Spotlight: Brandon Wulff, Fine Art Quilter

Brandon Wulff grew up in a fiber family. He took up quilting as a hobby to support his sister who started a quilt shop. It didn’t take him long to realize he discovered his passion, and started creating fine art quilts professionally.

How long have you been quilting and designing? How did you get started?

I grew up in a fiber family. Mom had an 8-foot loom in our living room, a spinning wheel and a sewing machine. My grandma‘s both knit. One of my grandma‘s cable-knit sweaters in 24 hours, and my sister owns a quilt shop in London, Ontario called Stash Fabric and Notions.

When was the first time that you remember realizing that you are a creative person? 

I’ve always been a creative person as long as I can remember. Often at school, they would bribe me with art projects in order to complete my regular schoolwork. 

Where do you find your inspiration for your designs?

I work with interior design designers and decorators. I find that very inspiring, and I appreciate the mundane everyday objects and the value that they bring to our lives.

What was the biggest challenge that you encountered on your creative journey? What did you learn from it?

The challenge to my creative journey was always having the money, time, and energy to practice my craft. I’m in a position now where I get to wake up and do my craft every day as a career. I wish I could have just started full time sooner. 

What is your favourite accomplishment? 

My biggest accomplishment would be the headboard. I just love the way that that worked out and the impact that it had on the room and the owners.

How do you make time for creating? Do you try to create daily?

I create every day. I usually try to do some sewing during the day, but I generally support my husband who also works from home. Then, after dinner from eight till about two in the morning, I’m working. 

Describe your creative space.

I have a very small basement studio where I work away quietly by myself. I call it my Battaga, which is the studio or workshop of a major artist in which other artists may participate in the execution of the projects or commissions of the major artist. I call it that because I’m often collaborating with other artists, interior designers, and decorators.

Scraps. Saver? Or be done with them? 

I create two types of quilts, one where there is no scrap at all or the scrap is so small that it’s not useable so I’m not a keeper at all. I’m not a keeper of fabric in general. I only keep a few bolts of colours that I know I will use in neutral tones and everything else I order from my sister’s store.

Do you plan your work out ahead of time, or do you just dive in with your materials and start playing?

This depends really on what the piece is going to be used for if it’s just an art piece for myself it’s often not planned. If it is a piece that I am working out for a customer than this usually a loose plan, and if it is a pattern piece then of course there’s lots of planning. 

Are you a “finisher”? How many UFOs do you think you have?

I am a finisher. I do not like to have unfinished quilts lying around. I will avoid the binding so the binding will be put on, but not necessarily tacked down until it’s ready to go to a show and then I’ll find them all in a hurry.

How often do you start a new project? Do you work actively on more than one project at a time?

I don’t like working on more than one project at a time and I frequently start new projects because I work very quickly. I am a very productive artist.

Can you tell us about the inspiration and process of one of your works? How does a new work come about?

In the past, I’ve done lots of every day objects I wanted to do an FPP I just decided I was going to learn it, which is foundation paper piecing, and so I started foundation paper piecing this leaf series. Mostly because I felt that it would be really challenging in the arch quilting community most people appliqué and even though it’s harder to FPP, it’s very challenging to piece a quilt, especially an art quilt. I felt that I really wanted to take up the challenge.

Which part of the design process is your favorite? Which part is a challenge for you?

The playing is my favourite part of the design process and there’s absolutely nothing in quilting that I don’t like to do except for binding, but even then I will get it done and when I need to do it, I enjoy it. 

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?

I need both I love to solve problems and get into a zone while doing that. I don’t get a lot of time as I am attending to a family needs at the same time so getting into the zone can be a little bit of a challenge but when I get there, I really really appreciate it and enjoy it.

How do you prepare yourself for a session of creative work?

I just get to work. No prep needed. 

What do you do to keep yourself motivated and interested in your work? 

I’m autistic with a very narrow focus of quilting or art and I don’t need motivation. I need motivation to do everything else in my life like cleaning and feeding the cats taking care of my husband that’s where I need motivation. I’m absolutely obsessed with anything to do with quilting and I think about it 24 hours a day seven days a week and want to be doing at 24 hours a day seven days a week.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve received?

Charge for your work. I’m one of the few quilters who get paid for my work because I’ve always believed in the value of my creations and was consistently told to charge for them. This challenges the common norm of giving away quilts for free, which often end up gathering dust in closets or being used by dogs. While there are many quilters who struggle to make ends meet, charging for your work empowers the people who purchase it to appreciate and value your work more.

As an autistic individual, I was often compelled to create crafts that were sold for profit by organizations. Surprisingly, none of the money ever reached us, nor did we receive compensation for our artistic endeavors. The entire program was designed to exclude autistic people from the public sphere, which is why I’m incredibly proud of my business success in the creative industry. By charging for my work, I feel like I’m reclaiming some of the power that was unjustly held over us for many years.

Where can people see your work?

People can see my work at @justanotherautisticguy on Instagram. Or learn more at bwulffandco.com sign up for my news letter and lean about when my work is showing. 

Tell us more about you and your background.

Who am I. 

I’m an art quilter residing in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. I’ve been practicing quilting full-time for five years when my sister opened her quilt shop in London, Ontario. Initially, I took up quilting as a hobby to support my sister, but I soon discovered that I genuinely enjoyed it and turned it into a career.

As an autistic person, I have a nonverbal social communication difference characterized by a narrow focus and repetitive stereotype behaviors. Naturally, my narrow focus lies in quilting, and that’s what I primarily want to do.

I’ve had the privilege of being published in both quilting and interior design magazines. My work has also been showcased in international art competitions, shows, and galleries.

I attended an art high school called HB Beal in London, Ontario, where I studied three-dimensional design and textiles. Prior to becoming a quilter, I worked as a hairstylist for many years but had to leave that career to pursue my passion for quilting.

Interview posted December 2024