A traditional quilt is made up wadding or batting between two fabric layers. Quilt making was very popular as a craft for centuries. However, soon artists were seduced by the variety of fabrics and techniques available to them and began to stretch the boundaries of traditional quilting. They began producing fiber art quilts, sometimes using traditional themes but reinterpreting and adapting them.
In the 1960s and 1970s traditional quilt making was popular but before long quilters began to stretch the possibilities presented by the vast array fabrics, threads and techniques available to them. Traditional rules regarding quilting were ignored and a new form of expression came into being.
There pieces are intended to take their place alongside other forms of art displayed in houses and galleries. They are not bed coverings any more. Artists often have all sorts of ways of handling the fiber they use. They tear, stamp, dye and paint until they are satisfied with the result. Colors, textures and shapes are used in arresting new ways.
The techniques used to create these pieces are vary from embroidery, weaving and collage to knitting and crochet. Traditionally, stitching was the means of holding the layers of the quilt together. However, stitching is now used to add another whole element, contributing to the design and the texture. Artists experiment constantly with new techniques and materials, playing with color, combining shapes and developing textures.
Many of the artists are inspired by nature. Some of the work is representational and beautifully and accurately created. Other artists produce more impressionistic or abstract works. Any idea or concept can be seen as a catalyst for a new piece.
The finish on such a quilt intended for hanging is often a question for debate by the artist. There are those that feel that framing such a piece actually detracts from its appeal whilst others feel a piece is often more likely to sell if it is framed in some way. Artists may even be involved in the hanging process once a work is sold as this has to be done correctly to avoid any damage.
These pieces are usually fairly expensive as they are unique and take many hours to create. The price is influenced by factors such as the price of materials used, the number of hours it took to make and its size. When buying an item of this nature, it is important to consider that the price is influenced by the fact that it is a work of art, created by someone with a unique vision.
Artists often spend many hours on a piece and put their heart and soul into their work. The combination of techniques and materials used as well as the vision and labor of each artist is what makes a piece unique and desirable. As the debate over what constitutes art or craft continues, there is no doubt that many of these items are not just craft but an artwork in their own right.
In the 1960s and 1970s traditional quilt making was popular but before long quilters began to stretch the possibilities presented by the vast array fabrics, threads and techniques available to them. Traditional rules regarding quilting were ignored and a new form of expression came into being.
There pieces are intended to take their place alongside other forms of art displayed in houses and galleries. They are not bed coverings any more. Artists often have all sorts of ways of handling the fiber they use. They tear, stamp, dye and paint until they are satisfied with the result. Colors, textures and shapes are used in arresting new ways.
The techniques used to create these pieces are vary from embroidery, weaving and collage to knitting and crochet. Traditionally, stitching was the means of holding the layers of the quilt together. However, stitching is now used to add another whole element, contributing to the design and the texture. Artists experiment constantly with new techniques and materials, playing with color, combining shapes and developing textures.
Many of the artists are inspired by nature. Some of the work is representational and beautifully and accurately created. Other artists produce more impressionistic or abstract works. Any idea or concept can be seen as a catalyst for a new piece.
The finish on such a quilt intended for hanging is often a question for debate by the artist. There are those that feel that framing such a piece actually detracts from its appeal whilst others feel a piece is often more likely to sell if it is framed in some way. Artists may even be involved in the hanging process once a work is sold as this has to be done correctly to avoid any damage.
These pieces are usually fairly expensive as they are unique and take many hours to create. The price is influenced by factors such as the price of materials used, the number of hours it took to make and its size. When buying an item of this nature, it is important to consider that the price is influenced by the fact that it is a work of art, created by someone with a unique vision.
Artists often spend many hours on a piece and put their heart and soul into their work. The combination of techniques and materials used as well as the vision and labor of each artist is what makes a piece unique and desirable. As the debate over what constitutes art or craft continues, there is no doubt that many of these items are not just craft but an artwork in their own right.
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