Author: JP Dawes Artist

Texas Quilt Museum Donations

| JP Dawes Artist

Here are a couple of the pieces I am shipping off tomorrow for the new Texas Quilt Museum. I am sending 4 total pieces for Karey. I hate that some people are making negative comments about the call for donations. If you don’t want to donate… don’t.  I think it is a tremendous opportunity to help the museum and to get a few of my pieces out from under the bed and into the public eye.

This was made for the Quilting Arts magazine’s Rock On Challenge a few years ago. It is all silk with hand quilting and embellishments. It is now mounted on a 12 x 16 canvas that has been painted and textured to enhance the quilt.

This piece is  11 x18 and was an experimental piece made in a workshop with Lucky Shie at Arrowmont Craft School in Tennessee.

I think our diary theme that day was ‘eggs’. Certainly not my normal way of working.  One of the other pieces from Arrowmont is posted on this blog. It was turned into a  baby quilt for my newest grandson Tristan.

I am also donating a more traditional watercolor technique topiary quilt hanging and the “Roy Orbison Memorial Highway” that was in Quilting Arts magazines. You can see a photo of that on the side bar.

Masters Art Quilts Vol. 2 Review

| JP Dawes Artist
I know I’m a little late to the game for this review. There has been so much flurry over the blog hop and the giveaways of the book. I hope more people have the book by now and are enjoying it as much as I am.
When my copy arrived I couldn’t wait to open that fat padded envelope. It was heavy and promised many hours of enjoyment. I haven’t been disappointed.
What struck me on my first go through wasn’t just the high quality of the book and the obvious high quality of the artists. It was that each artist who is spotlighted has a definite voice. As artists we hear that term bandied about and many wonder just what is that elusive term and how do I get mine. If you need a lesson in what it is, this book will show you in no uncertain terms.
As you progress from one artist to the next there is no mistake that you are seeing a different voice. Just as each artwork is distinct and original so is the artist’s  voice. We also hear about having a cohesive body of work to submit for jurying. If you doubt what that means, the book will show you that, too.
There is another thing that made an impression on me. I noticed how many of the works had hand stitching. But for me it isn’t hand stitching vs machine work….it is that the artist is so attuned to their medium that they know which technique will convey their message to the viewer. That is true for whatever process they are using. 
Make no mistake that the artists in this book are truly masters in their field. The field of art quilting, textile art, visual art or whatever term you choose is a richer place with these people in it. 
Oh, that voice thing?  You are just going to have to keep working until you find yours.

We have a Winner!

| JP Dawes Artist

Thanks to everyone who took the time to leave a comment for the Masters Art Quilts book giveaway from Lark. I really enjoyed reading all the comments…and there were many from people who had seen my blog for the first time. A heartfelt thank you for visiting and come back soon!

The first time I generated a random number I forgot to include the number ‘1’ so I had to do it over. Geesh, nothing like a newbie at the controls. 

The winner of the book from my blog is Jenny Bowker.  Please send me an email with all of your mailing information so I can forward it to Lark. Your signed copy will be coming directly from them

SAQA Auction Dream Collections

| JP Dawes Artist

SAQA members were invited  curate dream collections from the art donated for the auction. I am  honored that my piece was selected by Linda Jean Strand, curator. The theme she chose was the colors of sunrises and/or sunsets. Pretty spectacular pieces. Great job Linda!  You can see the collection HERE