Interview with Maria Elkins and a Giveaway!

 I'm excited to be a part of Lark book's blog hop for Martha Sielman's book: Art Quilt Portfolio: People & Portraits.  Martha filled the book with the work of over 100 quilters.  There are also more in-depth features of 21 artists.  One of those artists is Maria Elkins.  I've been an admirer and follower of Maria's work ever since I first saw her on Quilting Arts TV in 2009.  She has inspired me in many ways through the years.  I am honored to be able to share my recent interview with Maria and then to give one lucky reader a copy of this book!

Many Art Quilters come to the medium through traditional quilting and as you like to reference traditional quilts in your art quilts,  were you a traditional quilter before you started creating art quilts and if so what led you to making art quilts?

No, I've only made two or three traditional quilts. I was first introduced to traditional quilts in the 1970's. There was a national renewed interest in quilts at that time, especially around the bicentennial. Traditional quilts appeal to the part of me that loves geometry, structure, repetition, and order, but there is another part of me loves curves. I think it is easier for me to be creative and original when I lean toward that part.

·         Have you had any formal training in art or are you self-taught?

It’s been a mix. Beginning in junior high and high school, I took as many art classes as I could. Even then, I was especially interested in drawing people (and horses). When I started college fresh out of high school, I began as a textile art major. During my time at San Diego State University, I took several drawing and design classes, as well as classes in the Home Economics department that focused on advanced sewing techniques and pattern drafting. However, I dropped out after a couple of years and didn’t earn a degree. For the next twenty years, I taught myself by spending considerable time in the library exploring various aspects of art, drawing, historical clothing, and just about every kind of needlework, including quiltmaking. Ten years ago, I decided to finish my art degree. In 2006, I finally earned my Bachelor of Fine Arts degree with a focus in printmaking.

·         You use family members and friends to pose for the photos you use to create your quilt designs but where does the inspiration for a quilt's theme come from?

Most of the quilts I’ve made have been in response to a quilt guild challenge or the theme of an upcoming show or contest. That’s actually the easiest way for me to be inspired. If I have a few parameters as a starting point, then my imagination takes off and I can fill in the rest.

·         When you first began making art quilts, did you ever feel discouraged and if so what helped you to overcome this feeling and continue creating?

I’ve struggled with the fear of failure most of my life. It took me several years to complete my first art quilt. I would do a little bit and then become discouraged and give up. Months later, I would take out my UFO and do a bit more, only to repeat the cycle. A few things have helped me. One is to view my art as a series of experiments. As such, some experiments are expected to fail. It’s all a part of the learning process, so I choose to embrace it. I have spent a lot of time experimenting with various mediums, especially through the journal quilts. Sometimes I purposely try to fail, just to prove to myself that it’s okay. When I work in a small format, I can worry less about “wasting” supplies, and I can just try anything. If I don’t like it, I can throw it away. But really, it isn’t a “waste” to use those supplies because I learned something in the process. Remember, an athlete might spend a lot of time doing push-ups or sit-ups even though he never competes in those events. Why do we, as artists, expect everything to be a masterpiece? Some things are just push-ups.

·         Have you ever had to ditch a piece because nothing was going right? And if so will you share a little of what you learned from that experience.   

Absolutely! The first time I painted “Windblown,” it was a complete failure! The paint was bleeding everywhere. The colors were dull and overworked. I decided to look at that failure as a warm-up. I took out a fresh piece of fabric and started again, using a slightly different technique. The same thing happened all over again on my latest piece. I even blogged about both of these failures because I think it is important for other people to know so they won't be so hard on themselves. Why do we set such impossibly high expectations for ourselves? It’s okay for things to not work out right the first time. The key for me is to keep trying, to keep growing, to keep moving forward; then I have succeeded. When I allow discouragement to paralyze me, then I have truly failed.

·         What was your reaction when you found out your quilt Windblown would be the cover quilt of Art Quilt Portfolio: People & Portraits?

Last August, Shannon Quinn-Tucker of Lark Crafts sent me an email and told me “Windblown” was chosen for the cover. In my response to her, my exact words were, “Oh my gosh! I can't believe it!!!”

I still can’t believe it! There’s really no good way to describe the feeling. I felt pretty much the same way when I heard that “Windblown” had won a big award at the Houston International Quilt Festival. It’s a sense of wonder and disbelief. I thought, “Did you call the right person? Are you sure? Did you make a mistake?” Like all of us, we see all of the faults in our own quilts (even if no one else does). We know all of the things we would change if we could, so we don’t quite grasp what others are seeing. We see all the imperfections, but they see it as “perfection.” I still do a double-take when I see the cover, and I feel a thrill each time.

·         You love to experiment with new materials, products, and techniques. What is the tool or technique that has you itching to try right now and why?

I tend to purchase any new art supply that sounds interesting, and then they sit in my cupboard marinating. I have a couple of different kinds of paint and a gel printing plate waiting to be used, but currently, I am more interested in studying color and design, so I’ve been collecting Kona cottons, too. This past year I had the wonderful opportunity to take several workshops with Nancy Crow. I hope practice some of what I learned from her so I can refine my use of color.

·         What is your favorite, go-to tool or technique?

If I’m painting, I most often use Tsukineko All-Purpose Ink. I like that it is transparent, so I can paint on commercially printed fabric, if I want, and the print still shows through. It can be hard to control, however, so I have been experimenting with different ways to handle that aspect of it.

If I want to write or draw on fabric, my favorite pen is Pentel’s Gel Roller for Fabric. It delivers a very dark, crisp line that is permanent and washable.

·         What piece of advice would you like to share with aspiring art quilters?

I once read a quote that said something like, “Quit listening to yourself, and start telling yourself.” For years, I listened to all the negative thoughts that rolled around in my head, and I let them paralyze me. I finally decided to purposefully ignore those pessimistic thoughts. Instead, actively tell myself that it’s okay to fail, and I push forward. Don’t let the naysayers hold you back, even if that naysayer is yourself.

Thank you Maria!  It was a pleasuring interviewing you!  If you would like to read more about Maria and her quilts as well as 20 other talented artists get a copy of  Art Quilt Portfolio: People & Portraits!  If you would like a chance to win a copy, leave a comment on my blog and then visit the other blogs participating in blog hop for more chances to win.  Good luck!

June 4th – LarkCrafts.com kickoff 
June 5th – Sarah Ann Smith

June 6th – Maria Elkins 

June 7th – Laura Wasilowski

June 9th – Katherine McNeese

June 10th – Cheryl Sleboda

June 11th – Linda McLaughlin

June 12th – Kathy Nida

June 13th – Marilyn H. Wall

June 14th – Janice Paine Dawes

June 16th – Pamela Price Klebaum

June 17th – Deborah Boschert

June 18th – Lisa Chin

June 19th – Sue Bleiweiss

June 20th – Leni Wiener

June 24th – Cheryl Lynch

June 25th – Lesley Riley

June 26^th – Stephanie Forsyth

June 30th – Pat Kumich