My process
I cannot help but feel awe and wonder when I observe the natural world. I see trees and wetlands from my studio window and am reminded of the push-pull between the needs of the environment and those of human beings. This dilemma inspires my work, and I spend time in the studio or outdoors every day seeking connection with the environment I love.
I start with an idea…. and I always have LOTS of ideas. Then there is a vision and a plan for a project, followed by many evolutions and iterations before I am satisfied that a piece is complete. Typically, I do my initial design work on paper; a storyboard for books or blocking out designs on graph paper for larger pieces. Writing, research, and experimentation drive my design decisions as I move on to building a small mock-up or model. For books or quilts, I layout pages or blocks on a design board to audition the fabrics I am considering. Then it is on to stitching. I limit myself to small editions or unique books because of the production time involved in hand sewing.
“I always have several projects going in various stages of completion, so I am always sewing.”
Working with collage gives me the flexibility, richness, and variety I am looking for in my work. A friend once observed that I probably needed “a journal with pockets” and indeed my journals and sketchbooks are full of collected scraps and bits, so it’s not surprising that my artwork usually combines a variety of pieces, pictures, text, prints and materials. I am always on the lookout for materials that can be combined or juxtaposed to emphasize an idea or to add clarity to my message.
“Don’t confuse symmetry with balance”
― Tom Robbins, Even Cowgirls Get the Blues
I value structure and balance in both my work and in my life. Not only do I work to balance the composition of an individual piece or page, I try to balance the meditative time I spend stitching with the interaction involved in the printmaking studio and on collaborative projects.
One important piece of this balance is the collaborative work I do with my woodworker husband, Bill. We have teamed on numerous projects where his aesthetic and practical input have been invaluable….. and I am grateful that he is so often happy to drive so I can sew on our road trips together!