Art + Quilt: Design Principles and Creativity Exercises

by Lyric Kinard

Secrets for quilting success are presented through a variety of techniques, exercises, and insider tips to inspire novice quilters and experienced textile artists to make genuine works of art. Simplifying the basic fundamentals of art and teaching the underlying principles of the visual language, this guide explores texture, shape, line, color, and value with examples and hands-on exercises. Essential principles--such as focal point, balance, repetition, scale, and space--are paired with creativity exercises while guest essays, guest artwork, and inspiring artwork from the author allow readers to analyze how other artists utilize key artistic elements or principles and see how to successfully use these elements in their own work. Both a personal creativity coach and a guide for a hobbyist or professional artist, this reference clarifies quilting goals and takes the craft to the next level through design and composition.

Genres: Quilting, Nonfiction

135 pages, Spiral-bound

First published January 1, 2009

Reviews

[Claire · Rating 5 out of 5]

First strong point: a quilt book without patterns. And fittingly so, because a pattern for an art quilt defies creativity.

One is not meant to read the book from cover to cover as I did, but to work their way through it. I read it "filing away" ideas to try later (since I don't own it). It provides an overview of the elements and principles of design with exercise prompts for each after a brief explanation. Then it provides cards mixing idea, technique, element, principle to separate and draw out and use as starter for an exercise or an art piece. Kinard encourages working with 8 x 10 on the exercises and time limits.

There is also discussion of forming a group to share work with and questions to consider when viewing and commenting on each other's work. I found the questions and levels of comment helpful: description, evaluation, interpretation, judgement. In each category were sub questions to remind the commenter of what to consider.There were many--all would not apply to each work, but the variety allows for fuller responses that are helpful to the maker. Of course one could use the questions on one's own work as well, but outside feedback could be more revealing.

Finally Kinard shows works of her own with brief samples of her self-critique. This is the first, at the end of the book, where the reader gets applications of the various points made throughout the book.

It is not a substitute for an art class (quilt or otherwise), but it is a useful place to start if a class is not available.

12/12/18
A quilt design group I am in has decided to use this book to guide discussion, so I reviewed it. Again I read it in a couple days. I think the group will do at least some of the exercises and evaluate together, and it should be good.

I have the notes I had taken the first read and added a bit of detail to them. It was useful to see the full text and examples again. I still like the book.

[Susie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is also a book to guide the novice art quilter in taking up a new hobby.

[Cynthia Wheelehan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reread this - It is always fresh and gives great ideas to jump start you when you get stuck in a rut... I just pick and choose from the ideas and exercises then off I go.