Artist Profile: Lauretta Crites

Lauretta Crites


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? I'm a first timer so it wasn't a change for me.  I have always admired the long narrow format you've used and hope I get to try it sometime. I liked the size but found working square a bit challenging, my subject kept trying to center itself in the frame as much as I tried to push against that. 

2. Describe your design area, specifically your work table:  what is the best thing about it? I LOVE my worktable! I designed it myself after years of makeshift. Its a roomy 45" x 96" and its 38" high. There is a bottom platform that is on casters and holds racks of pull out wire baskets containing the bulk of my fabrics. The fabric provides extra weight to balance the cantilevered top. The cantilevered top allows me to pull stools up and draw on that side of the table without bashing my knees on the wire baskets. Perfection!

3. What set this quilt apart from other recent projects you have been working on? This project has more hand work on it than I usually do, but the dandelion seed head just seemed to beg for it. 

4. When you get “stuck” how do you deal with a “design block”?  How do you overcome it? Deadlines are my first way of dealing with blocks, if a quilt is for a challenge then it won't have the same impact past the deadline and I use that to push on. The other way I deal with blocks is to ask myself "what am I afraid of ?" blocks are often just fear rearing its ugly head. If I can articulate the fear "I'm afraid I'm going to ruin it", I'm afraid they won't like it" or whatever it is, admitting it gives me a chance to re-frame and give myself some TLC and encouragement to continue.  

5. Do you work on single or multiple projects at the same time? I usually have more projects going on at one time than I like. I really prefer to start a project and stick with it, there is a momentum with that. Once a project is interrupted I find it hard to get back to it. 

6. What do you hope people take away from your work? That there is incredible beauty in the everyday things that surround us and maybe an appreciation for how magical this world really is.

7. What are the best parts of working on an art quilt:  What are your least favorite parts? I really love the freedom to play. For me exploring unusual materials and techniques is all a part of art quilting the downside to that is sometimes the things you do or use don't stand the test of time.  

8. What art/quilt-related organizations do you belong to? I am a member of the Nite Owl Quilt Guild.

9. Do you have a preferred color palette?  Why? Is natural a color palette? My work often reflects the natural world... I push the edges a bit but prefer earthy natural comfortable colors. My quilts converse rather than shout.

10. What do you regard as your most interesting milestones along your art journey? CalArts where I graduated college was a huge milestone it started me on the path of working artist and was hugely interesting to me. The 10 years I spent working for the Los Angeles Opera as Asst. Costume Director exposed me to some really fascinating people and so many artistic and cultural experiences. My most recent artistic milestones are winning a ribbon at IQA Houston Festival last year and being included in this years Dinner@8 invitation.