Barb Strick Quilts

Artist Statement

Greetings!
 
I’m Barbara, an artist and my medium is fabric. I was a weaver many years ago, and I had a long career in corporate graphics. I’ve lived in Mill Valley, California for almost 50 years.  
 
In 2002, I was looking for a way to channel my creative drive, and in my first quilt class, I knew I had found it. Quilting was a culmination of so many of my past skills and interests — sewing, weaving, crafting, graphic design and math. Since then, great teachers and endless experimentation continue to help my style evolve.

I typically like to work improvisationally - a palette of fabrics - the spark of an idea - a willingness to let the design happen. As colors and shapes define themselves, the quilt appears.  Curating that process, with continuous decisions, is the fun part for me.

Recently, I find myself doing just the opposite! I’ve been working intentionally, starting with a sketch and planning layout and colors before sewing. The structure provides more clarity in the finished art. 

Either way, quilting helps me make sense of my life.  As I design and sort fabrics, I consider thoughts, analyze problems, find solutions, focus on perceptions and reflect on possibilities. I let my mind drift and return to focus. My creative process is something like meditation. The cut-up and rearranged fabric recreates itself; an expression of what’s going on inside of me. It’s both calming and exciting.
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