
I use the fabric layering technique to create my trees and other Nature art quilts. People have mentioned that they knew it was my quilt because of the technique. I create a scene and cover it with tulle netting before free motion quilting the piece.
Include 3D Fibers on Abstract Art Quilts
Sunset Through the Forest, 34″ x 32″ 2019
Abstract art quilts are one of my three portfolios. I like to add texture through the use of 3D fibers and decorative threads sewn on top of fabric. Many times the decorative threads are couched(zigzagged). At times they may not be totally attached to the art quilt. In general I am drawn to 3D genres of art.
Find your Artistic Signature.
Keep creating. Find techniques or materials that you like. Keep using them. Your signature piece will reveal itself to you over time. It will want to be in each piece you make. Pay attention when someone comments that I knew that was your piece without looking at the name. Finding your artistic signature will not be easy. It will take time to develop as your artistic career grows. But it will be worth the effort.
As an abstract art quilter, I am always looking for unusual color combos. They show themselves to me in the most random of places. Read to learn how I found unusual color combos in art.
Lingering Fog, 34″ x 34″ 87cm x 87cm
A previous post discussed the steps for creating a light and dark grey piece contrasting with lime green. I discovered this unusual color combo when I noticed scraps I had tossed on the floor. Serendipitious success. How I found unusual color combos in unusual places.
How I found unusual color combos in art.
Recently I found pieces of fabric from different projects that I had thrown together in a bag. I discovered a charming unusual color combo of light purple and a yellow orange.
Spring Sunset 12″ x 12 ” 30cm x 30cm
Meanwhile, I looked up the name for a yellow orange color. It is called amber. What? I thought amber was a darker color. Surprisingly,it turns out that amber is directly between yellow and orange on the color wheel. As a result,I am now convinced that the color is amber.
Lilac
Lilac, a light or medium purple has not always been my favorite color. Growing up it was the springtime purple of choice. Maybe my mother’s dislike for the color influenced me.
However in these times of COVID I find my choice of colors changing. Previously my mantra of Color! Texture! Movement! usually included bold bright colors. These days the colors of choice are lighter and subtle creating calm and peaceful emotions.
Goldenrod Blush,31″ x 32″ 79cm x 81cm 2022
My focus on incorporating texture and movement remain. For some of the fabrics,I sewed a layer of lace on top of a sturdier fabric. Next, I couched (zigzagged)decorative threads on top. Then I cut the lace into smaller pieces.You may be interested in reading other blogs on how to add more texture to your art quilts.
A color coordinated fabric storage area looks appealing. However, it reduces the chance for coming across an unusual color combination.
Certainly, finding unusual color combinations begins with open eyes and an open mind. Unfortunately there are no easy pathways forward. Ultimately,each artist must take this road on their own.
Learn more about the international organization for art quilters, Studio Art Quilt Associates. https://www.saqa.com/
Just like everyone else new quilters make mistakes. Mistakes are part of the process of becoming a master quilter regardless if you are making art quilts or traditional quilts. Most of us are not proud of our earliest works. Yet, when an artist is accomplished, they make it look easy. The artists have practiced so much that it is hard to imagine that they ever made mistakes. Here is a review of several mistakes new quilters make.
Mistake #1-Poor Fabric Choices
Thinking one can make a quilt out of just any piece of fabric that they have. Yes, people make quilts out of used clothes or fabric that they have. But for a successful piece, their choices are based on their knowledge and their experience with that fabric. Plus if there is a problem then an experienced sewer or quilter will have an idea about how to fix the problem.
There is a reason that commercially available clothing patterns list the types of fabric that would work best. New quilters can stick with 100% cotton for the most success.
Another Mistake New Quilters Make
An acquaintance with limited sewing experience wanted to make a baby quilt to give to a friend. She choose to use soft and stretchy fabrics that she had left over from other projects. Soft and stretchy materials are difficult to work with.
On the other hand, parents are rightly concerned about what will touch their baby’s skin. One hundred per cent cotton fabric is safe and the most comfortable for a baby. On the other hand, soft minky fabric is nice for a backing.
Mistake #2-Washability and Care of the Quilt
Cotton fabric that is 100% cotton is easily washed. My inexperienced friend chose a dark multicolored patterned fabric for the baby quilt. Of course,patterns and styles of choice change. However,most new families want a light colored quilt. They are also concerned about washability.The color choices for this baby quilt were dark. In my opinion, the colors didn’t even coordinate well. In addition, most parents would prefer new materials to be used with an infant.
Mistake #3-Lack of experience with a sewing machine
In my opinion, the major sewing machine brands are of good quality. Even older and more older machines work well. That said when I bought my Lily Husquavarna over 20 years ago, a particular brand of thread was recommended to use with the machine. Quite by accident, I learned that other brands actually had better results. People swear by their Bernina machines yet I read that they can be fussy about the correct needle being used for the type of project. Learning the quirks of one’s machine is part of the learning process.
Mistake #4 Lack of Process Planning
Creating an art piece takes a loose plan. One needs to have an idea of what part needs to be completed before another part. Often an inexperienced art quilter will create a beautiful part without an idea of how to mount or display it. For example, an intricite portrait will be created, Yet,the artist will then not know what they need to do next. How should it be displayed? What fabric would highlight the work?
Similarly, at the beginning of her art career,a very talented fiber artist would make nature inspired 3D works. She wanted them to be free standing. Yet, she made them without planning for the structure that would allow them to be free standing. As I tried mixed media and assemblage,I remembered that lesson. Consider the final structure first. How will it hang? How will it stand up?
Mistake #5-Poor Color Choices
Quite a few years ago, a friend asked me to make a baby quilt for a relative. We went to the fabric store together to choose some fabrics. These are the green and blue fabrics she chose. While each fabric has its merits individually, I would never have chosen them to be the only fabrics in a quilt. As it was an early commission for me, I didn’t feel at the time that I should say anything. However, this poor color choice stayed with me for a long time.Needlessto say, I have developed my artist’s voice over the years. I would definitely express my opinion if this happened again. It pushed me to rethink and validate my experience in choosing colors.
Two fabrics,blue floral and green
A friend mentioned to me today that her sister made a quilt for her.They had lots of blocks with hand embroidery added. The friend didn’t really like the quilt. Her sister said she didn’t have to keep it if she didn’t like it. The friend wasn’t sure what to do. She mentioned that her sister’s quilting skills were not so good. The sister mainly made quilts for the family. When I finally saw a photo of the friends’s quilt, I had to admit that it had some charm. Maybe not totally to my friend’s taste but still charming in its own right.
Nonetheless,this reminded me of the steps that people go through before they attain mastery. Lots of mistakes are made along the pathway to excellence. However, when someone looks at a quilter’s successful piece, the failures are not visible.
In Conclusion
My intent is not to criticize or shame someone’s efforts. We all start somewhere. However,I want to acknowledge the effort and experience that goes into the long path towards the mastery of skills. Our passion pushes us to continue to learn from the mistakes that new quilters make.
Great Blue Heron at Dusk The first art quilt I entered in an art show. 2010
Sources of One’s Creativity
An online art quilt group asked, Who was your favorite art teacher in high school? It just so happened that when I read this post, I was in the midst of planning an important high school reunion. The question resonated with me; however, not as expected. I had never taken art in high school.In college,my art courses totaled three quarters.
What are the sources of My Creativity?
I have won several awards for my work. I have participated numerous times in our courty’s juried Open Studios Art Walk. My art has been published several times in Art Quilting Studio. Several pieces were purchased by Kaiser Permanente. The art hangs in their Scotts Valley and Watsonville, California facilities.
So what is the Source of my Creativity?
I am fair at drawing stick figures and certain animals due to my time as an elementary English as a Second Language Teacher. My painting skills are nill. I did have some art training when my school became an arts infused school. When real artists taught my students, I practiced and learned along with them.
My True Passion
But sewing is my true passion. It was my first choice for an elective class for two years in high school. The rest of my life I practiced and honed my sewing skills that contribute to the success of my current art. Today my interest is in adding Color! Texture! Movement to each of my works of art.
Designing Outfits
Back in the day, I remember designing my school outfits with a variety texture in mind without realizing the lasting effects of those efforts. People have commented that I have a good sense of color. I also attribute this to my earlier efforts to dress fashionably. I wrongly assumed that this practice came easily to most.
This is the type of sweater popular when I was in high school.
The source of my so-called talent or skill is definitely traceable to my high school years with Mrs. La Meter, the sewing teacher. She encouraged smooth zippers and flat bound buttons.
I am as surprised as anyone about my success as I never started out to become an artist. Practice is key.
What is the source of your creativity?
Updated Ponderings of 2022
I continue to search and wonder at the sources of my passion for creating fabric art. I have minimal art training. On the other hand, I do have a life long passion for fabric and sewing clothing . Later moving on to traditional quilts and then art quilts.
I met another artist recently and spent the day with her. She shared her passion for drawing and painting. Whenever she has a free moment,she sketches what is around her. Whether she is waiting in line at the bank or a gas station, her sketch book is never far.
Sketching
Inspired by this new friend,while waiting on the phone for a bank representative, I tried to emulate her. I began to sketch the fresh pineapple on the kitchen table. I looked and sketched and looked and sketched. It didn’t turn out half bad. The problem was I wasn’t interested in continuing. Sketching didn’t hold my attention for a long period of time. I am sure if I kept at it I could become competent. There is the important part.
The Answer
It brought home the fact that the activity must engage the person enough that they will stick to it. It doesn’t matter if they are good or not. However, they must want to continue with it over a long period of time in order to master a variety of skills and become extremely proficient. It doesn’t matter what the skill or art form is. No one starts out a master. But they must be interested enough to continue doing it over and over. That is the source of creativity.
Follow these free motion quilting hacks to help you master free motion quilting. I share the techniques and suggestions that have helped me achieve success. What does one need to get started? Can something be saved for a later date?
Overlook 35″ x 26″ 89 cm x 66cm 2018 Uses the fabric layering technique.
What do you Need to get Started?
a sewing machine that lets you lower or cover the feed dogs
a darning foot
Aurifil brand 100% cotton thread (found in better quilting stores)
What can you Put Off for later?
In my experience, these things that can be left for later. It is a personal choice. I saw quilting gloves mentioned as a necessary item to begin free motion quilting. I personally have never used these.They may be helpful for someone. But they don’t seem esseential to begin.
Many quilters like myself are draw to charming stipple quilting. On the one hand, stipple quilting is lovely and adds a lot to your quilt. On the other hand, it draws attention to the quilting. For this reason, it isn’t the best for a beginner. Leave stipple quilting until later when you are more skilled. I use another technique that works better for quilters new to free motion quilting. See hack 3.
Free Motion Quilting Hack -1
A darning foot is also necessary. If your machine didn’t come with one, they are easy to obtain. Buy one for your brand machine.
a darning foot
Free Motion Quilting Hacks-2
The best thread to use is Aurifil brand thread 50 weight 100% cotton. It comes in a lot of colors. However, it is generally only available in better quilting stores. At first, a spool can seem expensive. However, the thread is very thin. There is a lot of thread on each spool. I once pieced and quilted a complete double size bed using only one spool of this thread. This thread is highly recommended for free motion quilting. It truly will make or break your work. In the beginning, choose a thread color that matches the background. The threads blend in. Irregular lengths of stitches won’t show as much.
Aurifil thread 50wt
Free Motion Quilting Hacks-3
My preferred method of free motion quilting is to use the fabric layering technique. In the beginning,I was able to practice with satisfactory skills. As a result, I continued practicing. Therefore, leading to the mastery of the skill. My machine is a 20 year old Lily Husquarna. It is not a special machine,just a regular sewing machine.
To be honest, before I learned this technique, I was ready to give up on learning free motion quilting. I was not having any success. Therefore,I was very frustrated. In short, it is very forgiving as one develops their skill.
I only use Aurifil brand thread for free motion quilting.
How to do the Fabric Layering Technique
Basically the fabric layering technique starts on a table. To begin, lay the backing fabric down. Start with a smaller size like 12″-14″ about 30 cm square. Then put the batting on top. Similarly, cover the batting with a background fabric that enhances your scene.Then create a scene with fabric. A landscape is an easy way to start. Cut out pieces of fabric for your scene ie. trees and rocks. Then lay the pieces on the background fabric. Continue until you have made a pleasant scene. Place a tiny dab of glue from a glue stick to keep pieces in place while quilting. Cover with tulle netting. Free motion quilt.
Free motion quilting allows the quilter to control the movement of the quilt. In order to do this, the quilter must lower the feed dogs on their sewing machine. The feed dogs are on the flat part of the machine. They control the movement of the fabric. Most newer machines have this feature. Mine is twenty years old and it does. If you are unable to lower your feed dogs, cover them. However, I am unfamiliar with this.
Here is my basket of threads. I generally am not fussy about the type of thread I use for most kinds of sewing.
Fast Feet Slow Hands
While free motion quilting you should say to yourself, fast feet slow hands. What does this mean? The throttle makes the machine go fast. Your foot usually controlls the trottle. Push the throttle fast but evenly. At the same time, your hands should be moving slowly. Pull the sides of the quilt taut while quilting. Practice moving them at the same rate at an even pace.
Checking your Stitches
In the beginning, quilt following the outline of the tree or main object in the scene. Check your stitches by looking on the back of the quilt. Loose or lengthy stitches mean the hands are being moved too quickly. Those stitches need to be taken out.As you get better you can create free form grasses or branches or movement with the sewing threads. Read more about this technique. https://annbaldwinmayartquilts.com/2017/07/fabric-layering-technique/
DesertTrees in the Wash, 25″ x 24″ 64 cm x 61 cm 2021 Another example of the fabric layering technique.
In Conclusion
Free motion quilting is another tool to add to your quilting tool box. Yet, there is no easy fix for mastery this technique. Put in the time to practice,you will be rewarded with a higher level of skill. Use the suggestions here to make your path more successful quicker and less frustrating.
View more Art Quilts
View some art quilts I made using the fabric layering technique and free motion quilting.
I met an educated artist a while ago. Subsequently, we talked about art. She knew all the names of the unique colors. At certain times of the convo, I didn’t even recognize the name she used. Initially,her depth of knowledge blew me away. I had not studied art. I had not memorized nor had even heard of some of the colors. In short, I assumed that she was an excellent artist. However, was I correct to make that assumption?
Her Work
Subsequently, she showed me some of her work. These included drawings,paintings and mixed media that had done over the years. Her work was good not great or spectucular. Knowing all the correct art terms didn’t help her create better art. Maybe time spent is the studio is important. Focus one’s attention. Decide what one’s goals are.
What Makes a Great Educated Artist?
So what really contributes to making a great artist? Skills, time to practice, resiliency, and above all, the mastery of materials.
Skills and Materials
The great thing about art is that everyone can and should make art. Humans need to make art. Each human can choose what skills and materials they want to use. They may choose materials that they have readily available. The skill needed to use those materials needs to be developed.
Time
One has to have time to develop those skills. Time could be set aside daily or weekly. Or on the other hand, it could be developed over years. It is difficult to juggle a job, family and art. Each person gets to choose how they will handle it.
Resiliency
Resiliency is necessary to keep going. Artists need it so that they continue on in spite of setbacks. One cannot give up. Making a living from selling art is hard. Some choose different pathways to do something in art for their career. Teaching or commercial art are just two paths. Others wait until retirement to work on their art full time.
In Conclusion
Skills and the mastery of materials, time, and resiliency contribute to the making of a great artist.
