Tuesday 25 May 2010

Jamie Fingal - Orange, California

1. How do you describe yourself? Funky, eclectic, over the edge, goes to the beat of a different drummer, thinker, organized, social, driven, generous, humorous, wife, mother, sister, daughter, cook, gardener and dog lover...and grown up Girl Scout!

2. What is your creative process? There is alot of pre-planning in my head way before it gets to paper, writing on post-it-notes, and then sketching in my journal. My abstract work begins with a zipper, and then the fabrics. I always have a small Moleskin journal with me so that I don't miss any inspiration that comes my way.

3. What's your style? Over the edge abstract, but I also love vibrant colors in portraits and whimsical pieces that I create. I find that I get bored easily, so it's nice to go back and forth between the two styles. I dabble in surface design with hand made stamps, block printing and acrylic paint.

4. How long have you been a quilt maker/fiber artist? I made my first nine patch in 1981, and took the leap to art quilting after wondering what else I could do if I bent the rules a bit. I've been making art quilts since 2001.

5. Do you listen to music when you make art? I love listening to music when I work - some easy listening, show tunes, rock, punk and what I call strong women music - and I want to hear it in every room that I am working in. It gets the juices flowing!

6. What do you do when you are blocked creatively? I am not blocked very often, but when I am, I go shopping - to see all of the colors and textures. I visit the Orange Library and sit in the childrens section and look at the three large quilts that I designed and made with the Cut-Loose Quilters in 2007. Something usually sparks my imagination.

7. Do you teach? I have taught in Make-It-University at Festival in Houston and Long Beach for about 4 years. I am tipping my toe in the water by teaching at Create this summer in Rosemont, IL with Leslie Jenison. I really like it when you are sharing your experiences with other people - techniques - talking to them about being messy and letting loose, and not following the rules. The ah-ha moment that occurs when the light goes on in the face of a person - to visibly see the joy in what they accomplished - there is nothing like that.

8. Are there artistic endeavors that you have yet to do? Yes, many more I hope, and some to be public projects. I would love to write another book and make some "group" quilts. I enjoy co-curating and teaching with Leslie.

9. How do you balance your family life and art? Since moving my art studio to an office park, my life has been way more balanced. My family is important to me and always comes first. All of our kids have their own amazing lives. Steve and I have a routine and thoroughly enjoy our time together. My dilemma of balance lies between administrative and creativity.

10. What is the best part about what you do? Realizing the dream and making it happen. Working with other artists, connecting, making art together - being part of a community.

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

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