Artist Profile: Terry Grant

Terry Grant

Beaverton, Oregon

Www.andsewitgoes.blogspot.com

1. How do you describe yourself? Fabric artist, mom, grandma, wife, introvert, story teller

2. What is your creative process?  I start with a sketch, often based on one of the many photos I take, pull fabrics from my stash until I have a color story that works, then working from my sketch I begin constructing component parts, that I can switch around or swap out on my design wall until I am satisfied with the composition. Then all the parts and pieces get fused to a foundation, which I layer and machine quilt. 

3. Describe your studio space.  My studio is a separate, sweet little building on our wooded property, that was designed and built just for me. It is quiet, serene and filled with natural light. I love being there

4. What's your signature style? How long did it take you to find your style when you first started making art quilts?  It took me years to understand my own style! My work tends to be representational, flat, clear and graphic. 

5. Are there artistic endeavors you are yet to do? I just started making hand-bound books. I'm looking for a good class that will teach me more. 

6. Do you keep a sketchbook and/or journal?  Only in a very haphazard way!  My sketchbooks are purely utilitarian with disheveled pages and no attempt at charm, coherence or organization. Most of my working sketches are kept in an overflowing accordion file holder. 

7. Being published is important to artists, so do you have any instructional dvd's, author of books, YouTube channel, have a website with other artists for collaborative projects? I was lucky enough to be part of the Twelve by Twelve International Quilt Challenge (http://twelveby12.blogspot.com/) and am one of the authors of the book that resulted. 

8. Do you teach? What your schedule for September 2016 to March 2017. I am not currently teaching. 

9. Having your work in juried, invitationals, and solo shows is a great way to get your name out there. Where can people see your work?  I have two pieces in our High Fiber Diet show "Making Our Mark " which is currently at the Latimer Textile Center in Tillamook, Oregon through August. The exhibit will be at Keizer (Oregon) Community Center Gallery, November 1, 2016 - December 30 followed by Chessman Gallery, Lincoln City, OR. January 13 - February 6, 2017. I have work in two SAQA international exhibits as well. "Concrete and Grasslands" is currently at the Grants Pass Museum of Art in Grants Pass, Oregon. Additional venues have not yet been announced. "Redirecting the Ordinary" will be at the Original Sewing & Quilt Expo - Fredericksburg, Virginia, September 29 and 30 and October 1, 2016, Original Sewing & Quilt Expo - Schaumburg, Illinois, October 13-15, 2016, Original Sewing & Quilt Expo - Minneapolis, Minneapolis, MN November 10 -12, 2016

10. How many years have you had your work in d@8 exhibits, or is this your first time?  I think this will be my fifth time as part of a Dinner at 8 exhibit. 

Do you have a special memory about Yvonne Porcella? I never had the pleasure of meeting Yvonne Porcella, but her work was tremendously inspiring to me over the years.