An Interview With Lisa Call

Biography: Lisa Call is a self taught fiber artist who makes contemporary quilts. In 1997 she founded The Fiber Connection, an online artist support group. In addition she created a lens, informational website, titled Contemporary Art Quilts with links to artists, publications, definitions and more. She received a M. S. in computer science from the University of Wisconsin - Madison and a B. A. in Computer Science from the University of California at Berkeley. She is a software engineer in her day job.

Website: http://www.lisacall.com/index.html

Blog: New Work and Inspiration

1. When did you first realize you were an artist?

As a kid I was always creating things. I believe I have always been an artist.

2. Can you tell us more about your work?

My artist statement is the best resource for insight into my art:

My abstract textile paintings are informed by many elements: my love of the colors and geological forms of the southwest, repetition, pattern, and an attraction to human-made structures for containment such as fences and stone walls. I work in series, exploring themes of interest in depth. Color is of primary importance and is combined, intuitively, in unexpected ways, employing a unique palette of cotton fabrics I hand dye.

I am drawn to textiles by the tactile nature of the medium and intrigued by the flexibility of woven ofabric in contrast to its underlying rigid grid construction. I manipulate sections of preconstructed color, verses applying pigment in small brush strokes, to create a composition. Individual elements are freehand cut and placed onto a flannel-covered studio wall, where I work improvisationally, designing, constructing and refining the lines and shapes in the piece. Extensive stitching on the surface adds rich texture to the finished work.

3. What inspires you to a particular subject?

My artist statement about a few of my series are the best answer to this question.

*Structures:*

The /Structures/ series, which investigates the boundaries we use to divide our world, originated in 2001as an exploration of human-made structures for containment such as fences and stone walls. Lines of posts, negative space created between odd shaped stones, and uniform rows of bricks were all of interest.

As the series matures, focus has shifted to the psychological barriers
humans use to protect themselves emotionally, exploring how we hide our
true thoughts and feelings with these imaged roadblocks. Some question that inform the work:

* Do we put up walls to keep others out or to keep ourselves in?
* Do these imagined boundaries really keep us safe?
* Are we hiding from ourselves or from the outside?
* What are the risks and benefits of exposure should the walls come down?

The work continues to reference the physical fences and walls that initial caught my attention, but as the series progresses these constructs often become more abstract.

*Markings:*

I began drawing in 2005 and was quickly fascinated with cross hatching. I dispensed with drawing objects and became obsessed with drawing pages of closely spaced parallel lines in abstract patterns. I love the quality of the hand drawn line and wanted to capture the beauty of basic marking making in my textile paintings. The /Markings/ series is a result of that investigation.

The series refers to the comfort humans derive from repetition. We are soothed by the well known patterns that result from duplication: telephone poles in a line, a grouping of trees in a forest, our unchanging daily routines. The artwork also raises the question of how we handle the unforeseen, a break in the pattern. Disruption is often inevitable, no longer making it unexpected but part of the pattern itself.

4. What famous artists have influenced you?

Mondrian, Rothko, Klee

5. How do you keep motivated when things are tough in the studio?

My desire to be the best artist I can be keeps me motivated in the studio. Action has to back intention for it to become reality.

6. How have you handled the business side of the business?

I have pursued my art as a passion prior to this year. Although I have had many successes they were not part of a larger business plan. I’m in the process of formalizing the business side of my art to treat it as the true business that it is.

7. Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

In my studio making art and loving every minute of it.

8. What are you working on at the moment?

Structures #97.

9. What advice would you give to an artist just starting out?

Find your voice and be true to your vision.

10. What inspires you to create art?

An inner desire to explore myself and my world.

11. Tell me about yourself. What did you study in school?

I spent 8 years studying computer science in college and graduate school and work during the day as a software engineer. I enjoy my job but it doesn’t feed my soul the way art does. I’m also a single mother and love spending time with my 2 teenaged children. I recently bought a new home and am working on remodeling it. I spend as much time hiking and outdoors as possible and love to grow organic veggies in my garden.

12. What is a typical day for you?

Up at 5:30 for yoga. Then I try to get in at least 30 minutes or more of studio time before heading to work. After work it’s dinner and hanging with the kids and an hour or more of studio or art business work. When the kids are with their dad I focus on the art more and my goal is 20 hours of week for my art (divided between studio and business)

13. What are some of the things that you have worked on?

I have worked on the Structures series for the last 7 years and am nearing the 100th completed textile painting. A few years ago I started the Markings series and am enjoying the variety.

14. Is there a design that you are most proud of?

I love all of my work. One of my current fabric textile paintings is
Structures #60. An image can be seen in this blog post of mine: http://blog.lisacall.com/2008/08/denver-modernism-show.html.

15. What types of tools/media do you use?

I free hand cut my fabric with a rotary cutter and no ruler. I piece with a Pfaff 1475 home sewing machine from 1993 and do the surface stitching (quilting) with the same machine. I hand dye all of my 100% cotton fabric in 1 yard pieces using procion mx dyes.

16. What are your favorite websites?

Christine Kane

17. What part of design is most difficult?

18. What part of design is most easy?

I don’t really have a good answer for 17 & 18. The design is joyful and I love the process. There are days it is easier than others that probably has more to do with my frame of mind than the process.

19. What do you do to keep you creative?

I create. The more I create, the more creative I am.

20. What design style(s) are you interested in pursuing in the future?

I will continue to work in the improvisional composition style I use today until I feel a need for a change. Currently I have no plans for that.