Judy Coates Perez - Chicago, IL

1. What do you call yourself - art wise? A mixed media textile artist.

2.  How do you jump start your creativity when you are in a slump?  I don’t force the issue, I will do something, like knit, that feeds my need to make something and engage another part of my brain. I also read, listen to audio books and look at the world around me for inspiration.

3.  If money wasn't an issue, what would you do with your art?  Make more of it. I would love to just make art whenever or however I want and not have to try and make a living as well. Where is that handsome millionaire when you need him?

4.  Do you keep a sketchbook, journal, etc.?  My blog is the closest thing I have to keeping a journal, and I have fallen out of the habit of keeping regular sketchbooks the way I used to. I have a lot of different sketchbooks and papers all around the house, so I tend to pick up whatever suits my needs when I want to work out ideas.

5.  Where can people see your other work this year?  shows, books, magazines, etc

International Quilt Festival, Lesley Riley’s new book “Create with TAP” and Quilting Arts magazine

6.  Do you teach?  where?  Yes, I teach for International Quilt Festival, national quilt guilds and Create and I am thrilled to be teaching in New Zealand for a second time. 

7. Is there a particular artist who had influenced you in your art life? and why?

There are so many diverse artists that I admire, I don’t think there is one that stands out above the rest.

8. Where or what show do you hope your work will be in someday?  I don’t really have any specific goals for my work other than just to be seen, I am actually really bad about entering shows, it’s probably the last thing I think about doing. 

9.  Describe your studio workspace. a mess, lol, it’s a big open urban loft space with large south facing windows, two large work tables, a couple sewing machines, over flowing shelves, and drawers, flat files and file cabinets.

10. What 3 tools could you not live without?  paint, computer and a camera

11. What drives you to make the work that you do?  compulsion?

12. How do you balance your life?  It may not be that balanced in some peoples view, lol. My young adult kids and I work and live in a loft in downtown Chicago. Our main living spaces are: the studio- the largest space in the loft where we spend the most time, the kitchen- where everyone tends to hang out when not on computers or making art of some kind and the library which doubles as a family room. It’s a bit unorthodox for the typical family, but it works for us.

http://judyperez.blogspot.com/
http://paintedthreadsprojects.blogspot.com/