July Member Interview: Lynn Creech

Lynn Creech's website: 

 www.flickr.com/alteredlinn

1. What inspires you to create?
Since I was a little girl – I was fascinated with color. Crayons, finger paints, any paper I could get my hands on.  Coloring and painting was always something I loved to do. I’ve always been a firm believer that if you do something creative with your hands – it will make you a better person:  healthy-minded and full of life. I am very inspired to create by my surroundings. I love to look at the photos in all magazines and books.

2. When did you decide to pursue art or did art pursue you?
I don’t know that I ever looked at it this way – but I believe at a young age art pursued me. I can remember getting my first box of crayons and thinking …WOW! There has to be more than these 8 colors. As I graduated to the 24 pack – then the 48 pack – and eventually the 64 PACK. I was elated to say the least! How could life get any better?

3. If you weren't an artist, what would you be?
I would volunteer my time to Senior Citizens.

4. What other jobs have you had which have aided you on your artistic path?
Over the years and with my fascination for colors, inks and paper– my career ended up in the Printing Industry. I sell printing - I love the surroundings of paper and ink. I’ve been with the same company for 30 years.

5. At the art supply store, which section do you gravitate to first?
Most definitely acrylic paints, papers / canvas and calligraphy tools…..plus 30 more items …too many to list in this interview.

6. What new technique or art form would you like to learn? Do you have plans to do so?
Lettering and journaling. Yes - I’ve enrolled in a few online classes;
upcoming classes and I try to work in my Visual Journal every week.

7. If you could do anything, and knew you could not fail, what would you choose to do?
Publish my work, teach classes again and sew.

Thanks for this brief glimpse into your creative world, Lynn! 

June Member Interview: Debbie Turner Altman

Debbie Turner Altman

Blog:  Dreams Delights and Dogma

What inspires you to create?

Color, pattern and texture that I see around me, fondling fabric, and other people’s work always energizes me.

When did you decide to pursue art or did art pursue you?

I never really pursued art, I just don’t remember a time when I wasn’t drawn to it. I can remember putting color combos together for my dresses that my mother made me when I was still small enough to hide under the tables of fabric. I started creating fashion doll clothes at the age of seven when my grandmother would hold me in her lap and treadle her machine for me so I could sew. I had a wild and crazy bedroom as a teen with lime green walls, electric blue bookcase that I built myself, loud multicolor curtains that I made myself, and a shocking yellow bedspread. My mother claimed it put her eyes out. I think she had a paint roller full of beige paint in her hand the day I moved out. She always let me express myself no matter how outlandish the project may be or how late it kept me up at night. As long as my grades were up, that is!

If you weren't an artist, what would you be?
I have never really considered myself an artist, to me creating is just a part of life, but I would probably be a librarian, or what they call a media specialist these days. I love books and being able to do research via all the forms of media almost as much as I love art.

What other jobs have you had which have aided you on your artistic path?
I worked in an arts and crafts store doing merchandising, I love doing visual displays and I think I have a good eye for that, naturally. I also gave product demos in the store, and had to learn about the products in order to give the demos.

At the art supply store, which section do you gravitate to first?

Anything I can use to mark on fabric, stencils, and textured paper. You can sew paper, you know?

What new technique or art form would you like to learn? Do you have plans to do so?

I really want to learn more ways of doing free motion longarm quilting. I have plans to practice as much as possible and hope to soon be taking in customer quilts. I can do pantograph allover quilting now, but I want to put more of a one-of-a-kind artistic touch to the quilts I quilt.

If you could do anything, and knew you could not fail, what would you choose to do?

Open a fiber artist’s collaborative with a studio for all of my “toys” and “fabric stash” with an environment that enables the flow of inspiration and encouragement.



There are lots of people who'd love to come and be creative with you there, Debbie!  Thanks for the interview.

May Member Interview: Donna Sloma

Donna Sloma

http://www.studio119.etsy.com/

http://donnasloma.blogspot.com/

What inspires you to create?

Pretty much anything I walk past, thumb through, watch, or shop for! I am always attracted to color combinations and textures. The towels displayed in Target, to the ads in a health journal, get my mind going with the possibilities.

When did you decide to pursue art or did art pursue you?

I have created since I was young and in school; and scouts. It was always a pretty great idea to spend time doing something and ending up with a product! When I moved to North Carolina in 1998, I became a stay at home mother. Many years of Cub Scout leading, class “momming”, and religious education perfected my kid-art skills. But so many of the ideas that capture the imagination of kids also can be altered to suit adult tastes!

If you weren’t an artist, what would you be?
I can’t imagine not being an artist. But if I didn’t have the opportunity to pursue art like I do now, I can see myself having gone back to school over the last few years, probably to refresh my nursing.

What other jobs have you had which aided you on your artistic path?
I found a local store several years ago, and used to buy craft supplies there. I ended up teaching art/craft classes and loved sharing my techniques with others.



At the art supply store, which section do you gravitate to first?

Now and forever, it’s the paper.

What new technique or art form would you like to learn? Do you have plans to do so?

I really love beeswax collage! I took a class last year with Suze Weinberg, who made it so much fun, and before that, I was introduced to the medium by our very own Christine Candora-Hickey! I am taking an encaustic workshop this month with Patricia Baldwin Seggebruch!

If you could do anything, and knew you could not fail, what would you choose to do?

I would definitely own a store! (craft store, consignment gallery, co-op, etc)

With your work in it Donna, it would be a wonderful place!  Thanks for the interview.