I’ve often wondered about the distinction of art versus craft. This conundrum seems most obvious with creations made with fibers and/or textiles, especially if these creations add a functional component beyond being decorative. Is a quilt on a wall ‘art’, but the same quilt on a bed ‘craft’? Is one from an artist, the other from an artisan, or ‘just’ a DIY crafter? Does how you classify it reflect value? Does gender play a role?

Most fiber creations, like quilts, pillows, afghans, and other practical items have traditionally been made by women. While fine art collectors may not consider these ‘art’, I belief that these were the first artists and artisans that brought color and joy into everyday living spaces. I build on this heritage with what I call fiber paintings, made from repurposed threads, trim, laces, yarn, or other fiber based items sewn together. The result is a one-of-a-kind washable textile which can be used as a lightweight wall hanging or made into pillows, or used in other ways limited only by imagination.

I find that my preferences for which media to work with varies with the seasons. In the cold, dark, winter months, I am drawn to the warmth of fibers. The process for my fiber paintings involves gathering and sorting the colors, mostly discards from family and friends, or even deconstructing garments. Choosing colors and textures, and their placement, is similar to how a painter chooses paint for an abstract work. They are sewed using water soluble stabilizer, then hand washed.  Fiber paintings finished as pillows are available for sale exclusively at Painted Tree Boutiques in Kildeer, IL.

Technically, painting is the practice of applying pigment, color or other medium to a solid surface. That generally means paint, be it acrylic, oil, watercolor or even wax. I find it exciting, however, to work with materials that push that definition. I like to think of collages as painting with paper, so have made a series I call paper quilts. But my favorite unconventional painting is ‘SAILING FLOWERS’

The story of ‘SAILING FLOWERS’

I was inspired by the horde of sequins and seed beads given to me by a friend who was moving and downsizing, and a heavy wood backed frame.  The abstract design came organically, based on the colors I had. Once I had the beads positioned, I held them in place by pouring diluted white glue carefully over them. When that dried, layers of epoxy resin were added, but thin enough to allow the surface to still have texture. This gives the painting added dimension. The young couple who bought it described it as ‘gorgeous’ and obviously appreciate the unusual.

SAILING FLOWERS 28x34 inches

To provide access to original art for people of modest means, I donate work to charities to sell in their resale shops. My series Donated chronicles this art that I hope will grace the walls of the everyday person and bring them joy.

A prime example of my SuGEE^TM collection, ALIGHT (14 inches in diameter) entices with the free-flowing movement of reused Mardi Gras beads.

Another donation from my SuGEE^TM collection is THE PROTECTOR, 15 by 24 inches. Paint saturated fabric was draped and shaped over a piece of discarded wood, further painted with acrylic and wax, adding a protection dragon for good luck.

To provide access to original art for people of modest means, I donate work to charities to sell in their resale shops. My series Donated chronicles this art that I hope will grace the walls of the everyday person and bring them joy.

This non-traditional shape was inspired by the scrap wood reclaimed from a room remodel. It includes found objects and acrylic paint. At its largest dimensions, it is 47 by 32 inches. It looks like LAVA but could just as easily be called ANGRY. Part of my

SuGEE^TM collection. This piece has found its way into a new home, where I hope it brings joy and sparks creativity.

The two companion pieces below are acrylic paint saturated fabric and wax on reclaimed wood. MY KIND OF MAYHEM 12 by 27 inches. on the left and ACROSS THE CHASM 11 by 28 inches on the right.  Both from my SuGEE^TM collection

To provide access to original art for people of modest means, I donate work to charities to sell in their resale shops. My series Donated chronicles this art that I hope will grace the walls of the everyday person and bring them joy.

Many times the art I create evokes a story, as if the piece is sharing its perspective. For SHIMMER, if the art could speak, here is what it would say:

“I have often dreaded being seen. Not the façade of what I was supposed to be, but the real me. After years of conforming to external expectations, I forgot—or maybe never really learned—who I am. So now I take the leap of faith and shimmer in all my weird and colorful ways, vulnerability be damned!”

Acrylic (including dimensional paint) on reclaimed wood, 11 x 28 inches; part of my SuGEE^TM  collection. This piece has found its way into a new home, where I hope it brings joy and sparks creativity.

CONNECTIONS has also found its way into a new home.  Acrylic on reclaimed wood, 12 by 26 inches; part of my SuGEE^TM collection.

With my art, I question societal tendencies to discard the old as irrelevant and useless. I am inspired by the potential of an object, especially one whose beauty and purpose are considered past its expiration date, so I am often drawn to repurposing cast-off items. Over the years, I’ve collected ‘stuff’ with the intent that ‘One of these days, I’ll use it for something’. Fortunately, I’ve had the storage space to do that. I may have been prescient, since that stockpile served me well during quarantine lockdown. I work with various media, including acrylics, encaustics, found objects, fibers, textiles, jewelry, gemstones and reclaimed wood. I call my approach SuGEE™, an art form that exemplifies the need to reassess what we value. The word’s origin is an acronym from: Sustainable, Grok, Expression, Experience.

Sustainable: Using, wherever possible, materials that were discarded or used for another purpose, especially machine-made, mass produced items.
Grok: To understand intuitively. Coined by Robert Heinlein in the 1961 science fiction novel Stranger in a Strange Land.
Expression: Making known my thoughts and feelings by transforming objects.
Experience: Years of personal and professional experience help to see the possibilities in what may have been broken, lost or abandoned.

A prime example of this approach are my bead mosaics, which start with a wood base, and uses beads, often vintage, in abstract designs. The result is rich with variation and texture, and brings new life to once cherished things.

       KREATIVI 
         

KONTENTMENT