The Quilt & Textile Patchwork Professional

This is so exciting to have Dinner at Eight Artists be featured in this German publication!  We are so honored!  Beyond thrilled!  Click here if you are interested in purchasing a copy of this publication

Table of Contents

The start of our Q&A - Leslie's work on the left - Amsterdam Alley

Talking about Dinner at Eight Artists, and pictured are quilts that we have made for d@8

and a selection of works by artists in our exhibitions. Top Left to Right - Sarah Ann Smith (Affinity), Cynthia St. Charles (Affinity), Loris Bogue (Beneath the Surface, Cathie Hoover (Patterns). Lower Left to Right - Lyric Kinard (Reflections), Cindy Cooksey (Reflections), Susan Brubaker Knapp (Rituals), Kathy York (Beneath the Surface), Susan Fletcher King (Patterns)

Artist Profile: Suzan Engler

Suzan Engler

Panorama Village, Texas

www.suzanengler.com

1. How do you describe yourself?  I am a digital and fiber artist, nurturer of plants and people, lover of chocolate.
 

2. What is your creative process? I often start with a photo or an idea and challenge myself to discover the various ways that I could portray the subject matter in the photo. I prototype on the computer because it gives a fast way to generate and explore variations. For my Dinner@8 Patterns entry, once I settled on using a fractal as the basis of a pattern, I generated at least 40 different fractals in a variety of fractal types, styles, colors, and textures.  This lead to settling on one for Dinner@8, but the exploration has lead to several other projects as well.

3. Describe your studio space.  First, let me say I love my label maker.  My studio is small but highly organized into well-labeled boxes and drawers.  I hate wasting time looking for things. 

4. What's your signature style? How long did it take you to find your style when you first started making art quilts?  I first started making art quilts in 2010 after seeing an exhibit at IQF Houston.  I have a background as a computer analyst and an architectural designer so designing on the computer seemed only natural for me. I continue to investigate ways to digitally create artwork.

5. Are there artistic endeavors you are yet to do?  I want to explore 3D and encaustic as it relates to fiber art. 

6. Do you keep a sketchbook and/or journal?  I take photos and notes on my phone since it is always with me.  In turn, those go into a folder on my computer for inspiration.  My computer background is a slideshow of those images.

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?  While I have done collaborative work with other artists, there is no website to document this work. 

8. Do you teach?  I do not have a regular teaching schedule but I occasionally lecture on principles of design and using the computer as a design tool.

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? In addition to the Dinner@8 exhibit in Houston, my work is on display at IQF Houston World of Beauty, Houston Texas, SAQA Tranquility debuting at IQF Houston, and Quilts=Art=Quilts at Schweinfurt Art Center, Albany, New York.  

10. How many years have you had your work in d@8 exhibits, or is this your first time?  This is my second year to have work in Dinner@8, I am so thrilled be included!

Do you have a special memory about Yvonne Porcella that you would like to share with us?  I never met Yvonne in person but felt that I knew her warm and creative essence through her many interviews.  Her book, Six Color World, was one of the first art quilting books that I purchased. 

Artist Profile: Lauretta Crites

Lauretta Crites

Glendora, California

www.LaurettaCrites.com

1. How do you describe yourself? I'm a maker, a creator, a problem solver. I get turned on by creating things, to me it doesn't matter so much the end "what", it could be an art quilt, it could be a tote bag or a garden or a tile backsplash. I love working and playing with my hands, I enjoy solving the puzzle of each challenge and then I like knowing this object this something is in the world because I was here.

 

2. What is your creative process?  These days in order to focus and have the structure to complete an art quilt I need a deadline and a theme so, I go for challenges. With the challenge's parameters for size or theme or starting fabric to guide me, I then move on to an artistic goal, something I want to explore... like achieving a particular sense of lighting or for this years piece working with visual scale and alternative materials. Then I start experimenting. 

3. Describe your studio space.  I am blessed with a 2 car garage size fully finished studio space with tons of natural light. My cutting table is 4' x 8' and was built to my specifications with seating area on one side and elfa racks with drawers for my fabrics underneath. It's hard to see the walls as they are nearly covered with Quilts, UFO's, ribbons and cork boards layered thick with photos and cards and clippings of things that make me happy.

4. What's your signature style?  My work is representational, but I'm not sure I've got a signature style as of yet. I still like exploring. 

 

5. Are there artistic endeavors you are yet to do?  Of course!

 

6. Do you keep a sketchbook and/or journal?  I do both, off and on. Most days my journaling is limited to notations in my planner but I do much better on vacations and when I'm away from home. I'm taking part in a 30 day journaling challenge next month which I'm hoping will get me in the habit of journaling daily.

 

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 have my own "Lauretta Crites Designs" pattern line and I sell my patterns and other products at quilt shows the booth, which I co-own with quilter Cindy Myers, is named "A Couple Of Old Broads". I also sell my patterns online at my website LaurettaCrites.com.

 

8. Do you teach? I do most of my teaching in the summer when the Quilt shows slow down. I do have one class in that time period. Feb 12, 2017 Visioning on Fabric, Flying Geese Quilters Guild, Irvine, CA

 

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?

Nov 3-6, 2016 "White Lace on Red Velvet" d@8 exhibit, "Patterns". IQA Festival, Houston

I'll be vending at the following shows as "A Couple of Old Broads"

Oct 6-8, 2016 Quiltfest, Palm Springs, CA

Oct 13-15, 2016 Pacific International Quilt Festival, Santa Clara, CA

Jan 19-22, 2017 Road to California, Ontario, CA

Feb 17-19, 2017 Tucson Quilters Guild, Tucson, AZ

Mar 24-25, 2017 Quilt Arizona, Mesa, AZ

 

10. How many years have you had your work in d@8 exhibits, or is this your first time?  This is the 2nd year I've been fortunate enough to be invited to participate. It's been a thrill to have my work accepted into this exhibit and to be included in such an amazing group of talented women. 

 

Do you have a special memory about Yvonne Porcella that you would like to share with us?  I met Yvonne for the 1st time at Festival in 2014 she was a featured artist that year with a large display of quilts she re-created just for the exhibit, but I didn't know that. I was drawn to her as a fellow survivor. Her battle was clear by her beanie but her spirit is what drew me to her like a magnet. Yvonne radiated joy and an iron will beneath the frail exterior. We were granted a miraculous bubble of time during that show to get to know each other and I am so grateful for the opportunity get to bask in her beautiful spirit.

Artist Profile: Valerie C. White

Valerie C. White

Denver, Colorado

www.valeriecwhite.com

1. How do you describe yourself?   I think of myself as a serious mixed media artist, I feel my best work is still ahead of me... 

 

2. What is your creative process? I like to begin with a basic idea often motivated by a walk , a museum visit , travel, or pushing an existing idea...Then on to the next step of sketching and recording those preliminary ideas which includes color considerations. Eventually,I find a palette that satisfies and expresses the idea. 

 

3. Describe your studio space.  A sanctuary is the best way to describe my studio space. It's peaceful... I have continued to tweak the space and it seems to get better . I do wish I had room for an additional table for wet work. What I find works best for my creative spirit is good organization, sounds like a no brainier, but it's so much nicer to be able to put your hands on a tool immediately rather than wasting time looking.

 

4. What's your signature style? How long did it take you to find your style when you first started making art quilts? I have spent a lot of time discovering my voice... early on I was attracted to the newest gadgets and and all related textile supplies/ stuff. Finally, I realized that I needed to acquire some real skills in the a media that I found best expressed my work..Not to say you cant find new ways of expressing the work but its hard when you are all over the board. Finding your passion and sticking with it ensures good work.

 

5. Are there artistic endeavors you are yet to do? I have been very fortunate, I have had my work exhibited all over the world. However there are still a few venues that I would like to exhibit.

 

6. Do you keep a sketchbook and/or journal? Yes, I love the idea of keeping a sketch book, having a place to record thoughts and new idea, that can be reviews and documented provides a nice launching pad for later work.

 

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 haven't done any collaborative projects However, I do enjoy exhibiting with small groups when there is a theme that interests me.

 

8. Do you teach?  Yes, this past year has been very busy for me I provided classes and lectures across the country.... I haven't committed to teaching for 2017

 

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'm currently preparing for a solo exhibit in San Diego, California at The Visions Art Museum, January 2016. In addition to participating in a special exhibit to celebrate Bishop Desmond Tutu and his wife Lea  October, 2016 in Cape Town, South African, in conjunction with Michigan University.    

 

10. How many years have you had your work in d@8 exhibits, or is this your first time?  This is my second exhibit in an Dinner@8 exhibit.It is an honor to have my work exhibited with the Dinner@8 artist.

 

Do you have a special memory about Yvonne Porcella that you would like to share with us? I didn't have the pleasure of meeting her but it was her work that always made me smile... I felt her work spoke volume's about her fun personality.

Artist Profile: Cheryl Sleboda

Cheryl Sleboda

Plainfield, IL

www.muppin.com

1. How do you describe yourself?  I'm a fiber artist and quilter who specializes in texture and technology.  I'm a comic book industry executive by day and an art quilter by night. 

 

2. What is your creative process?  My process starts with sketches and then evolves from there to auditioning fabrics.   This quilt was built that way from a drawing in my notebook about 2 inches across and built on the design wall with each color layer.

 

3. Describe your studio space.  I have two rooms in my home that are converted to studio space.  One is the working art studio and the other is a video studio for my social media.

 

4. What's your signature style? How long did it take you to find your style when you first started making art quilts?  My style developed through my weekly quilt project that I started in 2007, which you can see on my website.  By working weekly and small, I was able to hone my skills to create the works I make now.  

 

5. Are there artistic endeavors you are yet to do?  I have a whole bucket list of things I'd love to do.  I've yet to be on the cover of a magazine, write a book, or design fabric, and I'd like to do all those things.  By putting those out there, hopefully they will manifest.

 

6. Do you keep a sketchbook and/or journal?  I keep both a paper journal and sketchbook.  I love putting pen to paper.  The journal is also my calendar which is really important, and I would be lost without it. 

 

 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 have: DVD called "Heirloom Sewing Techniques for Today's Quilter. YouTube channel, hosting "Technique of the Week" can be found at https://www.youtube.com/ user/muppindotcom .I teach art business techniques through F+W Media webinars also

 

8. Do you teach?  Sept 15-16, 2016 – Palmetto Quilt Guild, Hilton Head, SC

Oct 29-31, 2016 – Quilt Market – Houston, TX

Nov 1-6, 2016 – International Quilt Festival – Houston, TX

Nov 8, 2016 – Gazebo Quilters’ Guild – Huntley, IL

Jan 19, 2017 – Northwest Suburban Quilters Guild, Arlington Heights, IL

February 9-11, 2017 – Salt Creek Quilt Guild – Western Springs, IL

Feb 21-22, 2017 – Venice Area Quilt Guild – Venice, FL

Feb 23-25, 2017 – Ladies of the Lake Quilters Guild – Lakeland, FL

March 18-19, 2017 – Fresno Fiber Arts Guild – Fresno, CA

 

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?  Dinner@8 - Nov 1-6, 2016 – International Quilt Festival – Houston, TX

 

10. How many years have you had your work in d@8 exhibits, or is this your first time?  This is my second time exhibiting with d@8.  I'm so thrilled!

Artist Profile: Cathie Hoover

Cathie Hoover

Modesto, California

www.CathieHooverStudios.com 

1. How do you describe yourself?

Well educated woman in the field of human sciences. I have always felt drawn to fiber art and attended workshops whenever I can.

 

2. What is your creative process?

To start with a vague idea and challenge myself in figuring out how to produce a finished quilt I can be proud of. I plan very little!

3. Describe your studio space.Large room with 4 ft x 8 ft high cutting table in the center covered with cutting mats. Square "open cubbies" for fabric storage. Design wall at one end of cutting. Lots of good light.

4. What's your signature style? How long did it take you to find your style when you first started making art quilts? I don't really have a signature style! Over the last 2 -3 years, I have been moving from a traditional quilter to an art quilter.

 

5. Are there artistic endeavors you are yet to do?  I will write a book on several of my unique techniques, even if I self publish!

 

6. Do you keep a sketchbook and/or journal? No

 

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 have written and published 4 patterns that I sell on my website and in select quilt shops.

 

8. Do you teach? Yes, I teach workshops. In September in La Habra, CA ; October in Tulare, CA, and Marin, CA; November in Orange, CA; and I have multiple booking in 2017 in Southern CA.

 

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? October at Pacific International Quilt Festival; November at Quilt Festival in the member show and dinner@8 "Patterns." 

 

10. How many years have you had your work in d@8 exhibits, or is this your first time? I submitted three years in a row and was accepted into all three shows!

Do you have a special memory about Yvonne Porcella that you would like to share with us? We met in 1980 when I took her workshop on painting fabric and constructing a vest from it. She allowed me to measure her cutting table in her Modesto, CA, studio, which my cabinet maker reproduced for my new studio in 1984. Yvonne traveled to Europe with my husband and I when her husband health issues prevented him from accompanying her. We were like three siblings who loved each other as we traveled to various European destinations over the last 8 years. These included Barcelona, Amsterdam, Paris, Leon, and a cruise of the Baltic Yvonne taught on. She was a close friend and mentor.

Artist Profile: Sarah Ann Smith

Sarah Ann Smith
Hope, Maine
sarahannsmith.com
 
1. How do you describe yourself?  Artist. Author. Quilter. Teacher. Mother. Wife.

2. What is your creative process?  Sometimes inspiration strikes in an instant, other times it takes a while for the image to become clear in my head.  Then I begin to work.  The challenge is either finding time to make all of them, or sorting the best from the others and working on just the best of what rattles around inside my brain.

3. Describe your studio space.  Large, light despite being in the basement.  But who knew that 20 feet of closet/storage isn’t enough? It’s set up in zones: standard machine, mid-arm sit down machine, cutting table, ironing, seating, storage (behind the design walls that serve as closet doors).  

4. What's your signature style? How long did it take you to find your style when you first started making art quilts?  Really, my style—representational with lots of quilting and color--found me.  And my friends recognized a piece as distinctively “Sarah” long before I did!  I have no idea how long it took.

5. Are there artistic endeavors you are yet to do?  Yes…photography and messing around in my sketchbook support my art quilting.  

6. Do you keep a sketchbook and/or journal?  Yes with a caveat:  I found that having my “to do list” notebook and a separate sketchbook wasn't working for me. Wherever I was, I wanted the other one.  So I put both into one journal and sometimes it is “to do” lists, sometimes doodles, sometimes actual sketching (though not as often as I would like).

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?  Yes!  ThreadWork Unraveled is a basic reference on how to use thread on a sewing machine.  DVD:  Art Quilt Design from Photo to Threadwork, with Fabric Collage and Machine Quilting, a Quilting Arts Workshop. And many articles published including in Machine Quilting Unlimited and Quilting Arts and included in many, many books (lucky me!).

8. Do you teach? Teaching for Q.U.E.S.T. quilt guild in Little Rock Arkansas October 10-11, 2016 and a very busy schedule with seven classes/events at International Quilt Festival Houston 2016, from Monday through Saturday.

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?  Solo show, the Picker Room, Camden Public Library, Camden, Maine, September 1-30, 2016; Whistler House Museum of Art, Lasting Impressions exhibit, Lowell, Mass:  “Bijagos Warrior” and “Conversations 1” on exhibit through late September; SAQA’s Food for Thought exhibit, “Insalata”:  Temple Railroad & Heritage Museum in Temple, Texas - January 31, 2017 through April 1, 2017; Milkweed No. 1, A World of Beauty, IQF Houston, October/November 2016; a matter of time textiles exhibit, “Milkweed No. 2”:    Nautilus Art Centre, Port Lincoln, South Australia: 26 September – 21 October 2016, Craft & Quilt Fair, Adelaide: 3-6 November 2016. Curator floor talk at 12.30pm on Thursday, 3 November only, Millicent Gallery, Millicent, South Australia: 1 -31 December 2016, Gosford Regional Gallery, Gosford, New South Wales, Australia 18 February -23 March 2017.  Opening at 6.30pm on Friday, 17 February 2017, Inspired by the national Parks exhibit, “Acadia:  Snowy Owl” touring as follows: Jul. 26 - Sept. 10, 2016: Virginia Quilt Museum (Harrisonburg, VA), Sept. 21 - Oct. 5, 2016: Lake Metroparks Farmpark (Kirtland, OH) Oct. 19-22, 2016, Machine Quilter's Exposition (Springfield, IL); Early Jan., 2017:  Oklahoma City Winter Quilt Show (Oklahoma City, OK),  Jan. 22 - Feb. 25, 2017, The Barns of Rose Hill (Berryville, VA), March 1 - 3, 2017: Indiana Heritage Quilt Show (Bloomington, IN); “Mr. Wiggles Does the Circle Dance” in the Dare to Dance exhibit, also at various locations, please see http://www.marywkerr.com/daretodance.html.  

10. How many years have you had your work in d@8 exhibits, or is this your first time?  I am astounded and thrilled that this is my seventh consecutive d@8 exhibit; I have been part of all but the first exhibit.

Do you have a special memory about Yvonne Porcella that you would like to share with us?  Two years ago at the d@8 Friday night supper in  Houston, I found myself across the table from Yvonne and got to spend the entire evening chatting with her!   What an indomitable woman! 

Artist Profile: Julie Schlueter

Julie Schleter
Orange, California
julieschlueter.com

1. How do you describe yourself?  Outgoing, curious, adventurous, creative, intuitive

2. What is your creative process?  Usually serendipitous.  I start out creating something I picture in my mind and it becomes a beautiful meld of what I was planning and what joyfully happened.

3. Describe your studio space.  Right now, cleanish.  Too small, but I work around that.  It also lends itself to the creative process because of what is visible and readily on hand.

4. What's your signature style? How long did it take you to find your style when you first started making art quilts?  Multi-colored quilts are most frequent.  I sew, slash and re-sew them, then quilt heavily.  I am enjoying the hand work that I do on the top of the quilt.  This style has been developing over about 10 to 15 years.

 

5. Are there artistic endeavors you are yet to do?  I took a drawing class and loved it.  Next is a digital media art class.

 

6. Do you keep a sketchbook and/or journal?  In a way.  I have a hand stitch fabric journal I work on from time to time.

 

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?  no

 

8. Do you teach? Never thought I would teach.  Was asked once and turned it down.

 

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?  “Patterns” for Dinner at Eight Artists

 

10. How many years have you had your work in d@8 exhibits, or is this your first time?  Every year since the beginning, except 2 years.

Yvonne Porcella was an inspiration to me.  What a beautiful spirit.  Her work shows the joy that came from her inner self.  Her smile reconfirmed that joy and love.  I will always be indebted to Yvonne and her pioneering ways in the art quilt world.

Artist Profile: Cynthia St. Charles

Cynthia St. Charles

Billings, Montana

www.cynthiastcharles.com

1. How do you describe yourself?  I tell people I am an artist

 

2. What is your creative process?   I work in layers,  A base layer - often collaged fabric or paper, overlaid with layers of block printing or screen printing.  

3. Describe your studio space.  I am blessed to have a large studio in my home with a 5 x 15 foot design and sewing table. It is quite messy.   I have another studio in a commercial office building I own and manage.  I try to keep the one in town neat and tidy "for show", and because it has dual purpose as my office.  Both spaces include attached wet studio spaces.

4. What's your signature style? How long did it take you to find your style when you first started making art quilts?  My signature style involves surface design, especially printing and collaging.  I have worked in this style for about 7 years.  It took me about  5 years of experimentation to find my style.

 

5. Are there artistic endeavors you are yet to do?  I am working quite a bit in paper based mixed media collage, currently.  This has been a labor of love as I try to find my expressive voice in this new medium.  Really, mixed media with has taken over my time for art to the detriment of working with fabric.  I hope the two come together at some point.

 

6. Do you keep a sketchbook and/or journal?  For six years, I posted daily to my blog "Living and Dyeing Under the Big Sky" and I felt that this was my journal, during that time.  I do keep my design ideas and notes in various sketchbooks.  In the winter, I write and do art every day.  In summer, I am busy with outdoor activities - gardening, hiking and camping.  I rarely do any art in the summer (unless I have a deadline).

 

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 do have a DVD with Interweave Press - it was created in 2012, but is still available for sale.

 

8. Do you teach?  I am a retired teacher / School Psychologist.  I have done a few local classes, but I am not traveling to teach because I find I resent the time it takes away from my studio and outdoor time.

 

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 quite a few pieces traveling with SAQA Exhibitions:  Celebrating Silver - 8th Asia Quilt Festival in Shanghai, China, September 23 - 25, 2016, then on to Australia  Earth Stories - Huntington Museum of Art, Huntington, WV June 25, 2016 through October 2, 2016 and Erie Museum of Art, Erie, PA January 20, 2017 through June 11, 2017   Food for Thought -Temple Railroad & Heritage Museum in Temple, Texas - January 31, 2017 through April 1, 2017, Radical Elements - International Museum of Art and Science (IMAS), McAllen, TX - September 24, 2016 through January 8, 2017.  Concrete and Grasslands - is available for travel, and I am exhibition coordinator for Balancing Act

 

10. How many years have you had your work in d@8 exhibits, or is this your first time?  I have shown with Dinner@8 since the second year.  It is always such an honor.

Artist Profile: Sherri Lipman McCauley

Sherri Lipman McCauley

Lakeway, Texas

www.SherriLipmanMcCauley.blogspot.com

1. How do you describe yourself?  I am creative, spontaneous and adventurous. I am a fiber artist!

2. What is your creative process?  I love to apply paint on fabric, incorporating the two mediums into cohesive designs. I work in an improvisational mode, allowing the paint and fabric to dictate the direction of my artwork. Often, my artwork is pulled together with machine stitching, applique, hand embroidery and machine quilting. 

3. Describe your studio space.  My studio is a room off my kitchen with large windows looking out to Lake Travis. Every surface is covered with works in progress, fabrics, paints and dyes. 

4. What's your signature style? How long did it take you to find your style when you first started making art quilts? I am a paint flinger! I have been making art quilts for over twenty years, with my style emerging from working with fabric piecing and simple painting to creating surface designs with colorful monoprints and dye, stencils, silk screens, and machine applique. I favor a minimalistic approach to my creations.

5. Are there artistic endeavors you are yet to do? I would like to create really large pieces that make an artistic statement. I look forward to having a solo show of my own one day.

6. Do you keep a sketchbook and/or journal?  Oh, yes! My book is where I keep my art notes, ideas and inspirations from the world around me.

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?  Not at this time.

8. Do you teach?  Not currently.

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?

Visions Art Museum, San Diego, CA

Under a Spell – Online Exhibit (July 1-Sept 30, 2016)

Surface Design-Member Challenge (July 16-Oct 2, 2016)

Breakout: Quilt Visions 2016 (Oct 15, 2016-Ja 8, 2017)

A World of Beauty, Houston, Texas (Novr 2-6, 2016)

10. How many years have you had your work in d@8 exhibits, or is this your first time?  This is my second year.

Do you have a special memory about Yvonne Porcella that you would like to share with us?

Yvonne’s use of color and design has always been an inspiration to me.  I am very grateful for her insight in establishing Studio Art Quilts Associates (SAQA) as a creative organization for art quilters. Being a member of the group has provided me with fellowship, education and a sense of belonging.

Artist Profile: Diane R. Doran

Diane Rusin Doran

Glenelg, Maryland

www.oohprettycolors.blogspot.com

1. How do you describe yourself?  I'm very creative and willing to experiment endlessly with my art.

 

2. What is your creative process? I'm inspired by the colors and images that are around me. I take many, many photographs, sometimes of things that might seem useless to others, and heavily manipulate them so that they become something altogether different. I combine the photos with other imagery, often using numerous layers. These images are printed on fabric, then carefully quilted to create an image that was previously only in my mind's eye.

3. Describe your studio space.  My design space is my computer in my dining room. My sewing/quilting space is a large, very cluttered area in the basement with great lighting, a wonderful large table, and an amazing BERNINA 770QE.

4. What's your signature style? How long did it take you to find your style when you first started making art quilts?  My signature style is digital collage that utilizes a variety of imagery including photographs, surface design, and illustration combined with complex quilting. Typically my work is brightly colored and often has a "glow" about it. I'd guess that it took about four years after starting art quilting to develop this style, but I'd been quilting for much longer than that already. 

 

5. Are there artistic endeavors you are yet to do?  I certainly hope so! I can't wait to see wait the future brings.

 

6. Do you keep a sketchbook and/or journal?  I don't keep a sketchbook or journal, but do to the nature of my design process I have countless "digital sketches" on my computer.

 

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 have two instructional dvd's, both with Interweave, Digital Surface Design and Digital Collage for Quilt Design: From Start to Finish.

 

8. Do you teach?  I love to teach! I'm thrilled to be spending a weekend with the Faithful Circle Quilters of Columbia, Maryland as the teacher for their Fall Educational Retreat Sept. 30 - Oct. 2.

 

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? Two pieces in the IQA 2016 A World of  Beauty Judged Show, "Winter's Tarnish" and "Paint the Town Red"

 

10. How many years have you had your work in d@8 exhibits, or is this your first time?  This is my 4th time.

Do you have a special memory about Yvonne Porcella that you would like to share with us?  I remember reading Colors Changing Hue when it first came out and being fascinated by her work, it was truly inspirational. I looked at it again and again.

Artist Profile: Barb Forrister

Barb Forrister

Austin, Texas

www.BarbForrister.com  

1. How do you describe yourself?  I would describe myself as a fiber artist who enjoys working in a 3 dimensional manner to bring about nature inspired hand painted scenes.

 

2. What is your creative process?  Starting from a photo, I paint my focal point which is usually a wild animal on a white piece of cotton. After painting the subject, I will fill in the background, heat set and quilt the entire piece. Then, I begin making my 3 dimensional elements which are painted stitched, soft sculpted and hand appliqued. The final steps are the facing, sleeve and label which while my least favorite part of the process that signals the home stretch.

3. Describe your studio space.  I have two studios, a wet studio used for painting, and dyeing and my stitching studio where I quilt and create my 3 dimensional soft sculpted elements. It is here where I have my design wall that I can audition various elements in the making. 

4. What's your signature style? How long did it take you to find your style when you first started making art quilts?  My signature style is the texture and dimensional elements that I add to my pieces. I love working with a wide array of natural and synthetic fibers to create texture and depth. My style is very evident in both my materials and representational form. Looking back at my earliest work, I can see that it has always been there in some form or another.

 

5. Are there artistic endeavors you are yet to do?  I would love to have my work accepted in a SAQA exhibit. 

 

6. Do you keep a sketchbook and/or journal?  I have several sketchbooks which I use. Recently, I have taken to making sketchbook covers and embellishing them with paints, trinkets and fibers. They are so much more fun and inviting! I also have an ongoing journal which I write my thoughts in as per the book, The Artists Way, which helps me record my thoughts.

 

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 have just come out with three patterns of my 3 Dimensional flowers, Calla Lillis, Orchids and Asiatic Lillis with many more in the making. My work has also been published in SAQA Portfolios, Quilting Arts Magazines, In Stitches Emag, Machine Quilting Unlimited Magazine,  Lone Stars III: A Legacy of Texas Quilts 1986-2011 by Karey Patterson Bresenhan and Nancy O’Bryant Puentes, Colorful Fabric Collage: Sketch Fuse Quilt by Sue Bleiweiss and Sacred Threads 2015 Special Exhibition book http://www.sacredthreadsquilts.com/ . 

 

8. Do you teach?  I do teach for guilds and other art organizations but I have taken a hiatus this year. I am finding that I am missing it and plan to be back next year!

 

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?

Sacred Threads Traveling Exhibit: November - December 2016 at The Rectory located at 17 College Street, Norcross GA 30072, Cultural Arts Center 678.421.2025, www.norcrossga.net

January-March 2017 at the Texas Quilt Museum located at 140 W. Colorado Street, La Grange TX, 979.968.3104, www.texasquiltmuseum.org 

Quilt Festival Houston World of Beauty

 

10. How many years have you had your work in d@8 exhibits, or is this your first time? I have been most fortunate and blessed to have my work included in six Dinner@8 Artists exhibits. I love this group!