Panorama Village Texas
www.suzanengler.com
1. Did the change in dimensions present any specific challenges for you? Or if this is your first time with us, how did you like the size? The dimensions provided a new challenge for me. Most of my work is designed on the computer and printed on cotton by a printing service. The standard cotton that they use 42” wide; this is not be wide enough to allow for shrinkage from the quilting and finishing process and still end up with a 40” finished art quilt. Luckily, I found a new 54” wide fabric that worked great.
2. Describe your design area, specifically your work table: what is the best thing about it? My work table is 36” high, on wheels, and has storage underneath. But the best thing about my work table is the top work surface. It is dual duty because I can iron and block projects as well as cut with a full size removable cutting mat.
3. What set this quilt apart from other recent projects you have been working on? The limited color palette is what sets this project apart from recent projects. This is the first art quilt that I have done in a monochromatic color palette.
4. When you get “stuck” how do you deal with a “design block”? How do you overcome it? When designing a new project, I revert to the design process used when I worked in architecture. We always brainstormed three design solutions for a client. If you present only one solution, they have nothing with which to compare. By forcing myself to look at a design problem in three ways, I never seem to be stuck for long.
5. Do you work on single or multiple projects at the same time? I enjoy working on several projects at once. I am designing one, while another is being printed, and am quilting on a third.
6. What do you hope people take away from your work? I hope that people find something that they can identify with in my work. It is absolutely delightful when viewers come and share their stories with me.
7. What are the best parts of working on an art quilt: What are your least favorite parts? Design of an art quilt is exhilarating, quilting the project is like a meditation, and facings are just something I have to finish before I can start the next project.
8. What art/quilt-related organizations do you belong to? I belong to SAQA, IQA, AQS, SDA, and The Texas Quilt Museum.
9. Do you have a preferred color palette? Why? The subject matter of the art quilt often dictates the color palette for me. No matter the palette, I always strive for high contrast.
10. What do you regard as your most interesting milestones along your art journey? I am always looking forward to new milestones, although being invited to Dinner@8 is definitely an important milestone for me.
Suzan, I think we may work in a quite similar way ... we must get together and talk during the D@8 dinner! I really enjoyed reading your interview.
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