1. What do you call yourself - art wise? I call myself a textile artist.
2. How do you jump start your creativity when you are in a slump? There is an overwhelming amount of creativity to be found on the internet. When I am in a slump, I visit one of my favorite blogs and then visit some of the sites on the "favorite links" list that many folks include on their blogs. Then I visit the links on those sites. After a bit of random skipping around the internet, I am usually more than inspired to do some work of my own.
3. If money wasn't an issue, what would you do with your art? If money wasn't an issue, I do not think that it would change what I do with my artistic efforts, but it might change where I do my art. My basement studio is comfortable, but a studio with a view in a milder climate always sounds like nice someday dream.
4. Do you keep a sketchbook, journal, etc.? I have made several failed attempts to keep a sketchbook, or at least a list of projects I'd like to try. Somehow I don't seem to be able to stick with it, though. My work is often like my internet habits, wandering and sporadic.
5. Where can people see your other work this year? shows, books, magazines, etc
I just published a book with Pickledish.com called "Happy Birthday Kansas!" It features a block of the month quilt that I designed to celebrate Kansas's 150th birthday. My quilt "Rosh Hashana, the Head of the Year" is traveling with the "America Celebrates" exhibit curated by Judith Trager. The two quilts I made about the BP oil disaster that I refer to as my tar ball quilts are part of the Topeka Competition 30 exhibit now until May 13 at the Sabitini Gallery in Topeka, KS. My quilt "Geode Slices" will be in the "Happiness: Quilted Expressions" exhibit May 5- July 10 at the Riffe Gallery in Columbus, Ohio. "Why Always War?" will be included in the "Play" exhibit at the Brooklyn Textile Arts Center May 13 - June 24.
6. Do you teach? where? I have not done any teaching for quite a while.
7. Is there a particular artist who had influenced you in your art life? and why? Classes with Nancy Crow, Jane Sassaman and Ruth McDowell gave me the skills to piece together just about anything I can imagine. I would hope to someday be able to use color the way Wayne Thiebaud does in his paintings. The variety and quality and sheer volume of work that Paul Klee produced is a goal to reach for as well.
8. Where or what show do you hope your work will be in someday? I would like to be in Quilt National.... and if I am really dreaming, MOMA.... or maybe its next door neighbor, the American Folk Art Museum.
9. Describe your studio workspace. I have taken over the basement of my home for my art. I have a ping pong table to work on, solid shelves for storage, good lighting, a sewing machine cabinet with a large table, a utility sink and dedicated washing machine for dyeing. I am very lucky!
10. What 3 tools could you not live without? My sewing machine, rotary cutter and mat.
11. What drives you to make the work that you do? I have always loved fabric. There is so much variety in texture, pattern and color in today's fabrics. When that resource is added to piecing, painting and dyeing, the possibilities are endless.
12. How do you balance your life? Who says my life is balanced? I guess I just do as much as I can, as well as I can, and try not to obsess too much about what falls by the wayside. Comic relief in my life is provided by my collection of geriatric parrots. Pride is supplied by my two fabulous daughters. Support is provided by my long-suffering but good natured husband.
2. How do you jump start your creativity when you are in a slump? There is an overwhelming amount of creativity to be found on the internet. When I am in a slump, I visit one of my favorite blogs and then visit some of the sites on the "favorite links" list that many folks include on their blogs. Then I visit the links on those sites. After a bit of random skipping around the internet, I am usually more than inspired to do some work of my own.
3. If money wasn't an issue, what would you do with your art? If money wasn't an issue, I do not think that it would change what I do with my artistic efforts, but it might change where I do my art. My basement studio is comfortable, but a studio with a view in a milder climate always sounds like nice someday dream.
4. Do you keep a sketchbook, journal, etc.? I have made several failed attempts to keep a sketchbook, or at least a list of projects I'd like to try. Somehow I don't seem to be able to stick with it, though. My work is often like my internet habits, wandering and sporadic.
5. Where can people see your other work this year? shows, books, magazines, etc
I just published a book with Pickledish.com called "Happy Birthday Kansas!" It features a block of the month quilt that I designed to celebrate Kansas's 150th birthday. My quilt "Rosh Hashana, the Head of the Year" is traveling with the "America Celebrates" exhibit curated by Judith Trager. The two quilts I made about the BP oil disaster that I refer to as my tar ball quilts are part of the Topeka Competition 30 exhibit now until May 13 at the Sabitini Gallery in Topeka, KS. My quilt "Geode Slices" will be in the "Happiness: Quilted Expressions" exhibit May 5- July 10 at the Riffe Gallery in Columbus, Ohio. "Why Always War?" will be included in the "Play" exhibit at the Brooklyn Textile Arts Center May 13 - June 24.
6. Do you teach? where? I have not done any teaching for quite a while.
7. Is there a particular artist who had influenced you in your art life? and why? Classes with Nancy Crow, Jane Sassaman and Ruth McDowell gave me the skills to piece together just about anything I can imagine. I would hope to someday be able to use color the way Wayne Thiebaud does in his paintings. The variety and quality and sheer volume of work that Paul Klee produced is a goal to reach for as well.
8. Where or what show do you hope your work will be in someday? I would like to be in Quilt National.... and if I am really dreaming, MOMA.... or maybe its next door neighbor, the American Folk Art Museum.
9. Describe your studio workspace. I have taken over the basement of my home for my art. I have a ping pong table to work on, solid shelves for storage, good lighting, a sewing machine cabinet with a large table, a utility sink and dedicated washing machine for dyeing. I am very lucky!
10. What 3 tools could you not live without? My sewing machine, rotary cutter and mat.
11. What drives you to make the work that you do? I have always loved fabric. There is so much variety in texture, pattern and color in today's fabrics. When that resource is added to piecing, painting and dyeing, the possibilities are endless.
12. How do you balance your life? Who says my life is balanced? I guess I just do as much as I can, as well as I can, and try not to obsess too much about what falls by the wayside. Comic relief in my life is provided by my collection of geriatric parrots. Pride is supplied by my two fabulous daughters. Support is provided by my long-suffering but good natured husband.
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