FANfare Blog

As we look ahead to 2025, we know you will continue to express yourself in myriad ways, and we hope you will share your amazing artwork with Fiber Art Now. It’s the perfect time to think about entering your work and we encourage you to do so. Plan ahead and get ready to shine!
In the creative journeys of Alice Fox, Leslie Rottner, and Bonni Brooks, tools are far more than functional items; they’re as expressive and essential as the art itself. Each artist repurposes or crafts their tools from everyday and natural materials, transforming them into something personal and powerful.
Experimentation is also key for me. I improvise during the printing process, allowing my inspiration to guide me, resulting in a unique piece each time. I have never used printmaking in a very classical way, except when I studied it. I use printmaking more like a painter who works on a canvas.
When I first started working in sketchbooks, I often felt pressure to follow a theme or stick to a structure. But it wasn’t until I embraced a more free-flowing approach that I truly started enjoying the process.
To commemorate 100 years of climate data collection, an inspiring partnership between park scientist Pam Sousanes and artist Ree Nancarrow was born. This collaboration led to a powerful piece of artwork that both celebrates Denali's climate history and communicates the pressing issue of climate change in a way that resonates with viewers on an emotional level.
Perez’s sketchbooks are where her creative magic begins—a space for experimenting with dyes, acrylic inks, and intricate textile techniques like shibori and monoprinting. These pages are the foundation of her richly textured fabrics and complex patterns, offering us a glimpse into the alchemical process that transforms her ideas into art.
The challenge lay in finding a way to bring a Wind Phone to Burning Man, adapting it to the environment while integrating it with her work in fibers.
Eliza Day-Green’s artistry goes beyond simple categorization. As the fifth featured artist in Fiber Art Now’s ongoing series, her work spans a vibrant spectrum. From wearable art to sculpting with natural fibers, her creative journey is one of constant experimentation and innovation.
“My stitching is a reflection of the calmness, tranquility, and contentedness that I feel when sitting at the sewing machine and creating. Sewing is my meditation, and the art emerges from this experience.”
We're continuing our exploration of the sketchbook practices of different artists. In this post, join us as we interview Elise Vazelakis. Vazelakis uses recycled materials—like Amazon Prime envelopes—in her creations, and she is a juried member of California Fibers.
Jacqueline Rueff started her artistic journey as a sculptor, making a variety of art dolls and elaborate wall sculptures called Woodland Spirits. Over time, she decided she needed to find something else to feed her creative spirit, something that wouldn’t tax her body so much. On a whim, she took a three-hour course on broom making . . . and she fell in love.
At the heart of the creative process for the three artists featured here lies a simple yet powerful tool: the sketchbook. Through their stories, they reveal how their sketchbooks serve as repositories of ideas and catalysts for their work.

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