Peggy Brown

"The Landscape Within", Art Quilt by Peggy Brown

www.peggybrownart.com

Even though I paint and quilt for myself - for the challenge and joy of it - I know that visual art must be seen to be heard and true fulfillment comes when someone else unites with my vision and becomes a part of my marks on paper or fabric.

What began as a hobby around 40 years ago soon became an obsession and then a profession as my work began receiving recognition in Juried Exhibitions.  This led to gallery representation  and purchase by many public and private collectors.  Cheered on by my husband, Jim, and our three sons, I participated and sold in quite a few of the major Art Fairs and Festivals.  I have been asked  to demonstrate and  teach many workshops in the United States and Canada. I no longer travel to exhibit and sell, but my work is shown in several galleries, museums and on my web site:  www.peggybrownart.com.

Artist's statement:  My studio time is divided between "paintings on paper" and my newer obsession, "paintings on fabric."  I approach my art quilts from the viewpoint of a watercolor artist and use the same media and methods I used for years when painting on paper.  

To begin, I wet the substrate, then freely brush on paint letting the pigments mingle and follow their personal paths as they dry.  This process is repeated several times for more depth and richness.  After drying the marks on the paper or fabric inspire and help me choose a way to continue and complete the image.  

My goal is to take a free-flowing start; and using collage, overlays of more pigment and drawing, compose a well-designed finish.   At times, using treated fabric, I make inkjet transfers from my original paintings, then reconstruct the transfers into a new design. I try to express images that are on, above and below the surface.  By keeping each painted layer transparent, I invite the viewer to follow as I work and perceive the process from tentative beginnings to the final touch.  Some of my beginnings become non-objective abstracts, some become landscapes or still life.

Location:  Nashville, Indiana, USA

Memberships: 

   Studio Art Quilt Associates
   Surface Design Association
   International Quilting Association

Languages spoken:  English

"Another Form", Art Quilt by Peggy Brown

Tags:  painting, quilting, fiber art, surface design, abstract, landscapes

Dianne Koppisch Hricko

dkoppisch.com

Love of color, the sense of translucent depth and the surprise of the unexpected have fueled my re-entry to dyeing silk. I have spent the last few years working with a variety of printmaking techniques prior to succumbing to the urge to once again make textiles. The images are produced through a variety of resist printmaking and direct painting techniques using dyes and discharges. The richness and variety of silk surfaces, sometimes combined with stitching and fusing, is endlessly fascinating to me.

Location:  Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
Online shops: 
   DianneKoppischHricko   (Etsy)
   dkoppisch (Samples)
Blog:  notesfrom207
Social media:  facebook  (personal page)
Memberships:
   FiberPhiladelphia
   ArtCoffNetwork
   Surface Design Association
Languages spoken:  English

Silk Wearables by Dianne Koppisch Hricko

Tags:  wearables, silk, elegant, kimono, scarves, quilted wall hangings, handwork, prints, hand dyed, one of a kind,

PKL Designs

www.pkldesigns.com

Transplanted from Jamaica to the prairies of Wyoming, I dye paint silk and create bright, flowing contemporary fiber art pieces ...wall hangings, banners, paintings, table runners, garments to order, small purses. I'm looking for folks who like to enhance their homes and offices with color. Custom commissions are always welcome.

- Phillippa K. Lack

Artist statement:  To beautify the world with my art.

The fluid surface of the silk dares me to play with its shifting textures. The fibers hold and release the tropical colors of my childhood in their own quixotic alchemy. From the sheer transparency of silk chiffon to the deeply-plied silk charmeuse, each fabric takes the precious French dyes from my brush like a willful child.

Once you’ve touched your brush to the silk, you are committed. Whether it is wall décor or clothing, there is no changing your mind, no backtracking. Brush, dye, silk … the path is unforgiving. But this immediacy allows me to flow with the moment, be completely present. An error becomes another choice, a different commitment, another path to walk. An initial vision, which at first seems to be mine, becomes its own master.


Location:   Cheyenne, Wyoming, USA
Memberships: 
   Silk Painters International (SPIN) master silk painter
   Surface Design Association
   Studio Art Quilt Associates
Languages spoken:  English

Silk Painting by PKL Designs

Referrals:

“Gorgeous colors and exquisite craftsmanship are hallmarks of PKL Designs.  Phillipa's creativity and artistic curiosity continually expand her work so that each beautiful textile is truly a one-of-a-kind treasure.”
July 16, 2011    Deborah Davis  Owner, Davis Textile Restoration


“Phillippa creates superb, and beautiful silk paintings.  She created a piece for me that is not only absolutely lovely and eye-catching, but also garners many compliments to any who view it in my home.  I highly recommend her.”
July 22, 2011   Top qualities: Great Results, Personable, Expert
Nancy Fowler,  hired Phillippa as an Artist in 2006
 

“Phillippa's work is exquisite as well as impeccably crafted. Her aesthetic vision is clear. She is very disciplined in her work. I knew her while I was on the staff of the Wyoming Arts Council many years ago and continue to consider her a fine colleague in the arts.”
July 31, 2011     Jennie Kiessling, Communications Coordinator, Wyoming Arts C

Tags:  silkpainting, fiberart, handpainted silk, silk purses, wall hangings, silk scarves

Kit Eastman

http://www.kiteastman.com/

I am a textile artist from St. Paul, Minnesota. I make both functional and art textiles, hand painted in the Japanese tradition of katazome (paste resist stencil dyeing), using a palette of natural pigments and dyes on linen, cotton, silk and sometimes paper. My work celebrates daily meetings with the wild birds, plants, and lake breezes of my local urban surroundings.

My decorative and functional works (i.e. pillows and runners) are created in small batches, and each item is a unique variation of my original design. I also create one-of-a kind katazome works for the wall. In addition, I am open to custom commission work. For example, I can work with homeowners and/or interior designers who want to decorate a home or public space with a unique, nature-inspired art textile.

Katazome techniques can be applied to any natural fiber woven fabric, from sheer silks to heavier weight wools, linens, hemps and cottons. Please contact me if you are interested in learning more about what is possible!

Artist statement:  Natural forms draw me in on daily walks around the small lake near my home. I am captivated by the patterns and cycles I observe in plants, water, birds and seasons. These familiar landscapes, as well as the interior terrain of thought, memory and imagination inspire my work.

Since January of 2009, I have focused exclusively on the materials, tools and techniques of katazome, which inspire me almost as much as my subject matter! The centuries-old technique incorporates elements of both printmaking and painting, and relies on simple non-toxic materials such as rice paste resist, natural pigments and dyes, and soymilk. It is an elegant process with relevance for the contemporary artist who strives to work with a minimum impact on the environment.

As my work enters the stream of daily life, those who use and enjoy it will be reminded of the beauty of nature. In sharing with my audience how the work was made, I hope to inspire appreciation of this inventive, robust, and earth-friendly Japanese textile tradition.

Location:  St. Paul, Minnesota, USA

Online shop:  SilverMinnow

Blog:  kiteastman

Memberships:

   Surface Design Association
   Textile Center of Minnesota
   American Crafts Council

Languages spoken:  English

Katazome textile by Kit Eastman

Tags:  natural dye, hand painted, linen, silk, katazome, Japanese, bird, plant, home decor, stencil

Karen Henderson

www.karenhendersonfiber.com

When I create my art, I try to tap into the calm center of myself and let myself respond to my environment and the materials I work with.  I love the rhythm of weaving and stitching. Creating my own cloth feels right, and the challenge of re-creating moments in nature is endlessly fascinating for me.  I take time to absorb each piece that I make in all of its stages, until it is complete. 

My work is shown in group or solo shows, and I also create special pieces on commission for individuals, businesses, or through art consultants.  My process for commissions is personal and rewarding for me both me and my clients.  I enjoy learning what it is that people respond to in my work, and what they are looking for in their home or business.  Please visit my links to see more of my artwork, process and inspiration, and feel free to contact me for Exhibit, Commission, or Lecture opportunities.

The other creative hat I wear is as a Freelance Textile / Surface Pattern Designer, working with clients in the Home Furnishings, Fashion and Stationery/Giftware industries.  With this aspect of my work, I create designs using the fiber techniques I love, and incorporate many other art techniques as well.  I also create computer generated designs in Photoshop and Illustrator, and/or my designs are a combination of both hand and computer work.  While this design work is not included on my art website currently,  I'm happy to send design samples upon request, and encourage you to contact me if you have a project in mind.

I’m also working on getting an Etsy site together for the wearable art and other smaller hand crafted items that I enjoy making.  Once I have that shop up, I'll let you know!

Artist statement:  In my work, I am interested in the connections between self, place, emotion and time.  Seasons, atmospheres and the time of day intrigue me.  I try to recreate these natural occurrences, evoking emotions that I associate with them through the use of color, line, and texture.

I use different dye techniques (batik, shibori, color removal, rust print) as well as sewing with my weavings and fabric pieces.  I draw lines by stitching with thread.  Dimension is added with tucks, layers, or other manipulations of fabric.  The lines suggest landscape or other aspects of nature.  Most of the techniques I choose to use are very contemplative, encouraging introspection; other processes are spontaneous and unpredictable.  I try to find a balance between the two approaches, trying to capture those ephemeral, fleeting moments of time.

Short Bio:
Originally from Bucks County, Pennsylvania, Karen Henderson now resides in the beautiful Green Mountain state of Vermont.  She learned weaving and print design in the textile design program at Moore College of Art & Design in Philadelphia, PA.   Her work has been shown in high-end craft shows and exhibits, and is found in many private and corporate collections.  Her work has been published in entitled “1000 Artisan Textiles” , ""The Guild Sourcebook of Residential Art #6"", and in Fiberarts, Surface Design Journal, and Selvedge magazines.  Recently, some of her work was used on the set of the award winning movie “Black Swan”.  

Location:  Montpelier, Vermont, USA 

Blog:  SDA Vermont

Memberships:

   InLiquid Artist Member
   I volunteer as the Vermont area Rep for Surface Design Association 
   Textile Study Group of New York

Languages spoken:  English

Hand woven textile by Karen Henderson

Tags:  fine art, landscape, stitching, tapestry wall pieces, weaving, commissions, textile, fiber,  textile design, surface pattern design

Affaires Nomades

www.affairesnomades.fr

Hi.  My name is Fumika.

I work with textiles, specializing in interior decor. I became interested in textiles while working as a set designer at theatres. I create drawings and work them on to various materials, depending on the object.  I especially like  linen and hemp.

My brand is called “Affaires Nomades” and I got the name from my fascination for the nomadic life.  I want to explore the idea of interior design as a reflection on voyages and nature.  In this way, the question is how to integrate my drawings on to the fabric by using various methods.

The first series of my collection is called "Fragments", original drawing designs made by my self, printed on fabric in France, limited editions.

Care:  Hand wash, first in cold water, then at 30 ° C recommended.
Most of the pillows listed in my Etsy shop include the inserts so that you can use them immediately.  But do not hesitate to ask me if you prefer only the covers to save on shipping.

Artist's statement:  Constant experimentation in seach of new techniques and ideas.  Objects that inspire our dreams.  I want to explore the idea of interior design as a reflection on voyages and nature.

Location:  Paris, France

Online shop:  AffairesNomades
Design site:  fumikadubois

Languages spoken:  Japanese, French, English

Pillow by Affaires Nomades

Tags:   housewares, home decor, cushion, pillow, plaid, rug, placemat, table top

Linda A. Miller

www.lindamillerdesigns.com

I am a fiber artist with a love of cloth, color, movement, texture…and the desire to share beauty with others.  I also have an ongoing community project:  The Bhavana Project, based on Tibetan prayer flags. Please visit!  The third set of flags is currently in progress.

Artist statement:  I came to quilt making in the 1990’s with a varied background in fine arts and textiles.  A love of fabric made the fiber arts medium an easy choice once I realized that drawing, painting or printmaking skills could be added to quilting.  The desire to slow down and feel the cloth beneath my fingers continually nudges me back to my roots in hand work, especially embroidery, which I incorporate into my pieces.  I thrive on the unpredictability of the art making process, and find manipulating the fabric surface with paint, water, heat or thread a wonderful way to play.  This layering technique stretches not only the cloth’s textural potential, but my creative visualization.   

My imagery is inspired by flowing water, the power of the sun, or the interplay between dynamic movement and stillness.  Inspiration is linked to being present in the moment.  For me, creative practice and meditation practice go hand in hand.  Both ground and nourish my journey of discovery.  In turn, I delight in sharing what I have learned with others so that they can also open to their unique creative voice.

Location:  Culver City, CA,  USA

Blog:  lindamillerdesigns

Other social media:  LinkedIn

Memberships:  

   Studio Art Quilt Associates (SAQA)
   Surface Design Association
   Quilts on the Wall

Languages spoken:  English, some German

Fluid Fissure 2 by Linda A. Miller

Tags:  water, flow, sun, embroidered, paint, energy, hand work, prayer flags

Wen Redmond

www.wenredmond.com

Fiber/Digital/ Mixed Media Artist. Explore Possibilities. What if factors. Stretch!

"Wen Redmond has worked in the fiber field since 1973, when she made her first intuitive pieced art quilt. Her work merges digital processes, photography, collage and surface design; an unusual use of fiber. She delights in creating dialogue, changing perspectives and perceptions of fiber."

Artist's statement:   I am quite passionate about my work. I continue to explore my chosen medium, fabric, to see what it can do, to stretch its perception as art medium.

When I work, I encourage a collaborative process with spirit or my higher self, that mind-boggling principle of the universe. This process can also be called ‘flow’. When you are in this state of mind, the intuitive is tapped and the work can become more than the sum of it’s parts. I work out insights, inspirations, feelings and reactions to the outer world. Allowing time for these inspirations to percolate up from my unconscious is a vital part of my process.

Each piece is wrought individually and is one of a kind. These include original photographs, artistically manipulated, printed on prepared fabrics and various textile substrates. The works can include painting, dying, stamping screen-printing, mono printing and other means of surface design. Among a variety of presentations, I created an innovative technique, Holographic Images, employing photographs on silk organza to create a unique 3-D effect.

Layers peeled back reveal the source, the inspiration, and my mad desire to capture thoughts, dreams and the beauty of nature.

Location:  Strafford, New Hampshire, USA
Online shops:  artfulhome
   Antiques on Etsy
Blog:  fiberartgoddess
Facebook:  Personal page
Twitter:  wenredmond 
Youtube:   wenredmond
Memberships:  
   Studio Art Quilt Association NH/ME/VT Co Rep
   fiberrevolution
   League of New Hampshire Craftsmen
   Surface Design Association
Languages spoken:  English

"Whispers of the Positive" by Wen Redmond

Tags:  Digital, Photography, surface design, mixed media, collage, holographic, fiber, workshops, stitching, creative, book making, journels

FeltedPleasure

www.FeltedPleasure.etsy.com

My name is Marina Shkolnik.
I live in the capital of Russia, Moscow, with my husband and cat, Tigra.

I am self-taught fiber artist, and I spend all of my time felting or thinking about new projects.  My favorite technique is nuno felting because it offers such potential in producing a variety and richness of texture.

I have been a vegetarian for quite a long time, and last during two years I have tried to follow a raw foods diet.

I love yoga, cats, sunrise, a sense of humour, handmade, vintage, watermelons, avocado, bok choy, turquoise color, white sand, sunbathing, snowboarding…  I don't love cities with their regular crush and would like to move to a lonely place in mountains or forest someday...  And most of all, I don't love it when somebody copies another’s ideas without permission, and are not ashamed of selling absolutely poor-quality products.

Artist's statement:  My main goal is to attract people's attention to unique and beautiful handmade accessories.  The most attractive in felting for me is the absence of any restrictions, models and standards - just follow your imagination and enjoy process!

I make my items using felt techniques using the best materials only, such as extra fine Australian merino wool (maximum is 18,5 mic. -  a low count of micron is more suited to items worn next to the skin since it doesn't 'prickle'), cashmere, silk, tencel, bamboo and many, many other wonderful fibers from all over the world!

Where do I get my inspiration? I have tried many times to answer to this question ... the inspiration comes by itself.  I take the wool in my hands, I touch it, breathe in its smell, look over different colors and an image of the future product appears before my eyes. My inspiration also comes from the beauty of surrounding world, as well as the unique color combos which were created by nature.

Location:  Moscow, Russia

Online shop:  FeltedPleasure

Memberships:  SDA

Languages spoken:  English, Russian

Felted Accessories by Marina Shkolnik.

Tags:   felt, felting, nuno, nuno felt, nuno felting,  felted scarves, unique, FeltedPleasure, textured felting, fiber art

Stitching Life

http://stitchinglife.com

I am a textile artist working full-time from home in the UK. I work entirely by hand, making art quilts and small stitched cloths from mainly recycled materials such as old linens and clothing. I dye most of my fabrics and threads myself and occasionally sell hand-dyed materials.

Artist's statement:  Although my formal art training is in paint, I prefer the tactile quality of textiles as a medium of expression. Cloth is with us throughout our lives, a constant presence that touches us, both literally and figuratively. Our very first experience following our birth is that of being wrapped in a cloth; as preparation for the grave, we are wrapped in a shroud.

I choose to work by hand because I love the feel of the needle and thread through cloth, and I like to feel the way the cloth is responding to stitch. I think of the process of stitching as a quiet conversation between myself, the needle and thread and the cloth itself. The act of piecing scraps of cloth together is a metaphor for the way our lives are composed of brief moments joined together. I also think of the many women before me who have sat quietly and stitched, either for duty or for pleasure. I prefer in general to work with natural materials - linen, cotton, silk, wool - and I remain mindful that these were once part of living organisms. I try to remain respectful to the cloth, to the process and to tradition.

-Karen Turner

Location:  East Yorkshire, United Kingdom

Blog:  Stitching Life
Online shop:  stitchinglife

Languages spoken:  English

"Midnight", Art Quilt by Stitching Life

Tags:  patchwork, applique, embroidery, quilting, cloth, thread, stitch, (by) hand, abstract

LaTouchables

http://www.etsy.com/shop/LaTouchables

I design mostly body adornment for the modern woman of any age. Much of my work is inspired by nature, history, and culture. I want to create things that are affordable, and become a natural part of the daily wardrobe. Color, texture, wearability...this all plays a role in how it goes in the studio, and of course intuition plays a huge role. That's why most everything is OOAK. (One of a kind)

I like to use vintage and antique cloths in my pieces along with buttons, and beads from around the world. I was lucky to get some Bedouin embroidery dating back from the mid-20th-century, and earlier. My work is always in a process of growth. There are techniques to improve on, designs that architectually need brain-storming, from idea to finished piece, while still keeping the integrity of the original impulse.

I get emotional about hand-stitching, stains, signs of the human touch, beautiful worn textures, and quality. This means I love materials like silk, cotton, linen, bakelite, horn, mudcloth... and I am continually searching, experimenting, and opening up to the new. I see it as a long-term love-affair with developing a soft-sculpture body adornment that crosses genres. My hope is to take the raw materials and make something worthy of showing off their beauty, whether they are a hundred years old or straight off the bolt.

In the long run, I'd like to have a broader audience, and a group of fellow fiber-addicts to get that community dynamic. Of course I'd like to sell more and know that something I make will be worn by someone somewhere. This gives me the impetus to create more, and thus refine my skills.

I'm glad to have found TAFA with the chance to make new friends and contacts.

Location: Germany, Europe
Online shop: LaTouchables
Blog: latouchablesbagsandthings
Languages spoken: English, German

Adornment for the woman of the modern age by LaTouchables.

Tags: body adornment, necklace, africa, levantine, vintage, antique, tribal, cuff, cloth, bead

ITSA Studio

www.itsastudio.com

ITSA Studio is not only my working studio, (Barbetta Lockart Contemporary Art), but it also houses all the wonderful treasures found on my itsastudio.com site.  I carry surface design supplies, jewelry supplies, beads, and wonderful world market items.  Always a bead lover, always a lover and appreciator of all the world’s cultures, and always a creative sort, I put all those interests together and opened a bead shop many years ago.   Closing the shop to get back into my own studio did not change any of that, hence ITSA Studio was created.  Although it is online, I welcome visitors to the studio so they can browse through all the treasures and be dazzled.

Mission:  As artists we all need wonderful items for inspiration, great supplies to work with, and interesting ‘stuff’, as well as the occasional treat for ourselves.  We also sometimes need information from someone familiar with the products/items.  ITSA Studio offers all that and more, including cups of tea, good music…and classes.

Location:  Sacramento, California, USA

Online shops:  itsastudio, barbettalockart

Brick and Mortar:  ITSA Studio is located at 4330 24th Street, #2, Sacramento, California, 95822 USA.  Visitors are very welcome at the studio, whether they want to shop art supplies, beads, or world treasures, discuss techniques, or just have a leisurely visit discussing art and fiber. A cup of tea is always ready for you, but I ask that you contact me through my website(s) to make an appointment since I don’t have regular ‘retail’ hours.

Membership:  Surface Design Association   

Social Media:  LinkedIn

Languages spoken:  English, Spanish (somewhat), Fiber-ese…it is its own language, isn’t it? 

Find surface design supplies, textile stamps, ethnographic items and work by Barbetta Lockart at ITSA Studio.

Tags:  Foiling, “Kuba Cloth”, “Uygur Silks”, jewelry, “dyed silk”, “African Trade Beads”, “seed beads”, “Hot Sticky Stuff ™”, “Clear Textile Adhesive” textiles

Anni Hunt

"Copper Pot", Detail, by Anni Hunt

www.annihunt.com

Stitching and fabric have been an important part of Anni’s life since childhood. As so many people do she started making clothes, then  moved on to quilting and now is making stitched, dyed and painted 3d pieces and wall hangings.  All art making gives its creator certain freedoms and creating work in 3D has given her a new view of what she wants to and can do.

Having had a career in “grayscale” imaging she has necessarily become acutely aware of subtle changes in shade.  In many ways this has pushed her towards a love of, and perhaps a need for, the rich and colourful, but at the same time kept her very aware of changes in hue and tone.  As an artist she has found this very helpful. 

The sleek and elegant lines of Japanese design concepts has also been a strong influence on Anni.  She finds its strength and simplicity inspiring and in a way comforting.

With her containers she wants to create the contradictory feeling of containment and freedom, a contradiction which is something that everyone finds in their lives.

Artist's statment:  I have always had a very good ""eye"" for subtle changes in colour . I think my thirty years in ""grayscale"" imaging in medicine has definitely honed those skills to a finer degree than most. So it is wonderful to be able to apply that in stitch with the use of fibre and threads to create a rich and colourful texture reflecting nature in my work.

I tend to use my surroundings from the west coast and nature to influence and inspire me.
My design sense has definitely been influenced by sleek, elegant Japanese lines and the Art Deco clothing styles of Erte` to which I apply to my wearable art creations.

My work is available at Crafthouse, a gallery run by the Craft Council of British Columbia.

"Family Connections" by Anni Hunt

Location:  West Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Memberships:  

   SDA, Surface Design Assoc.
   SAQA, Studio Art Quilts Assoc.
   Gail Harker Creative Studies

   Workshop on the Web

Languages spoken:  English, Norwegian

"Dream Twigs" by Anni Hunt

 

Tags:  Mixed Media, Textiles, Machine Embroidery, Collage, Encaustics, Abstracts in Nature.

Barbetta Lockart Contemporary Art

“Silent Witness…No More”

recycled mannequin, misc. recycled fabrics, twine, wire, acrylic paint, gel medium

26"H x 15"W x 12"D

©2010 Barbetta Lockart

“We can no longer sit by silently as we witness atrocities, genocide, abuse, man’s inhumanity to man, destruction, starvation and corruption. We must speak out ...we must demand change, and we must become part of that change.”

www.barbettalockart.com

I am a contemporary artist with a fondness for fiber in all its many and varied forms.  I create 2D and 3D mixed media fine art pieces, and fiber in some configuration or the other can usually be found in my work.   Fiber speaks to me because it is so basic and because it seems to have the ability to do things artistically that other materials cannot:  I appreciate its ability to be flexible both in application and appearance, implying or creating movement in one piece, yet being strong and robust in another piece.  I find its chameleon-like qualities to be well suited for my work and vision.

I maintain a working studio in Sacramento, California, USA, where I create, display my work, teach classes and mentor other artists (realizing, of course, that I learn every bit as much from them as they might from me---artistic and professional growth is wonderful, as are the personal connections made).

My work is available to individual art lovers, collectors and corporations, as well as to galleries that share my fascination with and appreciation of, fiber in contemporary art.

My studio, ITSA Studio, is at 4330 24th Street, #2, Sacramento, California, 95822 USA.  Visitors are very welcome at the studio, whether they want to look at or purchase art, shop art supplies or the other treasures offered on my ITSA Studio site, or just have a leisurely visit discussing art and fiber. A cup of tea is always ready for you, but I ask that you contact me through my website(s) to make an appointment so I will be available when you wish to visit.

Artist's statement:  My work is my visual response to the world around me, whether it is the political, social, natural or ethereal world. Whether I am troubled, happy, perplexed or enchanted by something I see, hear or experience, my feelings and reactions to that event will eventually find their way into my art.  To me, art is communication at its most pure, whether it is in the form of dance, music, the written word, the visual arts, or some other artistic format, it is a way to be authentic, honest and real, and above all, to be heard.  

Location:  Sacramento, California, USA
Online shops:  barbettalockart, itsastudio
Social Media:  LinkedIn
Memberships:  Surface Design Association 
Languages spoken:  English, Spanish (somewhat)
   Fiber-ese…it is its own language, isn’t it?

"Para los Desaparecidos"

floor fan 'cage', misc. fabrics, mirror, yarn, thread

20"Diameter x 4.5"D

©2006 Barbetta Lockart

“Para los desaparecidos del mundo. Nunca olvidaremos

sus corazones, sus almas, sus caras. Uno podrías serlo

tu... uno podría serlo yo.

 For the 'disappeared' of the world. We will not forget

their hearts, their souls, their faces. They could be you...they could be me.

Tags:  Fiber mosaic, FiberScapes, collage, recycled, textile, threads, felting, mannequins, stones

Danny Mansmith

"My Shrine for Me" by Danny Mansmith

http://www.etsy.com/shop/SCRAPdannymansmith

Hello.

I'm an artist who, for the most part, is self taught.  Making art and working with my hands fuels me to be in this world.

So much of today's society doesn't appeal to me so I have turned to creating my own world in my art.

I really wish to share my art with others and try to inspire others to express themselves to follow their own paths.

Artist's statement:  Working with my hands has saved my life.

Instead of being the fastest or the smartest I found my strength, sanctuary and cushion from the world in making art.

My grandma gave me my first art lessons when I was very young. She sewed my clothes growing up and this influenced me to later teach myself how to use the sewing machine - allowing imperfections, emotions, and child like energies to fuel and inspire me to create.

Danny Mansmith's studio.

I want to push myself to make art with the things around me, to be resourceful and to follow my heart’s inspiration.

Making something wearable, drawing with sharpies or the sewing machine, sculpting, to creating installations that incorporate all of these elements has become my spirituality - my survival.

Location:  Chicago, Illinois, USA

Online shop:  SCRAPdannymansmith
Social media:  
   LinkedIn
   Facebook   (personal page)
Languages spoken:  English 

"Fabric Leaf Cut Out Necklace" by Danny Mansmith

Tags:   unique, individual, authentic, inventive, spiritual, installation art, sewing machine, self taught, resourceful, evolving, outsider art