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An Archaeological Site

When quizzed about the subject matter I choose to illustrate with fabric and machine, I explain, I frequently find myself drifting in many directions. I attribute the nomadic intensity to creative curiosity, a need to carefully observe the subject before my eyes to see possibilities. Although I prefer animated themes, I also enjoy interpreting more challenging landscapes such as my photos taken at Bandelier National Monument in New Mexico.  As a design idea begins to spark I combine my imaginary skills with reality, which allows me to begin to develop more a complete design layout.  In the case of Bandelier , it wasn’t enough to “reconstruct” the rugged canyon dwellings of the Ancestral Pueblo people, there was a requirement to include humans too.

Bandelier 32½" × 41½"

Why the Lion Hunt?

Three visits to the Assyrian gallery in the British Museum (London, England) introduced me to another area of historical inquiry. On display in that gallery are the most magnificent and intriguing panels carved from stone by artisans working 600-900 years before Christ. The many panels depict life in the Mesopotamian valley showcasing not only Kings and gods but the people, peasants, slaves, fishermen, and armies as well as the animal and plant life of the era. The totally captivating visits influenced me to try to recreate with fabric, ink and thread the action and spirit of one panel, which heralds the exploits of an 865 B.C. Assyrian king, Asburnasirpal, hunting desert lions.

Lion Hunt, 865 B.C. , 86 ¼ʺ w x 48¾ʺ l

"Rush Hour" Inspiration

This was a piece commissioned by a couple who have a lovely summer home surrounded by a gorgeous stone wall on Martha's Vineyard, MA. The entire scene was created from many photos I took from the terrace of their home which overlooks Vineyard Sound. The amazing sunset really did occur. We were speechless because we could not believe what we were witnessing that special sunset evening. Simple oohs and ahhs didn't describe it. The colors were unbelievably bold, ranging from neon yellows, brilliant oranges, pinks, purples, dark navy blues, bright cerulean blues and some other hues having no names. At the moment, knowing I was engaged to do a commission, I told my hosts, this is the one and I relied on the photos to re-create the bold emotions we all felt that evening.

We were looking over the stone wall as we watched the incredible light show on the horizon and, of course, the wall had to be featured in the pictorial. The entire wall hanging, 62" x 45", was accomplished by machine applique with turned-under edges, no fusibles involved, and machine quilted to finished it.

Rush Hour, 62" x 45"    SOLD

The imaginary cat was added because the owner had bought 3 other small pieces on mine which featured a travelling white cat situated in various places around the world and these were hung in a nearby bedroom. Knowing Rush Hour would be hanging in another bedroom, I figured the white cat might just stroll down the hallway, hop up on the wall to see the sunset. This bedroom was chosen for Rush Hour because it is the only room in the house which didn't have a view of any sunset, but now it does.

"The Quilt Show" Experience

It was a friendship that began over the blasphemous tearing of fabric strips, whirring sewing machines, music and lots of laughter. In the time since, Ricky Tims has become a quilters’ rock star. He has also admired and supported my work and such approval has provided me encouragement and opportunities. I have been blessed by having Ricky among my quilting friends and I am grateful.

Eight years ago Ricky and the fabulous Alex Anderson teamed up to assemble a highly successful on-line venue, “The Quilt Show.com”, which provides all the latest in quilting trends featuring quilting artists, their knowledge and experiences. Although I no longer teach or produce patterns, I work in one area that warranted an invitation to film an episode with Ricky and Alex. I do commission artwork and the logistics of commissions was the focus for my 
interview with Ricky and Alex in late March 2015.

My episode #1612 was posted on line June 8, 2015 (thequiltshow.com). I can proudly report that my experience working with Ricky, Alex and their entire staff was a fabulous one which not only introduced me to a real studio set, cameras, crew people and all the many activities that buzz around as the crew produces the show, but the occurrence also taught me a few things about myself.

The chance to accept the invitation and its follow-through reinforced my skills for analyzing the probabilities, 
organizing how to prepare for the likelihood of handling tasks and questions presented by the hosts and their staff, and addressing the requirement to get my act together in order to avoid embarrassing any of us. Everyone was extremely helpful in preparing me, and included me by working with suggestions as the segment was planned and carried out.

  

The entire trip to Denver from start to finish was positive, and especially rewarding in that it validated my artwork, my direction and my talent. No small gift to have that kind of reinforcement presented from time to time to keep an artist feeling confident. I feel thankful for having come in contact with so many friendly professionals of the filming industry.

During the filming of #1612, I presented a photo of a sunset I had taken and was working with as a commission for clients in Massachusetts. The work is finished and is presently hanging in their home on Martha’s Vineyard. 

Rush Hour  62" w x 45" l

    

Saying Goodbye

One of the emotions an artist faces occurs the moment her art passes into the hands of a new owner. I want to sell my work and yet, at that special moment, a small lump forms in the throat. This was true for me at the recent sale of Indian Blankets because a phenomenal experience was the inspiration for the work.

One beautiful summer day, my husband and I were driving along the road into the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge in SW Oklahoma. We were hoping to catch sight of the free range native animals that roam wherever they please over the 59,000 acres of the refuge. It is quite a thrill to see groups of Texas longhorn cattle grazing in the distance, or see a crowd of bison waiting their turn to take a dust bath in a wallow. On this day, I was elated to find a number of bison grazing nearby.  

Ahead of us was one gigantic bull munching grass along the shoulder of the road. I rolled down my window and prepared my camera as we very slowly inched up alongside of him knowing full well how unpredictable and dangerous bison can be.  He was as big as our SUV. We moved very quietly along his side and he took absolutely no notice of our presence.  I could have reached out and scratched his head if I dared. I settled for hearing him breathe as he snatched up bits of prairie grass and shook the flies from his spectacular head of rough hair.  It was a jubilant high for me because a quilt was inspired at that very moment.  

I did not take one photo because I wanted to remember the entire encounter rather than have it miniaturized and defined by a camera lens. The image of the bull is deeply imprinted in my mind. Upon return to my studio, Indian Blankets was started.

Indian Blankets, 51" x 64"  SOLD

I designed the bull eating gaillardia, rather than grass, because the flower is commonly called, Indian blankets, is Oklahoma’s state flower and grows wild in the refuge.  The bison remains a strong animal figure because the species historically sustained our Native Americans in so many ways. And I have a great fondest for these spectacular creatures, Bison bison. 

Rabbits in the Wild

Wild rabbits abound in the woods and fields nearby and it is always exciting to flush one or two. I

imagine how hard their hearts flutter from the fear. It is not unusual to stumble upon a pair of rabbits that huddle close together, holding absolutely still, trusting the tall grass to hide them. And then, they bolt and are gone in a flash!

Wild Rabbits
24" × 18¾"
SOLD

A New Perspective

In the time since my last blog entry, the months have been filled with an abundance of creative activity, a major household move and related upheaval, travel, and opportunities to work on commissions and submissions for major exhibitions. Time does not stand still and actually neither have I.

Two years ago, my husband and I decided to pack up and make a major move. We found ourselves forming a juggling act to sort, pitch, and pack all the treasures from my studio, as well as household contents. We made arrangements for the sale of our former home, and to physically transfer to a larger metropolitan city, Oklahoma City. During the lead up weeks before physically disengaging from former home and hearth, I was chained to my sewing machine racing to meet a deadline to complete Windspirit for a Houston IQA show entry. I made it and so did Windspirit into the 2012 show. My husband is a very good man.

 Windspirit, 72" wide x 51" long

In mid-summer, we moved. As fate would dictate, at Christmas time, just about the time the dust, feathers and other new home issues settled, there was a water line break inside our new home, which took another month to resolve and repair. It affected my new studio set-up because I had to remove 2 book cases that matched the two water-damaged ones in a set of four bookcases in the guest room. New studio bookcases were ordered. Long story shortened another 3 months passed before I was fully working again in my new studio.

While this was occurring, I was planning and completing 25 pieces for my art gallery show which I called Wind Swept Threads. At that event, I sold nine pieces and acquired a commission. All in all, it was a successfully show even though personal exhaustion was dominant. (The blog heading, above, was a 3-piece set, called Happy Trails that sold.) I did not enter an art piece to the 2013 Houston show.   

Moving to a larger city meant leaving behind the expansive fields of rural Southwest Oklahoma where seeing wild life was a common daily experience which provided great inspiration for my art.  I thought moving to a larger metropolitan city would end those delights. Not so. Wonderful wild life, and I do not mean people, do exist even in a sprawling city. In nearby undeveloped fields my husband and I exercise our hunting dog where he has flushed quail, rabbits, deer, and one very misplaced Chinese ring-tailed pheasant. A coyote or two travels the same fields and serenade us at night as do the owls. And, of course, there is the fabulous Oklahoma City Zoo which just announced the birth a baby elephant. We have adapted and love the museums, sports teams, shopping and great restaurants in OKC. The new year is promising. 

Hiatus: Plus and Minuses

Many artists are certainly more diligent than I with posting updates about studio activity. Fleet-footed time swirls around me causing me to lose track of the days. Frequently, it seems like I wake up Monday morning bright eyed and all that, and go to bed Friday night wondering what happened to Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

This is not so unusual, I suppose, when I think that the early months of the year were consumed with preparations for my two-month show, “Hanging Threads”, at the Leslie Powell Art Gallery, see July 22, 2010. I had 30 textile wall hangings in that show. It all was very exciting and gratifying because I sold many pieces, saw many old friends I hadn’t seen in a long time, and was told “Hanging Threads” attracted the most traffic that the gallery had ever experienced, all of which made me very humble, and happy, too.

During the lead up to this show, I also had to finish my entry to the International Quilt Association competition at the annual World of Quilts Show in Houston. I don’t want to miss the opportunity to submit an entry for consideration. This is a juried show and I feel quite blessed and lucky to have been juried into this show 14 years in a row. I hope I haven’t just jinxed my future entries.

This year is was: Scouts 37” × 37”,

Also I was invited to participate in the 3^rd “Heart and Soul of the Great Plains” invitational art show hosted by Lawton’s Leslie Powell Art Gallery, Museum of the Great Plains, and Comanche National Museum, which runs until December 31, 2010. Badlands (see below) hangs in the Museum of the Great Plains for this exhibition.

In the moments when not working in my studio, I do have a wonderful home life to which I pay attention. My husband and I like to travel. We take daily field trips with our hunting dog. I am always planning, stewing over and thinking of my next big work of textile magic. I read historical journals and review other resources to help inspire and refine the images that are continuously developing in my mind. My imagination is always on high alert turning over ideas and examining potential subjects. I also make a point to work in my studio every day. It is hard to find the spare moments needed to write this journal. I hope my blog followers will understand and not give up on me. As my friend, Ricky says, “I’m bizzy”. And I offer that in the most polite way.

Badlands, 46" w × 36" l

© 2008, Carol Ann Sinnreich

Hanging Threads

At the beginning of the month, I had the thrill of opening a new show of my work, "Hanging Threads" at the Leslie Powell Art Gallery in Lawton, Oklahoma. The number of guests attending the opening night reception overwhelmed me because it was the Fourth of July weekend. The gallery was packed with people who also bought 13 pieces of my wall art. I am grateful as well as terrifically pleased.

It is a grand personal experience to see one’s work hanging as a collection, a body of work, in a gallery setting. The carefully arranged lighting further enhanced the appearance and "glamour" of each piece. There is no equivalent emotion that I can think of at this moment, which can relate my feelings of accomplishment and yes, pride.

Although I was excited and happy with each piece I carefully chose to hang in this show, I really, really liked my Garden Series. Each was a small window into the secrets of a garden and mounted for presentation in such a way that apparently appealed to others. Six of the "views" sold.

I was equally thrilled with "Lakota Shield" (left), it looked fabulous under the lights, as did "White Feathers" (right).

The show will continue until September 1, 2010 in the Leslie Powell Gallery, 620 D Ave., Lawton Ok, M-F Noon-4pm. During this show only, appointments can be made to visit the gallery on a Saturday by calling (580) 357-9526.

Magazine Feature

It is thrilling for me to share the news that I will be the featured artist for the May 2010 issue of Machine Quilting Unlimited magazine. I was asked to prepare an article, which discusses how I became interested in textile arts, what inspires my work, and the secrets behind a number of my award-winning wall hangings. The article is titled, "A Passion for Fabric" which is an understatement describing my love affair with textiles, my vast collection of yardage I use in my pictorials, and my approach to keeping my creative motivation fresh.

The issue also features my work, Firestorm, on the cover, as well as numerous photos of other pieces I showcase in the article. It was a wonderful challenge to meet the criteria and expectations of this fine magazine. I discovered that it is easier for me to write about my textile work and the related world of quilted art than it was to write about me, my background and current lifestyle as an artist. I cannot wait for the hard copy of the May issue to reach my mailbox.

Trumpets of Spring

This image shows the return of the ever-faithful jonquils, the very same ones I used as inspiration for the ones in the Garden Series (see October 2009).

Spring Time Studio

Late January produced a horrific ice storm that was unlike anything I had ever witnessed living in upstate New York, Europe or anywhere else for that matter. It was catastrophic to the landscape surrounding my home. Icy sleet layered an inch, or more, of ice over every thing to include blades of grass in the yard.

Power lines swung ever so low until the poles snapped leaving many communities without electricity for weeks. I could hear the ‘shot gun’ blasts as the limbs on my trees snapped falling to the ground or just fell hanging over one another. It was very so sad to see that most trees within 60 miles were reduced to skeletons, stark reminders of nature’s wrath. This type of wintry event occurred all over the world and not just here in Oklahoma. Fortunately, we did not lose our electricity and I could continue working in my studio.

Even though things were bleak, the yellow crocus didn’t falter and neither have the jonquils, which are in bloom in my garden this day.

Wild Rabbits

Wild rabbits abound in the woods and fields nearby and it is always exciting to flush one or two. I imagine how hard their hearts flutter from the fear. It is not unusual to stumble upon a pair of rabbits that huddle close together, holding absolutely still, trusting the tall grass to hide them.

And then, they bolt and are gone in a flash!


Wild Rabbits, 24" × 18¾"

More Garden Secrets

Recently, the North winds have introduced natural cool air into my garden landscape, fading the summer glory that provided inspiration for my series of hidden treasures. The energy level in my studio has also perked up and creative work is in full swing once more. I have finished the garden series, which began in August. Here are four of the secrets:

In the spring, my garden is breathtaking with many old-fashion bearded irises. Those are the variety that is wonderfully fragrant and have been in my garden for decades. I have two types, the royal purple ones and the intense yellow ones. I’m sure each variety has an official botanical name, but are lost in time and by my ignorance. I only know these irises each spring are sensational. Purple Majesty, 6"x 6"

Another old favorite in many gardens is the day lily. Mine have been transplanted from another garden, which makes it a welcomed newcomer.

Old Favorite, 6" x 6"

My community is blessed annually by the migration of beautiful Monarch butterflies. On the way north, black and orange flutters among my flowers in the spring and returns again in the fall on the way back to Mexico. Did you know that a group of butterflies is called a Congregation? Butterfly Kiss, 6" x 6"

Some gardeners do not appreciate the presence of snails slipping around their garden. In the cool of a spring morning, I will find these interesting critters. Those existing in my garden are very small. When I lived in the Pacific Northwest, the snails were enormous and people on the Olympic peninsula would collect them to sell to chefs. Escargot, anyone? Slow Pace, 6"x6"

Garden Secrets Series

During the summer, I worked on a series of small pieces in preparation for July 2010’s gallery show I am doing. I was curious about fusible materials and wanted to explore the medium because it is so popular by other artists. I chose small formats, 6" squares, to further challenge my design instincts.

Coneflowers

©Carol Ann Sinnreich

Cat & Marigolds

©Carol Ann Sinnreich

Daffodils

©Carol Ann Sinnreich

Summer Grasses Fade

Because I don’t work well with triple-digit summer heat, this year I have been like a lizard stretched out flat along side a watering hole waiting for relief. Yes, I do have A/C and fans going in my home and studio, but I really prefer arctic temps and must wait for winter. So my dog and me lie low and pant a lot until there’s a swing of the weather vane.

I have spent my time thinking, stewing, reviewing photos, drawing and designing new work in preparation for my gallery show next year. The heat of summer is passing, which means the cooler temperatures inspire more activity in my studio. In the weeks ahead, I will be preparing the master patterns and pulling fabrics for each design to launch an autumn frenzy of action. New CDs have been assembled and stacked to fill the studio with the music of Mario Lanza, Placido Domingo, and may be a mariachi group, or not. Who knows?

As the summer grasses fade and wildflowers pop their seeds, I add, "Wind in the Grasses" to bid a glad farewell to the dog days.

Summer Influences

Local gardens provide some of the inspiration for the botanical wall hangings I like to create. It's always motivating to search through my fabric collection to find just the right pieces to recreate the artistic flair that Mother Nature bestows on her world.

My neighbor's caladiums were
magnificent.

Caladiums
39" × 35", ©Carol Ann Sinnreich

Studio Activity

I am planning the new work for my galleries show in July 2010. Experimentation and new directions are part of this design phase while remaining committed to my interpretation of Old West, its history, animals and people. It’s beginning to be a very busy period of intense activity in my studio.

Anthuriums represents an impression from a place a great deal further west than arid Oklahoma.

From photos taken in Hawaii years ago, I developed this 18" × 15" piece, which has been donated for a local Habitat for Humanity fundraiser.

Global Fires

In recent years the roaring forest fires across the globe and the devastation of it all have impressed images upon the creative visions, which dance in my mind. It’s hard to see the videos of the beautiful trees and grasslands being destroyed. The frantic flight of birds and animals trying to escape the horror also touches my creative senses. My latest work for 2009 tries to capture with fabric the powerful nature of these fires.

Firestorm, 51" w × 61",

©Carol Ann Sinnreich, 2009