Spotlight: Carl Brown, Fiber Artist

Carl Brown creates colorful fiber art inspired by the sky, bodies of water, and living in the desert. He works in an improvisational manner with curved piecing.

How did you get started making fiber art? Why did you choose that medium?

I had given a couple of friends appliqued blue bird ornaments for the Holidays. The birds were lovely with beads, crystals, intricate sewing. My friend who was also a sewist, said I should buy a sewing machine and give it a try.

I come from a family where many of the women sewed including both my grandmothers, my Mom, but given that I am a male, I never even ever thought to sit down at my Mom’s sewing machine and sew. Long story short, I bought an inexpensive sewing machine and immediately was absolutely hooked.

For about 2 years I made many pattern/traditional works and once I seemed to master them I was ready to move on to more abstract compositions without patterns. The rest is history.

You have had an extensive career in oncology. How does that experience influence your work?

I’m not sure directly that my career as an oncology nurse influences my work, except maybe for my work behavior.

To be a successful nurse, you have to be very organized and think ahead for any supplies or equipment you might need. I find myself very organized and methodical about my sewing tools, fabrics, and machine. I am also able to think ahead a bit about what steps will come next.

Interestingly, at times some of my patients pop into my head when I am sewing or working in fabric art……and I feel their presence all around me.

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

I sometimes have plans for where my work will go, what colors I will use, and what techniques. More times than not, because all my work is improvisational, I would say that the fabric and shapes, and the curves pick me and that I am only the conduit or means to how the art wants to be developed. It’s not quite as dramatic as my body being taken over, but I do often look back on my work and wonder how that creation came from my mind and hands.

How do you manage your creative time? Do you schedule start and stop times? Or work only when inspired?

I am an earlier riser, and if I am going to get some sort of exercise in that day, it has to happen in the morning. And because I live in Palm Springs, California, and because it can be very hot 115 degrees or higher, I try to get errands and appointments done.

I would say my best sewing comes from about 10am until say 6pm. I don’t seem to work well in the evenings, unless I am on a deadline. I try to work in some way with fabric art almost every day, even if it is organizing fabrics, working on my website, or actually sewing.

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

I am mostly a finisher. I’d say 80% of the time I finish what I have on my wall. And I rarely have 2 or more projects going physically. Mentally, I am certainly thinking about what compositions might be coming next and I do use a journal to try to capture those ideas.

Describe your creative space.

My creative space isn’t very fancy, I use a guest bedroom for my work and my longarm is in the garage. But it works for me. I have thought about renting some space, but I like to be close to my family and dog and would find it strange to go to an “office” to work.

Scraps. Saver? Or be done with them?

I don’t save scraps. I work with large pieces and so very tiny pieces rarely work for me. Plus the presence of a lot of scraps creates some anxiety for me. Perhaps it is being a type A personality and needing everything to be organized, scraps make me nervous. I do donate my scraps to others and charitable organizations.

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

It’s my goal to do 5-6 major project a year. I’d like to do more, but some of my other goals focus on learning tasks…for example my goal for the rest of 2024 is to learn to do better free motion quilting.

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

I find inspiration from mid-century art and architecture to include design and color. I also get inspiration from nature, especially colors related to the sky (dusk/dawn), bodies of water (like oceans), and living in the desert.

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

I like cutting and sewing unusual curves with my rotary cutter. Recently I have also enjoyed doing my own longarm quilting work. I enjoy my use of very bright colors.

I’m not terribly fond of squaring up modern quilts that usually don’t have landmarks to help establish straight edges.

Is there an overarching theme that connects all of your work?

Abstraction is certainly a theme. Bright colors. Improvisation.

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

I try to do something art related every day. I am also cognizant when my creative “gas tank” gets very low. That feeling of exhaustion comes for me about every 6 months. My solution is to take a step back for a few weeks, not doing anything fiber art related, and wait for the tank to get refilled.

Do you critique your own work? What is your process? 

I am constantly critiquing my work. I do have a tendency to overdo things, like at the last minute to add something to the art that should never have been added.

I take a lot of pictures along my creative journey so if I get into a pickle, I can go back and remove or correct. I’m probably also too hard on myself and my work.

What do you learn about who you are through your creative endeavors? 

I have learned to trust my instincts more. I’ve learned that hard work with an almost religious work ethic is the only way I will produce content and get better.

What piece of work makes you most proud? Why? 

My piece, “To Paradise” is the one I am the proudest of because it was really my first breakout piece that others seemed interested in. “To Paradise” has traveled a lot and many people have seen it. And if I have any notoriety at all, this quilt is the one that has gotten me attention from others.

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

If you are tired, step away from the work. Sometimes that is a few minutes break, and other times it is over night. It’s always amazing how a little rest helps me see things more clearly the next day.

Where can people see your work?

My website, www.quiltcarl.com is a great place to visit to see my work and to also see any news or shows I am in. I also have a robust social media presence on Instagram and my handle there is @quiltcarl

Interview posted September 2024