Virginia A. Spiegel

 Susan Brubaker Knapp

Susan Brubaker Knapp, an artist known for her use of color and intricate thread work, is kicking off this series of interviews with the 36 artists on the Foto/Fiber 2012 team.  I thought since the the artists will be plundering their studios to create the BONUSES for Foto/Fiber 2012, our fundraiser for the American Cancer Society, we might want to drop by and see what the artists are up to in their studios.  At the end of this post are early previews of Susan’s two BONUSES.

1.  How do you find/make time to be in your studio?
I run in whenever I have even five minutes to work; this is a habit I developed when my children were young. It is amazing what you can do in just five minutes, especially when you add all of them up! Most of my work gets done this way, with a few long stretches of time at the machine when I am under a deadline.

2.  Describe your studio in five words.
Colorful, joyful, compact, messy, overstuffed!

3.  If you could pick only one thing from your studio to represent your art practice, what would it be?
My threads! My work is increasingly about the detail I add with thread sketching.

4. What is the best/worst space you have ever had as a studio?
My studio used to be my guest bedroom, and I had to hide everything away when guests came. This was hard for me, as I thrive on a rich visual environment (some people call it clutter!) and need my stuff around me to inspire my work. Eventually, I ditched the bed and made the space mine.

5.  What would make a “dream studio” for you?
At the top of my list is more space. Space for wet work like dyeing and painting, with running water and a utility sink. Space to organize things better so I can see what I have. Better shelving, better light, and a bigger flat, open work space.

6.  What would you advise someone setting up a studio for the first time?
Just use what you have, and you’ll figure out what you need. Studio space is a luxury. It is NOT a requirement for making art!

7.  Any unique features/studio pets you would like to share?

When I am in my studio, my two cats and my dog always decide that it is the place to be! I made a cat bed by positioning an old bassinet next to the window; it’s the perfect height for cats to sleep AND watch the birds outside. And I filled it with large pieces of fabric (with a blanket on top) so it is additional storage, too.

8. Any new exhibits or projects we should know about?

My new book is “Point, Click, Quilt! Turn Your Photos into Fabulous Fabric Art” (C&T Publishing 2011). The first part of the book focuses on learning to take better photographs that you can use in your work. Then there are 16 projects you can do to learn my process of taking the photo and making it into an art quilt; most use fused pieces of fabric and a lot of thread.

And I also have a new DVD with Quilting Arts/Interweave called “Dynamic Quilt Design: Paint Meets Stitch” (Interweave, 2011). It’s about how to paint realistic subjects on fabric, and how to enhance the painted surface with thread.

Below are two tiny details from Susan’s two very useful and very beautiful BONUSES.  I wish I could show you them in their entirety, but we are trying to keep some mystery in the BONUSES before February 15 and 16.  I can tell you that the blue/green background is just background and the glimpse of Susan’s biz card is a major clue.  Also stop by Susan’s blog periodically as she may be sharing more details.

 ***Share the news about Foto/Fiber 2012, a fundraiser for the American Cancer Society, and be entered to win a copy of Cate Prato’s, Inside the Creative Studio.***