Fibre Art by Judy

FIBRE ART
BY JUDY

Bio of Judy Greenwood

My involvement in art began late in high school when I became interested
in woodcarving, scale model shipbuilding and sewing.

In 1985 I took my first quilting course and decided traditional quilting
was too confining and not for me. Returning to my sewing room I
enjoyed making dolls and took up knitting and cross-stitch.

In 1991 I saw a painted rock in a book and instantly knew “I could do
that!” Over the next two years I painted in excess of two hundred rock
Gnome homes and Victorian houses! My painted rocks sold as far
away as Italy and were the subject of newspaper and T.V. interviews. I
found the process of painting to be very calming and enjoyed this time
of self-discovery. I knew as I painted each rock that if it didn’t turn out
as planned, I simply could set it “free”. I soon expanded my painting
from rocks to canvas. Having had no formal training, I continued to
improve my skills by reading art magazines and books. I enjoyed
learning to paint people and children.
This was great practice for what was to come.

In 2000 a watercolor quilt in a magazine caught my attention and I fell in
love with the idea of using fabric to create pictures. Thus began my
fascination with quilting pictorials. I continued to enjoy both painting
and quilting. It became clear to me that I might have to choose between
the mediums in order to achieve maximum growth in skills and
techniques. At this time a girlfriend showed me Hollis Chatelain’s web
site. It dawned on me that, like Hollis, I could combine my love of
painting with my passion for quilting into one art form. And thus began
my current journey with “Fibre Art”.

I have now taken many courses from Hollis. Learning Hollis’s methods
of dye painting and thread-work has advanced my art to a whole new
level. As I continue to push the boundaries of my art, I aspire to
become “An Artist”, and to pass on to others what I have learned by
teaching at local quilt shops.