Artist Profile: Cynthia St. Charles

Cynthia St. Charles

Billings, Montana

1. What other ideas for this theme "rituals" did you have?   I do a lot of work featuring petroglyphs - ancient rock art, and I really wanted to do a piece featuring the "rituals" of ancient North American people.  I take photos of any petroglyphs I find in my travels (and locally) and convert these to Thermofax screens.  I actually worked up and completed an entire petroglyph piece in the required dimensions, but it just didn't work with the tall, narrow format required for this show.  So, I had to start over with something more personal - my daily sunset gazing.

2.  Are you involved in any community or group projects where you donate your work?  if yes, what project or projects? I very frequently participate in calls for art for fundraisers at the Yellowstone Art Museum.  I have also long been a regular contributor to Virginia Spiegel's fiber art fundraisers for the American Cancer Society, and to the SAQA 12" Square Silent Auction.

3.  Do you belong to a small group of like-minded artists?  yes/no  Name/where?  What is the best part of being part of an art group?  I am the founder of a local small art group established 9 years ago.  The group goes by WAV, for Women of Artistic Vision.  The group has met monthly since our first meeting in September 2003, and many of the founding members are still involved.  I enjoy the casual nature of this group and the support we give to each other.  It has been exciting watching fellow member's careers develop over the past 9 years.

4.  Are you a member of a professional art organization, such as SAQA?  Have you ever held a volunteer position in the organization, and if so, what?   I am a member of SAQA.  I am currently curating a regional exhibition called "Broad Spectrum", which had a 7 week run in a lovely gallery at a Rocky Mountain College.  The show is now on it's way to Denver for the Denver National Quilt Festival in May.  I will be taking a position on the SAQA Exhibition Committee soon.

5.  What is your favorite palette of colors that you use in your work?  Name 5.  Name 5 of your least favorite colors?  This is  the most difficult question of the list!  My work is consistently multi-colored.  I have a large body of work in browns, some that are mainly red, and a lot that are basically green.  I never met a color I didn't like.

6.  Describe your creative work space in 20 words or less.  Are you messy or tidy?  My studio space is utilitarian.  It is spacious, with good storage and lots of  roomy work surfaces for various tasks.  I feel fortunate to have a wet studio attached.  I am incredibly messy, a multi-tasker and tend to have many projects going at once.

7.  What is your creative process?    Most of my ideas come to me as a brain flash.  I will do a quick sketch of my overall idea, just to get it on paper, but I rarely look at the sketchbook again during my process.  I tend do a lot of mental work and research when I get stuck.  Much of my work is very surface design driven.  I have discovered I am really a printmaker at heart.  I am integrating my fabric printing processes with my art quilting on a grand scale with a new series.  I have made over 30 block printed quilts in the past 6 months.

8.   Is there a particular object or shape that shows up repeatedly in your work?  Why?   Spirals and circles.  Sheesh!  I wish I could explain my attraction to these shapes, but I can't - and I can't seem to create anything without them!  I have been told they are feminine symbols.  Maybe so, but I just find them fun - especially sprials!

9.   If you had to choose a favorite artist from another media, who would it be, and why?  I really love the work of Hundertwasser, Monet, and Matisse.

10.  Have you written a book related to Art Quilts and Quilting or have an instructional DVD?  If so, can you tell us the title or titles?  I am preparing to record a DVD for Quilting Arts Worshop.  The title has not been decided yet, but the instructional video involves combining print making with art quilting.  I have done over 30 pieces in this style and am still finding the process exhilarating.

11.  Do you make art full time?   If you have another career, would you describe what you do? and how you incorporate art into your life?  I am a retired School Psychologist.  While working in the mental health field, I did textile art for my personal therapy.  When it became possible for me to take an early retirement, I took over a huge part of the basement of our home with my studio.  I spend pretty much every spare moment in my studio.  I love the ability to transition quickly from other life obligations right back to my work - something only possible because my studio is in my home.  I think this contributes to my tendency to be very prolific.

12.  What is your most thrilling news to date in relation to your art quilt life? Having work on the cover of Quilting Arts Magazine - twice now!  Big thrill both times, but the second time was most validating - made me feel that the first time wasn't just a fluke.

www.cynthiastcharles.com

http://cynthia-stcharles.blogspot.com/

Artist Profile: Susan Fletcher King

Susan Fletcher King

Houston, Texas

 

1. What other ideas for this theme "rituals" did you have?  I had a wonderful idea about bedtime rituals that involved reading to your children before bed.  Unfortunately, the imagery just didn't work in the long vertical format, so I'm hoping to make that quilt in a different size at a later date.

2. Are you involved in any community or group projects where you donate your work? if yes, what project or projects?  I donate my work to to a couple of non-profit groups when I am able.  These include a nature center located here in Houston and  a rescue group for homeless pets.  Both of these groups hold annual auctions since they have limited funds and depend largely on community support. 

 

3. Do you belong to a small group of like-minded artists? yes/no name/where what is the best part of being part of an art group? Yes.  I belong to two different groups. The first group is called Fiber Voices which started as a splinter group from a larger bee.  I enjoy the small size of Fiber Voices and we are very supportive of each other as we try to do both individual and group projects.  The second group is called Out Of Bounds and I count myself as being very lucky in that I was invited to join.  This group is a bit larger with approximately a dozen members.  Although started mainly as a critique group, Out Of Bounds also holds semi-regular play dates for low pressure fun and experimentation. 

 

4. Are you a member of a professional art organization, such as SAQA? Have you ever held a volunteer position in the organization, and if so, what? No, not at this time.
5. What is your favorite palette of colors that you use in your work? name 5 and your least favorite colors? name 5    I find myself particularly drawn to black and the cool colors - blues, some grays and greens.  I LOVE acid green although I can't always justify using it in my work.  I often have to force myself to work with the warm colors - orange is particularly difficult and I really make a conscious effort to "friend" it.

6. Describe your creative work space in 20 words or less. are you messy or tidy? My studio is small so I try to keep it clean and clear.  Sometimes I am less successful at this.

7. What is your creative process? think, draw, design, make or right to the design?    Sometimes it may take a process of sketching from thumbnails to larger, fully planned drawings while other times I can bypass the drawing stage and go right to the fabric.   Either way, I always have some idea in mind and so the conversation between myself and my art begins. 

 

8. Is there a particular object or shape that shows up repeatedly in your work? Why?  I wish I had a "signature" element but it hasn't happened yet.

9. If you had to choose a favorite artist from another media, who would it be, and why?  My favorite living artist is Maggie Taylor - what she does is amazing!  Each piece is like a story  and not always a predictable story!   And I adore Maxfield Parrish.  Perhaps because of my background as an illustrator, but without a doubt, I really love to get lost in his art.  I love the scale of his large paintings and the luminosity that they have.

10. Have you written a book related to Art Quilts and Quilting or have an instructional DVD? If so, can you tell us the title or titles? No books or DVDs as of now.

11. Do you make art full time? If you have another career, would you describe what you do? and how you incorporate art into your life?  Art is as full-time as I can make it.  I juggle the mother/wife duties and fit my art time in between that.  If I weren't doing art, I'd need a therapist!

12. What is your most thrilling news to date in relation to your art quilt life? I am always excited if someone buys my art.  I recently found out that at least two patrons of the art gallery where my work is shown actively buy and collect my artwork and are notified of any new work of mine when it comes into the gallery.  That was inspiring and ego-boosting!

 

www.susanfletcherking.com

Artist Profile: Desiree Habicht

Desiree Habicht

Riverside, CA

1. What other ideas for this theme "rituals" did you have?  I had so many I had a hard time narrowing it down. Painting/sketching daily, Christmas morning rituals were a few of my ideas.

2.  Are you involved in any community or group projects where you donate your work?  if yes, what project or projects? Yes, I recently donated my artwork and gardens for touring to the Riverside County Medical Centers Child abuse and neglect unit for their May 2012 annual fund raiser. I also support SAQA by donating auction quilts every year, as well as Visions Art Quilt Museum and the Alliance for American Quilts.

3.  Do you belong to a small group of like-minded artists?  yes/no  Name/where?  What is the best part of being part of an art group? Yes, I belong and co-lead a small art quilting group called Sub-Q (Subterranean Quilters). It is a safe place to explore and try new techniques as we challenge and support each other as we stretch and grow.  

4.  Are you a member of a professional art organization, such as SAQA?  Have you ever held a volunteer position in the organization, and if so, what? Yes, I belong to SAQA as well as other professional art organizations such as Riverside Art Museum, PAAR (Plein Air Artists of Riverside), PSSC (Pastel Society of Southern California),The Art Colony and Watercolor West. I currently hold the position of Education and Programs Chair for PAAR . 

5.  What is your favorite palette of colors that you use in your work?  Name 5.  Name 5 of your least favorite colors? I usually use strong, bright, very saturated colors in my work, greens, oranges, reds, yellows and usually black. My least favorite colors are pastels or soft values of any color.  I guess I like to scream it from the rooftops verses whispering it from the streets.

6.  Describe your creative work space in 20 words or less.  Are you messy or tidy? 

Oh man, I hate to say this but lately my workspace is very MESSY! My husband has threatened to start a show called fabric hoarders! I start a project with a tidy workspace but it is soon messy, then I clean it before I start a new project. When I have multiple projects or a tradeshow coming it is in a constant state of mess. 

7.  What is your creative process?  Think, draw, design, make or right to the design? I think about the project or idea for awhile. Allowing my mind to play and come up with ideas then I work it out on paper, making sketches of different ideas and layouts etc. Then I will continue to expand and continue making changes as I am designing and assembling the project, its always a work in progress, like me.

8.   Is there a particular object or shape that shows up repeatedly in your work?  Why?
I like soft lines and organic shapes, there is a organic flow and rhythm to them.

9.   If you had to choose a favorite artist from another media, who would it be, and why?  It is always changing but right now I love Alvaro Castagnets work, its bold and strong, and he has dared to work outside the box of traditional watercolorists. Challenging the rules and ideas set down by the purists and traditionalist. Isn't that what all of us art quilters are doing every time we create a new piece?

10.  Have you written a book related to Art Quilts and Quilting or have an instructional DVD?  If so, can you tell us the title or titles? Yes, I wrote one, but never published it, its on my bucket list!

11.  Do you make art full time?   If you have another career, would you describe what you do? and how you incorporate art into your life? Yes, I am a full-time artist, I love waking up everyday and being able to create something beautiful.

12.  What is your most thrilling news to date in relation to your art quilt life?  I have three of my art quilts coming out in a new book called Designs in Art Quilts to be released in the spring of 2013, all three quilts featured are from Jamie and Leslie's invitational exhibits, Edges, The Space Between and Beneath the Surface! The other exciting thing was that my art quilt "Crepe Paper Poppies" was made into a art tile, 6"x16" for use in interiors. The tiles turned out beautiful and I have ordered more so I can tile some of the rooms in my house! 

www.desireesdesigns.com
http://desireesdesigns.blogspot.com

Artist Profile: Cindy Cooksey

Cindy Cooksey,

Irvine, California

1. What other ideas for this theme "rituals" did you have? My other idea was "Seventh Inning Stretch." I was going to portray a baseball fan laden down with souvenirs from the game, belting out "Take Me Out to the Ballgame." But my photo booth idea seemed to fit the format better.

2. Are you involved in any community or group projects where you donate your work? if yes, what project or projects? I do from time to time: I helped make a group quilt for the Orange Public Library, and I've made auction quilts for the Alzheimer's Quilt Initiative, for example.

3. Do you belong to a small group of like-minded artists? yes/no Name/where? What is the best part of being part of an art group? Yes, a small group in Orange County. It's great to be in a group where you don't have to explain what it is that you do, and everyone else is as excited about making art as you are.

4. Are you a member of a professional art organization, such as SAQA? Have you ever held a volunteer position in the organization, and if so, what?  I belong to SAQA; my volunteering for them has been limited to sometimes helping out at their information table at Quilt Festival.

5. What is your favorite palette of colors that you use in your work? Name 5. Name 5 of your least favorite colors? It varies; in general I like vivid colors, like green, blue, red, orange, purple. I rarely use muted pastels, such as mauve, peach, dull greens, off-white. But sometimes they are just the right thing! I never say never.

6. Describe your creative work space in 20 words or less. Are you messy or tidy? My work space upstairs has evolved from a drawing/printmaking studio (in the 80's) to a quilting/sewing/ painting/printing/storing stuff space. I have another smaller space downstairs for strictly handwork, and all my buttons, beads, applique and embroidery threads are stored there, around a comfortable chair. Am I tidy? No.

7. What is your creative process? Think, draw, design, make or right to the design? I usually brainstorm first, then make a few rough sketches. Then I head to my fabrics and go from there.

8. Is there a particular object or shape that shows up repeatedly in your work? Why?  I used to use a lot of newsprint fabric and leopard fabric in my quilts. These days, I can't think of any particular thing that I repeat over and over.

9. If you had to choose a favorite artist from another media, who would it be, and why? I've always liked David Hockney. He's adventurous, curious, and likes to explore new ideas.  He also loves intense color, like me.

10. Have you written a book related to Art Quilts and Quilting or have an instructional DVD? If so, can you tell us the title or titles? No. I have been in some art quilt books, though, such as Quilt Visions 2002 and Embellished Mini Quilts.

11. Do you make art full time? If you have another career, would you describe what you do? and how you incorporate art into your life? When I'm not making art, I'm making crafts. I have become hooked on knitting and sewing "little" clothing ever since I became a grandma, two years ago. But I've always had one hand in art and the other in craft, from way back.

12. What is your most thrilling news to date in relation to your art quilt life? Well, it happened a while ago, but it was a thrill to have been accepted into Quilt Visions 2002. It had been a dream of mine since I began quilting 12 years earlier. Being First Runner Up in IQA's Artistic Expressions was also a big deal, and I got to go to France to claim my prize, but that was in the last millennium.
 

http://www.cindycooksey.com

http://www.cookseyville.blogspot.com/

Artist Profile: Sarah Ann Smith

Sarah Ann Smith

Hope, Maine

1. What other ideas for this theme "rituals" did you have? 1.  Honestly, I struggled with this one!  My first idea was tea:  tea at the laptop in the morning reading the new messages, tea in the evening (decaf!) while reading a book, and maybe dog walkies at midday.  But I was bored with the idea before I began.   Shortly after the theme was announced, I began to exercise again after a nearly-two-year hiatus due to "too much life happening."  I decided to use some of the poses we do (or attempt with only middling success) in that class.
2.  Are you involved in any community or group projects where you donate your work?  if yes, what project or projects?  I've made small quilts that I donate to various causes, and donated about half the price for a large quilt I did for the local Middle School, "Be Inspired, No. 1" featuring people from U.S. history that inspire the students. 

3.  Do you belong to a small group of like-minded artists?  yes/no  Name/where?  What is the best part of being part of an art group?  Yes, The Frayed Edges.  One of the four of us, Deborah Boschert (also in this exhibit) has since moved away from Maine, but we keep in touch via a private yahoo group and get together on the years Deborah can return to Maine, as well as smaller meetings with the rest of us.  The friendship and the feedback are the best part of this group, whether in person or via the web.

4.  Are you a member of a professional art organization, such as SAQA?  Have you ever held a volunteer position in the organization, and if so, what?  Yes!  In SAQA and just joined the fundraising committee.

5.  What is your favorite palette of colors that you use in your work?  Name 5.  Name 5 of your least favorite colors?  My favorite colors are "Caribbean-inspired:"  aquas, warm greens, fuchsia, warm yellow to papaya, ultramarine.  But if I am working in a nature palette, then I use many greens, browns, blues, with sparkles of warm tones.  Least favorite:  by themselves, anything drab, dingy and muddy....though these are essential in setting off the bright, clear tones that I favor.  Without the tertiaries--the subdued colors--you risk having too much of a candy-colored rainbow.  The clear tones sparkle so much more when set against a toned or shaded background.

6.  Describe your creative work space in 20 words or less.  Are you messy or tidy?   Large.  Light.  Alternately tidy and messy (depending on where in the process I am).  Comfortable.  A refuge. All mine!

7.  What is your creative process?  Think, draw, design, make or right to the design?  Usually a design idea percolates in my head for a long time--my family life is so busy I frequently can't let a quilt out into the cloth as quickly as I would like.  Some quilts require more careful sketching and drafting than others, but usually I have a fairly clear picture in my head before I begin.

8.   Is there a particular object or shape that shows up repeatedly in your work?  Why?  Sinuous curves, circles, spirals, leaves...and I have no idea why!  I do find that I am much more drawn to organic, curvy shapes than to geometric and straight linear marks and shapes.

9.   If you had to choose a favorite artist from another media, who would it be, and why?    Winslow Homer--like him I visited the Caribbean and became infected with the colors!  David Hockney--for his use of color and for always pushing the limits and learning new things, for challenging himself.  August Rodin for the passion in his sculptures.  Claire Prebble of NZ for her metalwork in her art garments and costumes. The artists of the Sutton Hoo burial ship.  Clearly I don't follow rules well, either--just one is impossible!

10.  Have you written a book related to Art Quilts and Quilting or have an instructional DVD?  If so, can you tell us the title or titles?  I've written ThreadWork Unraveled, all about using thread on your machine for applique, threadwork and quilting, as well as articles for Quilting Arts and Machine Quilting Unlimited magazines.

11.  Do you make art full time?  Yes!  At least as much as I can.  If you have another career, would you describe what you do?  And I'm also mom and wife; used to be a Foreign Service Office in my previous life, and teach and write about quilting.  Happier now.   and how you incorporate art into your life?   I'm not sure how I could NOT have art in my life--inspiration is everywhere, all the time.  Driving our son to school, grocery shopping, even looking at the colors in the laundry basket can inspire.  On days when I am busy (most!), if I don't get to the studio, I at least try to read and think about art and designs--the mind is always going!

12.  What is your most thrilling news to date in relation to your art quilt life?  It's a three-way tie....winning a ribbon at IQA Houston and when Karey Bresenhan and  Nancy O'Brien Puentes purchased "The Tide is Hire" for the International Quilt Festival collection.   Thanks to everyone at Quilts, Inc., and the IQA for such inspiring shows.  The third and, in the greater picture, the best way:  our two sons' reactions to quilts made for or about them!

www.sarahannsmith.com/weblog

www.sarahannsmith.com

Artist Profile: Pamela Price Klebaum

Pamela Price Klebaum
Ventura, CA

 1. What other ideas for this theme "rituals" did you have? My design wall hosts two pieces I started and had to suspend. Both are based on the rituals that I follow when creating a design. Lucky me, I will eventually have three Rituals pieces!

2.  Are you involved in any community or group projects where you donate your work?  if yes, what project or projects? I have donated work to The House Quilt Project for  military veterans. Creating those pieces made me very content.

3.  Do you belong to a small group of like-minded artists?  yes/no  Name/where?  What is the best part of being part of an art group? I am a member of three small art groups, Extreme Quilters (Ventura County), Fibervision (Santa Barbara County), and a group of eight (Ventura County). Cross-fertilization and stimulation are rampant, as is friendship.

4.  Are you a member of a professional art organization, such as SAQA?  Have you ever held a volunteer position in the organization, and if so, what? I am a Professional Artist Member of SAQA, and wrote and article for the SAQA Journal. I am also a member of the Surface Design Association.

5.  What is your favorite palette of colors that you use in your work?  Name 5.  Name 5 of your least favorite colors? I am in love with Chinese red and ochre. I consider black a color, so I guess I am in love with black, too. That makes three colors -- okay, add bronze and taupe, and those are my five fave colors. Least favorite? Kelly green, Army green, light purple, pink, and pink.

6.  Describe your creative work space in 20 words or less.  Are you messy or tidy? My studio is a spare bedroom with a distant view of the Pacific that keeps me calm and usually tidy.

7.  What is your creative process?  Think, draw, design, make or right to the design? I just read Jonah Lehrer's book on creativity, and found I am normal in that my design ideas usually pop up when I am in the bathtub, and not actively engaged in art-thinking! My next step is either the sketch pad or the computer or both.

8.   Is there a particular object or shape that shows up repeatedly in your work?  Why? I like figure drawing, because my figure drawing instructor was so inspirational. Figures seem to be a recurring central theme, along with digitally transformations photos of my art glass pieces.

9.   If you had to choose a favorite artist from another media, who would it be, and why? Paul Klee, because of his use of line.

10.  Have you written a book related to Art Quilts and Quilting or have an instructional DVD?  If so, can you tell us the title or titles? No.

11.  Do you make art full time?   If you have another career, would you describe what you do? and how you incorporate art into your life? I don't consider myself a full time artist, but I seem to dedicate most of my days to art. It's a way of being, really. Gardening, entertaining, art seems to drive all decisions.

12.  What is your most thrilling news to date in relation to your art quilt life? I can't get over the fact that people want my work in their homes. That really makes me smile. That, and cashing their checks to buy more stuff. 

http://pamprice.blogspot.com/ 

Artist Profile: Joanell Connolly

Joanell Connolly

Huntington Beach, CA

1. What other ideas for this theme "rituals" did you have?  The wedding ceremony was the theme that came to mind.

2.  Are you involved in any community or group projects where you donate your work?  if yes, what project or projects. I am currently  working with Quilts Of Valor.  I make the quilt top, provide the batting and backing, binding and a presentation bag. I have been teamed with a long arm quilter who puts it together.  These quilts are presented to wounded military persons.

3.  Do you belong to a small group of like-minded artists?  yes/no  name/where  what is the best part of being part of an art group? Yes, I belong to 2 groups.  I meet the first Friday of each month with a small group.  We bring in dinner, sit, visit, catch up and try to get some sort of art into the gathering.  And I have a group of 5 who meets in my studio every Tuesday morning and will have been meeting every Tuesday for 4 years this May.  I am thankful and thrilled to have  these woman in my life.

4.  Are you a member of a professional art organization, such as SAQA?  Have you ever held a volunteer position in the organization, and if so, what?  no

5.  What is your favorite palette of colors that you use in your work?  name 5 and your least favorite colors?  name 5.     Black and other colors is my favorite pallet.  Everything goes with black so I have no least favorites.

6.  Describe your creative work space in 20 words or less.  are you messy or tidy?    I have a converted 2 car garage for my studio/work space. Wet and dry projects happen in this space but not at the same time.  I am a messy person.

7.  What is your creative process?  think, draw, design, make or right to the design. I work spontaneously.    A dream, vision, image starts me off, that is all it takes.  I do no draw or plan beyond the stick figure stage and that is subject to change.

8.   Is there a particular object or shape that shows up repeatedly in your work?  Why?  I like squares - always have.  Last few years I have tried to add the word "peace" to each project (often it is hidden).

9.   If you had to choose a favorite artist from another media, who would it be, and why?   Do not have a favorite artist, would be hard to pick one single artist. 

10.  Have you written a book related to Art Quilts and Quilting or have an instructional DVD?  If so, can you tell us the title or titles?  no

11.  Do you make art full time?   If you have another career, would you describe what you do? and how you incorporate art into your life?  I have been making and selling "stuff" for 25 years.  I did my first art fair in 1988.  What I make has changed but I have been selling what I make with these hands for all those years. 

12.  What is your most thrilling news to date in relation to your art quilt life?    Truthfully, getting accepted to an exhibit and getting to show my vision.  Thank you Jamie and Leslie - you are my current most thrilling.

Website - joanell.com
Blog - joanellconnolly.blogspot.com