Terry Grant - Portland, OR

1. How do you describe yourself? I am an artist, graphic designer, wife, mother, grandmother. I am quiet, but speak when I have something to say, and I usually do! Love my family, love my friends, love doing art, love my life.

2. What is your creative process? I plan in my head as I am falling asleep each night, then the ideas that are still there when I wake up may become a quick sketch, either by hand or computer. It all ends up in Illustrator eventually, where I make a simple line drawing of my composition that I print at full size. (I tape a lot of sheets of paper together) I use this as my guide, but am apt to make changes as I work. Pulling the fabrics to find what works is my favorite part. I use a lot of commercial fabrics, but often— well almost always—alter them in some way to suit my needs.

3. What's your style? Most of my work is representational, but definitely abstracted rather than attempting photo realism. My work is graphic and incorporates rich color and strong line elements.

4. How long have you been a quilt maker/fiber artist? I have been an artist all my life—quilter for at least 30 years—fiber artist about 20 years.

5. Do you listen to music when you make art? I often listen to music. As a Baby Boomer, child of the '60s, I listen to the music of that generation—The Beatles, James Taylor, Bob Dylan, Joanie Mitchell, etc.

6. What do you do when you are blocked creatively? Draw and look at art. A trip to the Portland Art Museum or downtown galleries always gets my creative brain percolating.

7. Do you teach? I used to teach and am seriously considering doing it again. My favorite part of teaching is learning all the things my students teach me. It never fails and it is amazing.

8. Are there artistic endeavors that you have yet to do? I am really interested in making silver jewelry. I have taken a couple classes, but have yet to get myself set up to work on my own.

9. How do you balance your family life and art? When my children were home and small I worked on art after they went to bed. Sometimes late into the night. I am glad I don't have to do that anymore. I have a very supportive husband and family and I have learned to make time for my art.

10. What is the best part about what you do? Two things: Working alone and "in the zone" and then sharing what I do with my artist friends. A more recent "good thing" has been writing about what I do. I have been writing my blog for nearly 5 years, written magazine articles and am currently finishing up work on a collaborative book.

www.andsewitgoes.blogspot.com
Etsy shop: www.terrygrant.etsy.com