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.
DRAGON FIRE, 14 by 18 inches, is acrylic and wax on canvas.
Another donation from my SuGEETM collection is CROSSROADS, 28 by 38 inches. Acrylic paint on reclaimed wood with irregular edges give this piece an unconventional flare.
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 SuGEETM collection, ALIGHT (14 inches in diameter) entices with the free-flowing movement of reused Mardi Gras beads.
Another donation from my SuGEETM 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.
