If I had to decide on one quilter whose creative mastery of cloth portray, thread sketching, and free movement quilting set the requirements in our trade, that artist could be Susan Brubaker Knapp. Not solely is Susans technical talent set broad: she creates award-winning works that seize the essence of her topics in minute element it doesn’t matter what fiber artwork method she chooses to make use of.

However Susan additionally has a depth in her work that touches the viewer with its intensely private perspective of the pure world. Along with her studio work, Susan is a beneficiant and attentive instructor, wanted for her expansive data and easy-going fashion. She’s the creator of two books, 5 best-selling Quilting Arts Workshop DVD/movies on quite a lot of matters starting from thread sketching to ending strategies, and is the host of Quilting Arts TV, seen on PBS stations all through the nation.

This achieved full-time artist and instructor whose ardour is working with cloth and thread has a lot extra to share with the artwork quilting group.

Vivika Hansen DeNegre

Vivika: I’ve lengthy admired your creative talents. You draw, quilt, embroider, paint, and extra. Inform me a bit about your course of and the way you match all of it in.

Susan: Thanks, Vivika! My curiosity in drawing, portray and embroidery got here after working as a standard quilter I designed patterns for years earlier than shifting into artwork quilting. I’ve no formal schooling as an artist; the final artwork lessons I took had been in highschool. So as soon as I made a decision to delve into artwork quilting, I labored to study the talents I wanted to make the type of work I may see in my minds eye. I learn books and blogs, watch movies, take lessons, and most essential of all: follow and follow!

Vivika: Quilting Arts TV is a well-loved PBS present with a rising viewers. Youve been the host for greater than 2 years now What makes the present particular? What’s your favourite a part of the method in creating this present?

Susan: It’s particular due to the artists we characteristic. Theres an incredible depth and breadth of expertise on Quilting Arts TV, and such pleasure in creation, in sharing expertise and strategies. My favourite a part of internet hosting QATV is attending to ask questions and study from our company. It’s exhilarating to be round different artists.

Vivika: Inspiration comes from all over the place. How do you incorporate inspiration from quite a lot of sources into your work?

Susan: Almost all my artwork quilts begin with my authentic pictures. Im most within the tiny particulars in nature, so I take loads of macro (close-up) photographs. Lately, I take most of my pictures on my iPhone 6+, a lot of them whereas Im taking my morning stroll. (I share my favorites on social media with the hashtag #BeautyOnMyMorningWalk.) I search for components of design issues like strains, shapes, colours and texture and give attention to taking photographs which might be compositionally sturdy.

Together with 9 different fiber artists and quilters, I not too long ago helped to prepare the Threads of Resistance exhibition, which is a protest in opposition to many Trump administration insurance policies. It consists of 64 items, and can journey by way of November 2018 to 13 museums and quilt exhibits in 11 states. A number of the work within the exhibition is proving to be fairly controversial as a result of subject material, however we expect that these are matters that must be addressed. There are nonetheless lots of people on the market who dont assume quilts are artwork, or dont assume that quilts ought to be made about points like these. We hope that this exhibition encourages civil discussions and helps everybody who sees it take into account the problems from totally different views.

Vivika: What are you engaged on now?

Susan: Effectively, I at all times have loads of balls within the air I like all types of handwork and fiber artwork. Proper now, in my studio, Im actually motivated to complete We All Swim Collectively, a big wholecloth painted piece with lifelike fish throughout it. I began it greater than 5 years in the past! A lot of the fish featured are essential meals sources, and are endangered resulting from air pollution, ecosystem degradation, overfishing or local weather change. I began this piece after studying that scientists imagine we may finish hunger in our world if we correctly managed our waters sources. This piece is my method of addressing some essential environmental points I’m keen about.

Additionally within the works: finishing the thread sketching and quilting on some small items which have been languishing on my design wall; a free-style embroidery based mostly on pokeweed; a cross-stitch venture on linen of conventional Norwegian mitten designs; a number of knitting initiatives; and a big needleturn applique Baltimore Album quilt designed by Susan Garman. Selection is sweet. I feel engaged on a number of initiatives on the identical time reduces tedium and tedium, and provides initiatives time to gestate if I attain a technical hurdle or design quandary.