Sue Lewis Art

My map details a recent trip to New Mexico to visit my childhood friend in Albuquerque.  This journey lead me to two quilts.  We enjoyed the balloon festival, fabulous food, the art museum, the Indian Cultural Center, shopping and a scenic train ride.  The highlight was visiting El Santuario de Chimayo in Chimayo, NM, which was built in 1816.  It has a sacred atmosphere and the tradition of soil with healing power.  The back wall of the sanctuary has crutches and braces left behind and pictures of people testifying to cures.  There are lots of handmade white crosses placed in the surrounding ground.  I took a photo of some sunflowers placed there which I transferred to fabric and made into 2 quilts.  One was sold at a solo show and one became a gift for our host and hostess.  I have so many photos from this trip that are future quilts.  There is a certain richness to the culture with all the patterns and colors used that speaks to my heart and my art making.

I used painted newsprint torn and stitched onto hand painted and stamped canvas for this unfinished piece below.  I added stitched fabric and some brightly colored potpourri to give it more texture and zip! This was inspired by another project from my Creative Summer Camp.

My art quilt called “Midstream” has been accepted into a FRCQ (Front Range Contemporary Quilters) exhibit being held at the First United Methodist Church.  “Rejuvenation” runs from August 28th to September 24th in Boulder.  

I have used painted cotton, yarn, lace, felted wool and air-dried clay wrapped with linen thread for the “rocks” below.  There is machine quilting and hand stitching to create the effect of rushing water.  The spring run-off brings refreshing water downstream.  The white water is full of oxygen and it renews plants for the coming season.  I created this piece to render a rushing stream in fiber and stitch.  Nature is always an inspiration for me.  I look for the details and translate what I see with my own interpretation into visible texture to draw the viewer in for a closer look.

I entered 3 art quilts in Lines into Shapes, which is an exhibit held at the Art Center of Estes Park from October 29th through mid November.  Hope I get juried in!

First on the left is “Midstream”, middle is “Sticks and Stones” and then “After Glory”

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The next prompt for CST summer camp was to find a rock and wrap it with fabric, yarn, thread or whatever.  In thinking about it as I wrapped, at first I wanted the rock to show, but soon decided to wrap the whole rock up completely.  I found myself counting wraps and told myself to stop!  Just a little OCD, I guess!  I selected my rock on my morning walk, after discarding 3 other rocks.  It had to be just right to hold in my hand; smooth and oval-shaped.  I did not tie any knots in the yarn and did not use any acrylic medium or glue for the yarn.  After covering the rock with yarn, I used embroidery thread to make little knots as embellishments.  In the process, I considered a “worry” rock I once had which was very smooth.  This rock is heavy enough, but with some softness to be considered a “comfort” rock.

If I were an animal, what animal would I be?  This was the prompt for our creative summer camp.  I have settled on a North American river otter.  This spirit animal or totem symbolizes feminine healing, wisdom, receptivity, creativity, curiosity, playfulness as well as fearlessness and joy.  One website mentioned playing with rocks and enjoying water slides!  Otters are near-sighted and have short limbs.  I qualify on those 2 characteristics.

I have always collected rocks and some of my art quilts feature rocks that are appliqued on the surface, or embellished with hand embroidery for moss or handmade “rocks” made of air-dried clay.

I’m always taking photos of rocks.

The prompt for Creative Summer Camp was to do a good deed anonymously.  I wrote:

I have made a personal vow to respond to all the CST prompts, but have been slow on this one. I am another person who does not like drawing attention to myself. This week I wrote 2 thank you cards to “unsung heroes”. I signed them “from one happy co-worker to another”. The anonymous factor fits in with me. I also considered how the good deed prompt fits in with my creative process. First, I think about it, gather what I have, compose it and then create a tangible gift to the world! I consider my artwork as sending out positive energy, even if no one sees it. I am all for random acts of kindness and senseless beauty!

The prompt was to paint a 3″ 9 patch grid with any coloring method, using 2 – 3 colors and create a color study.  I used Derwent’s Inktense sticks to apply like water colors.  The one rule was to use the last color applied to start the next block.  I worked on this for a few hours, because I kept discarding what I had just painted!  Finally got something I semi-liked.  I had to cut them apart in order to eliminate some clunkers!

Creative Strength Training Week 2.  I wrote a poem after selecting 8 words from the newspaper:  Rekindle, past, evolved, amazing, control, differences, friendship, respect.

Respect amazing differences

There is nothing to control

Rekindle a past friendship

Accept what has evolved

I posted a detail photo of my first quilt in “Evolutions” an exhibit at the Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum.  It shows a tree with roots, which makes me think of the past (roots), and reaching out to other relationships.  The quilt is called “Branching Out”.