Artist Profile: Cindy Cooksey

Cindy Cooksey

Irvine, California

1. What year did you make your first quilt? Traditional or art? I made my first quilt in 1973, but I didn't know what I was doing yet. I just wanted to use it as a table cloth, like they were doing back then in Country Living Magazine. It was a cream, rust and navy 9-patch that fell apart in a few years. I didn't get into real quilting until 1991. 

2. What is the first show, and year, that you ever entered your art quilts? Venue? In 1992, I entered what I then considered an art quilt in both Pacific International and Quilt Visions. Guess which one accepted it.
 

3. What is your artistic style? Colorful, playful, sometimes whimsical, often paying homage to traditional techniques such as hand embroidery.

4. Have you ever changed your style from when you started making quilts? Color pallets have evolved, and I like to experiment with different techniques, but my artistic style as described above has remained fairly consistent.

5. What other style in quilt making piques your interest? I am attracted to Modern quilts and Zakka style; at least I drool over the fabrics. It's a fresh look.

6. What other medium in art influences your work as a fiber artist? sketching, painting, collage.

7. What do you have coming up? Shows, Articles in magazines, Books, etc. ---  My quilt, "Ravioli di Verdura," will be part of the upcoming "What's for Dinner" special exhibit which makes its debut at Quilt Festival in Houston.

8. Where will your art take you from here?  I do what I enjoy and have no future blueprint at this time. Part of the fun is being surprised by what's around the corner.

9. Describe your studio space: It's an open room upstairs, used as a weight lifting room by the previous owner. Originally it was sleek and simple, with a drafting table, tabouret and bookshelf. Over the years it has become a constant challenge to fight the clutter.

10. What was the biggest challenge you have encountered in the making of your art quilt for "An Exquisite Moment?" Committing to one idea was a challenge. Several ideas came to mind at first. Later, it was very challenging to make recognizable portraits (of my husband and granddaughter) using primarily embroidery stitches.

http://cookseyville.blogspot.com