Artist Profile: Larkin Jean Van Horn

Larkin Jean Van Horn

Freeland, Washington

1. What other ideas for this theme "rituals" did you have?

Solvitur Ambulando was my first idea.  All the others that came up would have been religion/spirituality based, which was disallowed by the rules.

2.  Are you involved in any community or group projects where you donate your work?  if yes, what project or projects?  I donate work to auctions for organizations in whose work I believe strongly.  I have also curated two textile/fiber based exhibits, and the proceeds from the sale of the catalogs support Habitat For Humanity and Doctors Without Borders.

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?  I belong to two small groups here on Whidbey Island.  They both provide opportunities for exhibition and some social interaction with interesting artists.

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.  I have also recently been elected to the Board of Trustees for the Grunewald Guild in Washington State.

5.  What is your favorite palette of colors that you use in your work?  name 5 and your least favorite colors?  name 5.  I have never met a color I didn't like and couldn't use.  There is no such thing as a "favorite" or "least favorite" in my studio.

 

6.  Describe your creative work space in 20 words or less.  Are you messy or tidy?  We live in a house which is essentially two studios with a bedroom, kitchen, and two bathrooms.  Messy.

7.  What is your creative process?  think, draw, design, make or right to the design. I design on the fly.  That doesn't mean that I don't keep notebooks with thoughts, ideas, sketches, inspirational notes, etc.  But I want to get to work quickly when an idea starts percolating, so I will do my thinking while I'm pulling possible materials, or clearing off the cutting table.

8.   Is there a particular object or shape that shows up repeatedly in your work?  Why?

Probably the most repeated specific shape is the spiral.  It represents life, growth, movement, vitality - all things that I want my work to have.  Whatever else is going on in a specific work, the spiral will almost always show up in the stitching.

9.   If you had to choose a favorite artist from another media, who would it be, and why?  Impossible!  I would choose a different artist every day!  Okay, today's favorite is Antoni Gaudi.  Travelling to Barcelona to see his work in person is on my "bucket list".  I love his use of form, color, light, and texture.  Both his architecture and surface design are intriguing, ingenious, and awe-inspiring.

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?   Book:  Beading On Fabric

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?   I am a travelling teacher of textile/fiber art and beadwork, which supports my art marking.  Unless I am on the road teaching, I spend about 4 to 8 hours a day doing some aspect of art making.  I also have filled the walls with art in various media.  Many original pieces were artist trades - my work for theirs.

12.  What is your most thrilling news to date in relation to your art quilt life?  I was recently invited to send several pieces of my artwork to the Quilt Expo en Beaujolais, near Lyon at Villefranche sur Soane in France for their exhibition in April, 2012.

 http://www.larkinart.com