Artist Profile: Deborah Boschert

Deborah Boschert

Lewisville, Texas

1. What is sitting on the edges of your work table? Stapled to the edges of my work table are pieces of muslin which hang down like curtains hiding lots of bins and drawers under the table. It's a great storage spot.

2. If someone looked beneath the surface, what could be revealed that we might not know about you? I think there's still a lot I don't know about myself. It's a process. A constant curiosity.

3. What occupies the space between your sewing machine and your cutting table? Not much at all, just barely two steps. There is an outlet in the floor that is completely impractical because of its location and size.

4. What is the most exquisite moment in your artistic life? Winning first place in Art Quilt Miniature at Quilt Festival in Houston in 2016 for my quilt Green Bowl Gathering. It was so exciting to be at the awards ceremony and to see my name and quilt on the big screen plus receive my award on stage with lots of my friends cheering me on.

5. Do you have daily rituals in your studio? I don't really. Just get to work. Try to avoid doubt and distractions.

6. Reflecting on the quilts that you have made, which one stands out to you? All of them? Oh goodness. Considering just the quilts I created for Dinner at Eight, Waxing Crescent Endeavor for the Reflections theme is 2014 is my favorite. It was a departure for me to include a human figure and I haven't since, but I loved the process and the results.

7. What do you have an affinity for in your work? Layers! Paint on top of fabric and stitching on top of that. Maybe even some translucent elements so you can see the layers of paint and fabric beneath the sheer elements.

8. What kinds of patterns do you use in your work to create interest and texture? I really love creating original surface design patterns with unexpected tools like toilet paper tubes and hot glue stencils. 

9. What personal iconography is identifiable to you exclusively in your work? There are often personal stories behind the fabric choices in my art quilts like memories of where the fabric was purchased. It's sometimes surprising to me how connected a fabric can be with a memory.

10. What was your inspiration for the Best of Dinner at Eight? I thought it would be a fun challenge to include all the personal symbols I've used in my body of work in one quilt.