Artist Profile: Jamie Fingal

Jamie Fingal

Orange, California

1. What other ideas for this theme "rituals" did you have?  Here are my top 5 ideas - meditation/ yoga, dinner at 8/spoon-ology, remembering, studio/where imagination comes alive, and what's for dinner?

2.  Are you involved in any community or group projects where you donate your work?  if yes, what project or projects?  I organize The House Quilt Project, and throughout the year I make auction quilts for SAQA, Girl Scouts, and The Alliance for American Quilts.  I also am one of the featured artists for FiberArt for a Cause, that benefits The American Cancer Society.
 

3.  Do you belong to a small group of like-minded artists?  yes/no  Name/where?  What is the best part of being part of an art group?  Yes, I belong to a couple of groups - "8 that Create" where we talk online, have lively discussions, get help with issues in our own artistic lives, and make art for group shows.  The Sketchbook Challenge consists of a group of mixed media artists.   The best part is the friendship, but also that we can come together as artistic equals to share, learn and grow.

4.  Are you a member of a professional art organization, such as SAQA?  Have you ever held a volunteer position in the organization, and if so, what?  I am a member of SAQA,  served as a co-rep from 2008-2010, and now chairing the Membership Sub-Committee at present.  I am also a member of the Alliance for American Quilts.

5.  What is your favorite palette of colors that you use in your work?  Name 5.  Red, royal blue, hot pink, lime green, orange.  Name 5 of your least favorite colors?  White, yellow, brown, beige or any pastel

6.  Describe your creative work space in 20 words or less.  Are you messy or tidy?   My studio space is in an office park, divided up into 4 rooms, cluttered, but there are places where the floor is visible.  It is a creative organized mess all of the time.  Moving soon to a large one-room industrial space where I can spread out, and it will be fabulous!

7.  What is your creative process?  Think, draw, design, make or right to the design?  I have many discussions with myself, before the idea ever makes it to my sketchbook.  And then to fabric.  It is rare, that I can stand at my design table and just make something, without a plan.

8.   Is there a particular object or shape that shows up repeatedly in your work?  Why?  A house with a cup and saucer on the roof.  Women with houses on their heads.  And then there are the zippers, who knew?

9.   If you had to choose a favorite artist from another media, who would it be, and why?  Can't name just one - Klimt/circles, Hundertwasser/houses, Chagal/whimsy and Kandinsky/abstract

10.  Have you written a book related to Art Quilts and Quilting or have an instructional DVD?  If so, can you tell us the title or titles?  "Embellished Mini Quilts" by Lark Books; 2 DVD's by Interweave/Quilting Arts - Whimsical House Quilt and Rebel Quilting: Thinking Outside the Block.  My work was part of the premier issue of "Surface Explorations" eMag with Quilting Arts.

11.  Do you make art full time?   If you have another career, would you describe what you do? and how you incorporate art into your life?  Yes, I make art full time.  My other career is cooking dinner every night of the week, and throwing family parties.

12.  What is your most thrilling news to date in relation to your art quilt life?  This is a hard one, because I feel so blessed in my artistic life.  Winning the Grand Prize in the Alliance for American Quilts Contest in 2011.  There's nothing like the thrill of having your best work, be voted in by the members.  Thrilling.  

http://JamieFingalDesigns.blogspot.com/
http://www.JamieFingalDesigns.com/