Artist Spotlight: Jane Sassaman

I'd love to introduce you to a long-time favorite artist of mine - the lovely and talented Jane Sassaman. I have quite a few of her pieces in my favorite lecture (The Elements of Art). Her work is bold, full of movement, and speaks to my heart.

L: I'm always very interested in the different paths people take to their current place. Did you always know you wanted to be an artist? How did you get to where you are?

Jane: Yes, there was no other career path for me. Thank goodness my parents encouraged me along the way. But I have always been tunnel-visioned and it is very easy to ignore everything else when I have a goal or a project in the works. When I'm at home, I'm in the studio eight hours a day, seven days a week. 

When I started quilting my goal was to be in the Quilt National with all those other quilters that I admired so much. So that was the first show I entered and luckily I was accepted, in fact I was in every Quilt National from 1989-2005. I think that exposure helped get my work into the world. I think it's about time to enter again!

Lyric: I think it's very important for creative people to have a space of their own (no matter how small) where they can walk in and get to work. Tell me about your working space.

Jane: I have a nice big studio space now, but for years I worked on the only table in a small house in the middle of family life. Yes, a nice studio is great, but determination and vision can overcome many obstacles. 

My current space is in a separate building on our property, so now I can actually have some privacy. It is still waiting for more bookcases and storage, but it is great to have a larger space to spread into. The walls are painted bright yellow and saffron, colors that I find very energetic and encouraging.

Lyric: Your work is very bold and graphic in quality. Have you always worked this way or did you wander through various styles before "finding your voice?"

Jane: I seem to have been born with a preference for hard edged graphics and solid colors. Even in junior high school my work contained these elements. And these some of the characteristics that drew me to quilting, along with the craftsmanship, fabric, scale and independence.

Lyric: How do you balance the business side of your work with making art?

Jane: Sigh! I have found I'm a much better artist than a business woman! I would love to hook up with someone who's "art" is business. These days the studio work often takes a back seat to correspondence. But I am determined to adjust those proportions this year. I am also designing fabric for FreeSpirit/Westminster, which I LOVE doing. This designing takes a lot of time and concentration. And then I design quilts with the fabric to show the fabrics potential... and this is what Patchwork Sassaman Style is all about. I'm hoping that this book will excite people into using some of those big beautiful prints.

Lyric: Is there an event coming up that you would like to tell us about?

Jane: I will be attending the Festival of Quilts in Birmingham, August 16-19 to do a lecture and a Meet the Designer event hosted by Kaffe Fassett.

This will be my first trip to the show and I am really looking forward to seeing all the quilts and meeting their makers.

So - isn't she amazing? Are you as in love with her work as I am? That beautiful scarf is for sale on her website, along with some of her beautiful fabric and patterns. 

Stay tuned - Jane has a new book that I'll review (and give away!) in two days!

Artist Spotlight: Linda Kittmer

I'd like to introduce you to an artist who does some very fun and interesting fiber work, Linda Kittmer. I'm always interested in the process and the history behind an artist and their work and Linda kindly agreed to share her story with you.

How did you become an artist? 

2012 Bead Journal Project by Linda Kittmer

I guess I’ve always been an artist, or at least had some artistic ability.  I loved art in high school and took some fine arts electives in university, but never thought of pursuing it as a career.  Then, as is so often the case, life got busy and art was put on the back burner.  In 1999 I began quilting.  I was a self taught quilter and quickly discovered that I preferred creating my own unique designs rather than use a pattern.  From there I moved to art quilts, fibre art and mixed media work.   

What need are you fulfilling, why do you make art?

I find working on my art very relaxing.  When things are going well, my art is a wonderful pastime, allowing me to express who I am and how I see the world.  It allows me to play!  And as Marion Boddy-Evans says, “I believe art is foremost for the artist who creates it.  You do it for your soul, and if the rest of the world gets something from it, that’s a bonus.” 

Rock Paper Scissors by Linda Kittmer

But, perhaps more important to me right now is the fact that when life presents challenges, my art becomes therapeutic.  To quote Twyla Tharp, “Art is the only way to run away without leaving home.”  I am currently struggling with depression as the result of a concussion I incurred after an accident, and my personal commitment to do art everyday is incredibly helpful in allowing me to keep things in perspective.  John Updike summed it us so well when he said that “What art offers is space - a certain breathing room for the spirit”.

What is your favorite medium and why? 

It’s really hard to say what my favourite medium is.  I enjoy experimenting with a wide variety of art media (various fibres, paints, paper, inks, beads, etc.) but I usually come back to something that allows me to incorporate stitch.  I love free-motion quilting and thread sketching, and I also do a lot of beading and hand stitching. 

What is your favorite ongoing project and how did you become involved in it? 

I’m currently working on a relatively large piece that I’m hoping to have accepted into a juried show next year.  This piece was inspired by some of the needle felted work done by Jane LaFazio.  I’ve started with hand dyed pieces of left over bamboo batting as a base.  Over that I’ve layered all sorts of wonderful yarns, wool and silk rovings, hand dyed cheese cloth, etc.  The next step will be to add a lot of hand stitch and then some beading.  I love the unpredictability I get when working on my embellishing machine.  It’s so much fun to watch the piece evolve in front of my eyes!  

You Are Unique by Linda Kittmer

If your curiosity has been sparked, head over to Linda's blog and check out more of her work. While you are there read her review of my Bead It Like You Mean It DVD. She'll be giving away a copy so be sure to leave a comment there for a chance to win.

Artist Spotlight: Nancy Cook - A Sense of Scale

What happens when you take the sketch of something you've drawn... something nice and small and detailed... and you blow it up REALLY BIG!?

Burr Oak sketch by Nancy Cook

Maple Seed Design by Nancy Cook

Scale is a basic principle of design and composition. It always relates to the size of the work of art in comparison to the size of us as human beings. Taking something tiny and often overlooked and spending the time necessary to draw it in great detail gives an artist a deep appreciation for the beauty of the form. I'm constantly telling my students that sketching is more about seeing than anything else. 

How do you convey that sense of beauty to your viewer - the wonder and awe of the complexity of nature? One way is to create your work of art on a scale much, much larger than the object you are rendering. Nancy Cook takes a seed, a leaf, a branch - and blows it up larger than life with beautiful details in her textile work. She gives us an easy window into the understanding of nature's beauty.

Burr Oak by Nancy Cook

I was very fortunate to see an exhibit of Nancy Cook's work at the North Carolina Botanical Gardens in Chapel Hill this week. (Unfortunately it comes down next Tuesday the 28th.) It's worth seeing - and then wandering the beautiful landscape - sketchbook in hand.

Echos of Tulip's Summer by Nancy Cook

So as you sketch, as you observe, keep in mind a sense of scale. Might your sketch be a study for a final work of art? What scale would you like to work with? What will your final product be?

Imaginary Creatures

One of my favorite artists and illustrators is named Omar Rayyan.

Fluffy, by Omar Rayyan

on etsy

I love his slightly twisted and humorous imagination.

Contessa with Squid, by Omar Rayyan

prints on Etsy

 I smile whenever I see his work.

Courtship, by Omar Rayyan

 I don't have his prodigious experience and the natural results of his due diligence with pencil and brush. Some day I might, but not yet.

But last night right before bed I was thinking about this month's Sketchbook Challenge theme of imaginary creatures and started scribbling and a few seconds later I had a long necked goat with wings and fangs. No idea at the beginning what it was going to be. But there you go. Fun to be had with pencil in hand. 

Artist Spotlight: Tracie Lyn Huskamp

The giveaway fenzy winds down today with the artist Tracie Lyn Huskamp who is giving away a copy of Bead It Like You Mean It on her blog. Read all about her here, then go there to leave a comment for your chance to win.

Tracie Lyn Huskamp is a product designer, workshop instructor, painter, poet, and mixed media artist living in Kansas. Her book, Nature Inspired (by Quarry Publishing), her fabric collection, Nature Inspired (by Windham Fabrics), along with her 2012 calendars, Nature Inspired Birds (by Time Factory Publishing), are in retails stores now. To learn more about her art and life, visit her website at TheRedDoor-Studio.com.


Tracie will be in Houston November 3-6, teaching at the International Quilt Festival. She's also teaching next year, September 16 - 22 in Orivieto Italy! Can I just tell you right now... I WANT TO BE IN THAT CLASS! 

Here is a list of all of the lovely artists and blogs that participated in the Bead It party.

Sep 15  Larkin Van Horn http://blog.larkinart.com/

Sept 16 Susan Sorell http://www.creativechick.com/blog/ 

Sept 19 Kelli Nina Perkins http://ephemeralalchemy.blogspot.com/ 

Sept 21  Sharon Chapman http://wildflowerhouse.blogspot.com/ 

Sept 23 Leslie Jennison http://leslietuckerjenison.blogspot.com/ 

Sept 26 Carla Sonheim http://carlasonheim.wordpress.com/ 

Sept 28 Gloria Hansen http://www.gloriahansen.com/weblog/ 

Sept 30 Laura Wasilowski http://artfabrik.blogspot.com/ 

Oct 3  Carol Sloan http://carolbsloan.blogspot.com/ 

Oct 5 Sue Bleiweiss http://www.suebleiweiss.com/blog/ 

Oct 7  Jill Berry http://jillberrydesign.com/blog/ 

Oct 10 Jane LaFazio http://janeville.blogspot.com/ 

Oct 12 Tracie Lynn Huskamp http://thereddoor-studio.blogspot.com/

And if , even after leaving a comment on each and every review, you still didn't win - you can buy it here.

Bead It Like You Mean It - Jane LaFazio

The Bead It Like You Mean It

Blog Hop Giveaway

is winding down...

Today the fabulous Jane LaFazio is reviewing and then giving away one of the last two copies of this hour and a half long workshop. On Wednesday Tracie Lyn Huskamp is giving the last one away. And then the introductory sale price of $19.95 goes up to $24.95.

I've introduced you to Jane in the past (read a series of posts here) - she's still one of my favorites. She's full of boundless energy and enthusiasm and is fearless about trying new techniques. 

Head over to JANE'S BLOG today and leave a comment to win a copy of Bead It Like You Mean It.

THIS is what Jane did after viewing my DVD.

Read the post about her project of fight Breast Cancer here. 

What crazy thing are you inclined to bead?

Artist Spotlight: Jill Berry

Sketchbook Artist, Jill Berry is recently returned from three fabulous weeks of teaching in Italy. 

I can't wait to hear more - I SOOOO want to do that some day.

Her book, due out soon, is called Personal Geographies: Explorations in Mixed-Media Mapmaking. I can't wait to see it, having a personal attraction to maps - and art that explores maps and plans. Maybe it's my (long ago) studies of architecture, maybe it's just that Jill's work is gorgeous. You can pre-order it here.

She has a review of Bead It Like You Mean It on her blog and is giving away a copy. 

Head over to her blog to leave a comment for your chance to win. 

Remember that the DVD is on sale only for the next few days. On October 12th the regular price will go into effect, so if you want it for $19.95 buy it soon. I think you will really like it. If you want your local shop to carry it please have them contact me!

Carol Sloan and Sue Bleiwiess also still have giveaways open so you can try your luck there as well.

Artist Spotlight: Sue Belieweiss

Sue Bleiweiss is the brains behind the Sketchbook Challenge - a group of artists that has taken many of us on a fantastic journey for the past year. I have learned much and made wonderful friends over there, and it has been a great pleasure to work with Sue.

Fabric Collage II by Sue Bleiweiss
34" x 24"

Sue's work speaks to me - it is both richly textured and yet it is controlled and meticulously detailed. Love it.

Sue says: "I am fascinated with the challenge of creating texture both real and implied to a piece of fabric by using dyes, paints, and stitch to manipulate the surface of  the fabric.  My goal has never been to create a perfect and flawless surface. It is to create something that delights the eye, feeds the senses and fires the imagination." 

Sue also works in various media - I've loved her sculptural works and especially her hand made books for a long time. Beautiful stuff.

Sue has posted a review of my DVD, Bead It Like You Mean It on her blog and is giving away a copy. Please head over to her blog and read what she thinks. Leave a comment to win. 

Carol Sloane's giveaway is also still open if you haven't left a comment there.

Artist Spotlight: Carol Sloan

I'd like you to meet mixed media artist, Carol Sloan. I have truly enjoyed getting to know her through the Sketchbook Challenge. When I was reading her biography I was drawn to her lists. I like lists. I'm going to share her list with you.

In 2008 I started a blog, began teaching and submitted artwork for publication in two books.

I was on my way to achieving some of my lifelong goals and dreams: 

Be an artist. Be an author. Teach others to celebrate their creative spirit.

I have artwork in four books, with a project coming out this fall (I hope) in an e-book with Lark. I teach nationally and plan on teaching internationally soon. 

I want to write a book about mixed media book making. 

I love to teach. 

I love to see the spark in my students eyes that they can create beautiful art. 

I love to hear other people say that I helped them to look at the world in a different manner.

If I'm not knee deep in water, kayaking with my husband, then I am elbow deep in paint, paper and fiber, creating art that tells a great story.

(Do you love her list as much as I do?)

Carol has also reviewed Bead It Like You Mean It

Leave a comment on her BLOG 
if you'd like the chance to win it.

http://carolbsloan.blogspot.com/

Here is a little recap of the reviews so far - and the upcoming giveaways

Larkin VanHorn http://blog.larkinart.com/?p=174

 Susan Sorell http://www.creativechick.com/blog/ 

Kelli Nina Perkins http://ephemeralalchemy.blogspot.com/ 

Sharon Chapman http://wildflowerhouse.blogspot.com/ 

Leslie Jennison http://leslietuckerjenison.blogspot.com/ 

Carla Sonheim http://carlasonheim.wordpress.com/ 
Laura Wasilowski http://artfabrik.blogspot.com/ 

Gloria Hansen http://www.gloriahansen.com/weblog/?p=6424 

Oct 3  Carol Sloan http://carolbsloan.blogspot.com/ 

Oct 5 Sue Bleiweiss http://www.suebleiweiss.com/blog/ 

Oct 7  Jill Berry http://jillberrydesign.com/blog/ 

Oct 10 Jane LaFazio http://janeville.blogspot.com/ 

Oct 12 Tracie Lynn Huskamp http://thereddoor-studio.blogspot.com/

Artist Spotlight: Laura Wasilowski

Laura Walisowski has long been one of my favorite quilters and one of my favorite people. Her work and her personality are both full of whimsy and humor. In fact, she should come with a warning: do not try to drink when she is talking as sudden spraying through the nose is likely to occur.

Waffle Irons
32" x 37"

Laura is the revered and feared Dean of Corrections at the Chicago School of Fusing, (yes, I AM a proud graduate of that school.) I highly recommend a quick tour, especially a glance at the Rowenta Sports Arena, Home of the Iron Maidens, my favorite team.

She teaches all over the place and will also be vending her absolutely delicious - as in I have an extensive collection - ARTFABRIK embroidery threads and dyed fabric in Houston at the International Quilt Festival.

Blue Book on Blue Chairs
46" x 57"

Her new book, Fanciful Stitches, Colorful Quilts is a delight to read and if you've wanted to add embroidery to your quilts I highly recommend it. I reviewed it here in case you are curious... and you know you are!

Today she has a review of Bead It Like You Mean It up on her blog

http://artfabrik.blogspot.com/

Today only - leave a comment over there for a chance to win