Nicole Dunn started quilting in her teens. She had a lightbulb moment when she wandered into a museum and saw an exhibit of Nancy Crow quilts. At that moment, she knew that was what she needed to do.
How did you find yourself on an artist’s path? Always there? Lightbulb moment? Dragged kicking and screaming? Evolving?
I’ve always been “a creative” and a “maker.” I knew that from a young age, but it took many years to comfortably call myself an artist.
I grew up with two grandparents who were artists and hearing many stories of my artist great grandparent. Even though I also grew up in an incredibly supportive family, I also got the message that to be an artist wasn’t a good way to make a living, and not the best career path.
I simply couldn’t stop making and creating things. Without really making a conscious choice I started a business finishing quilts, making quilts, and eventually a long arm quilting machine, and a small quilt store.
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I made quilts on commission, always learning, and educating myself about art, and how I could make art using textiles and threads of all kinds.
A light bulb moment came early on, while visiting New York. I wandered in to an art museum one morning, only to discover an exhibit of art quilts by Nancy Crow. My jaw dropped to the floor, and after several hours absorbing the work there, I knew that that was what I wanted to do.
I wanted to use fabric to create artwork. That was over 30 years ago, and I haven’t stopped learning and making quilts in all its many forms and techniques since.
Why quilting? How did you get started?
I distinctly remember my mother making a quilt when I was about 9 or 10 years old. We had moved to Argentina, lived in an attic, and it was a cold winter, although as a child I didn’t really notice that much. She created her own pattern using hexagons, and added an old wool blanket as batting.
I really believe that early memory of colors next to each other, creating a pattern, stitched together with quilting and the comfort it gave once finished was one of the reasons I took up quilting myself as a young 16 year old.
When it comes to creating, are you more of a planner or an improviser?
A bit of both I think. Sometimes the project needs more planning, and sometimes takes on a life of its own.
Most of the time, I start with a plan of sorts, and as I work on a project, it just takes on life that I did not plan. The more I do this, the more I have the confidence to let it happen.
My best pieces are the ones that seem to happen, without technique getting in the way.
Describe your creative space.
My studio right now is a small former bedroom. I used to have a huge studio in our previous home, with lots of light, and huge walls where I could work on several projects at once, and I often miss it.
My little room works as well. Having my grandchildren close and come and share the creative space with me was worth the price. Most of the space is taken up with a huge work table, mostly always full with a project or two in progress, and my main sewing machine.
I’ve lined the walls with friends’ work, and grandchildren and family art. My closet is full of fabric that I’ve collected over the last 30 years, and is now supplemented with my own hand dyed fabric. Sounds like a chaotic mess, but to me it’s organized in a way that makes sense and inspires me.
I added additional light, and a design wall, a small ironing station, and as long as I clean up in between projects it works for me. My husband often jokes that he can’t find me in the room unless I move, which is pretty funny.
As crazy as all that sounds, I actually need things fairly organized and put away in order to work, make decisions, and find things. Fabric is put away behind doors, supplies in drawers, scissors in their flower pot, rulers in their place, and the small area with my sewing machine cleaned off.
Scraps. Saver? Or be done with them?
Generally, I save them. Larger pieces go in a pile to be cut into usable shapes or for appliqué or collage, and the very tiny pieces go to a friend who likes to use them in her collage pieces.
How often do you start a new project? Do you work actively on more than one project at a time?
I’ve slowed down considerably. My art quilts take a lot more time, and I’m now once again interested in hand work, which again, takes time. I no longer have as many deadlines and can enjoy the process as much as having a final product.
I do, however, often work on several pieces at once. A piece may take center stage in my hands because of a deadline or just because.
I often get to a place where I can’t figure out the next step, so I just work on something else.
I’m always working on something. There just doesn’t seem to be enough hours in the day to do it all.
One finished piece sparks five other ideas. I just plug away and get as much done as I can.
Which part of the design process is your favorite? Which part is a challenge for you?
I love every part of creating fiber art, from choosing the next project, pulling fabric to putting on the binding.
My least favorite part is probably what I call the business side of being an artist. I have a hard time doing the paperwork, entering shows, keeping my photos organized, promoting, etc. I just want to make things!
Are you a “finisher”? How many UFOs do you think you have?
Yes, I need to finish projects for the most part. But as I say that I remember the 30 unquilted tops in a pile, but somehow those ones don’t bother me because they are samples and work used as samples when I had a quilt store. I’m plugging away at them, and finish them as I have time.
Is there an overarching theme that connects all of your work?
I have many friends and supporters who say they can spot my work at a glance, but I’ve never deliberately tried to tie them all together. I’m simply interested in this or that and go about making them.
I will say though, that I am very influenced by the world around me. My husband and I travel a great deal in the summer and I take photos and try to absorb all the wonderful vistas, plants, and experiences as I can. And my work tells the story of those adventures.
How has your creativity evolved over the years? What triggered the evolution to new media/kinds of work/ways of working?
My creativity is always there. My style may have changed with more experience or learning new techniques.
Although I’ve always kept a journal or journals of sorts, in the last year I’ve become very interested in journaling, combined with slow stitching and I’m excited to see where that leads. I’m not sure what triggered the interest, but I remember seeing someone on YouTube making an art journal and I was off.
So the answer to the question is that I will see something that may or may not have anything to do with quilting, but it often triggers a new work or series of explorations.
Do you prefer the kind of project that is challenging and requires attention, or the kind where you get in your meditative zone and enjoy the process?
Great question. I have finally realized and accepted the fact that I need both types of projects. Often worked on at once.
I’ll be deep into something, working away for hours, look up and realize I simply can’t make another decision. But I’m not ready to quit working, so I will take up some hand stitching, or piecing that just doesn’t need any brain work. There is always something needing attention.
What do you do to keep yourself motivated and interested in your work?
I’ve only lost my mojo once, and that was during the pandemic. Not sure why that happened but it was incredibly distressing. Many things had happened all at once, we had just moved, lots of grandchildren needing attention, illness, uncertainty of the times. I gave myself some time, kept going into the studio, working on easy tasks, and eventually I was back up and running again.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve received?
Hard to narrow it down to just one! One of my favorites is that I should remember that not every piece is going to be the most amazing thing ever. Keep working, keep exploring and learning. Keep making.
Another one I remember is to explore other art forms because they will improve and add to my own. I’ve tried to abide by both.
Do you think that creativity is part of human nature or is it something that must be nurtured and learned?
I think it’s both. We all have a creative side. Some, however, have a natural ability more than others which can be strengthened with nurturing and learning. There might be the occasional person who has an innate ability to paint a landscape with no prior experience, but most I think need to learn how to use the paints in order to express what they see.
Do you lecture or teach workshops? How can students/organizers get in touch with you to schedule an event?
I’ve taught quilting and done lectures locally for many years, and thoroughly enjoy it. Lately I’ve been concentrating on producing some artwork. I’m available if someone asks, but I’m not actively pursuing it. You can reach me at [email protected] to schedule a class. I can also be reached at www.dunnquilting.com.
Where can people see your work?
My most recent work can be seen on instagram @nicole_dunn_art or at www.4commoncorners.com. (which is the art quilt group I am a member of)
Interview posted December 2024
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