In the last twenty years I have created over 1000 textile paintings.
I tend to work in a series, exploring a theme in depth with by following designs from one composition to the next. Expanding and growing ideas, colors, shapes and lines that capture my attention.
I explore both abstract compositions and landscapes. The addition of mark making with paint brings an added dimension and complexity to some of my compositions.
What is a textile painting? It is an artwork made from fabric constructed by stitching.
Instead of painting with pigments, I paint with fabric.
Here I share a selection of artwork from my current series.
[Please click on the thumbnail images for a slide show with larger images.]
Travel Patterns
An ongoing series of work exploring movement and pattern. My desire for adventure and travel married with my love of repetition.
Music and Memory
Memory and mark making underscore the meaning of these artworks. With a common thread of music running through many of them: my childhood piano lessons, concerts, singing with friends. Learn more about these series.
Possibility
New beginnings. What is possible when you step through the doorway? Learn more about this series.
Landscapes
Learn more about how I abstract landscapes.
Explorations
There are times when the results of my studio practice do not fall neatly within a existing body of work. The explorations are transitional pieces that provide the bread crumbs linking my series.
Structures – Available
An exploration of boundaries and lines – a staple in my artistic exploration.
Structures – Sold
Artist Statement
My abstract textile paintings explore memory, movement, possibility and adventure. The inclusion of mark making in my most recent work allows me to explore layering of complex patterns.
I bring along my signature thin lines as I explore my environment in abstracted landscapes. Having spent most of my time in the American Southwest with big open spaces, the endless horizon line is frequently the subject of my work.
The influence of my extensive background in computer science can also be spotted in my geometric designs.
I am drawn to textiles by the tactile nature of the medium and intrigued by the flexibility of woven fabric in contrast to its underlying rigid grid construction.
My Process
I do all of my stitching on a small domestic sewing machine – the Pfaff 1475, made in 1992.
In the “you can never own too many tools” category I have seven identical machines.
There are four steps involved in making my artwork:
First is the creation of color. I start with white fabric and using dyes and paints I create my palette of colors, textures and patterns. This is the fun messy part of my process. Kind of like finger painting.
The second step involves cutting up my fabric and arranging it into an interesting composition. After I’ve found a dynamic composition, I stitch the fabric back together.
This is the hardest part. It’s a dance between planning ahead and improvisation – like putting together a puzzle where the pieces are constantly changing size throughout the project.
I LOVE the challenge.
Making marks by painting and stamping is the third process in my studio practice. I use tools mostly associated with sewing (such as empty spools of thread) and a selection of hand carved stamps to make my marks.
In the forth step I create texture across the surface with oodles of thread. It takes hours and hours to add the dense stitching to the work.
This is currently my favorite part of the process. The soothing repetition of sewing straight lines back and forth. For hours and hours. Meditation.
