All Creativelike: An Interview with Fiber Artist Lynn Krawczyk

I've never had the pleasure of meeting Lynn Krawczyk in person, but I follow her on Facebook where she delights me to no end. She's not only a talented artist who freely shares her process and art making experiences, she's also a witty wordsmith. Since I know very little about fiber arts, I'm thrilled I got to interview Lynn about what it's like to stamp, stitch, dye and create art with fabric.

How do you define creativity? Great question! It’s such a personal thing, that definition. For me, creativity is about the willingness to constantly question what I do and be willing to reinvent when needed. Living a creative life takes a lot of guts because we constantly expose our inner thoughts on fabric, canvas, photos – whatever your chosen medium is. It’s the ultimate connection of spirit and mind so sharing it with others is a brave thing to do. To me, that’s at the crux of being creative.

You got interested in working with fibers and fabrics after a back injury. Can you tell us about that moment, and how it lead to finding your passion? It was one of those, “Wow, how did I not know about this??” moments. I’m the kind of person that has trouble sitting still, I’m always doing something. So when I had back surgery and was forced to really slow down, I was constantly searching for ways to fill my time and TV turned out to be one of them. One afternoon “Simply Quilts” with Alex Anderson was on.

It was the first time I’d really taken a moment to listen to anyone discussing quilt making. It was a thunderbolt moment, instant connection, instant love. I did a lot of reading about quilts, because I was still recovering from surgery, and became hooked on crazy quilts. I liked all the options it offered for creativity – embroidery, silk ribbon embroidery, beading, lace making, etc.

I moved on after a couple of years to art quilts and then to surface design, but there is still a strong influence of crazy quilts in my work. My collages are a celebration of pattern and print, and I can’t tear myself away from wanting to hand stitch everything. I'm fascinated by the layering and mixed media processes you employ in making your work. Can you describe your various art making processes for those who may not know about fiber art? Absolutely! As a surface design artist I draw a lot of inspiration from traditional printmaking techniques – for example screen printing and monoprinting. My work always starts with fabric I’ve printed with these techniques. I use these fabrics to create a collage, cutting pieces and fitting them together. It’s a work-as-you-go process. I don’t work to patterns. The last thing is to add stitching and additional printing over the top. I love artwork that you can just sit and study and always find teeny details. That’s what I work to create in my pieces.

Color and pattern play a big part of your work. Where do you find the inspiration? Absolutely everywhere! Since I’m an abstract artist, it’s so easy to find inspiration in the close up details of little things around me. But, I have to be honest, I get most of my ideas for work or projects when I just daydream. I know it sounds sort of cheesy, but I’ll put my headphones on and just zone out.

I think our day-to-day lives just cause too much static in our heads. Sitting still – which isn’t always easy to find time to do during the day, and which explains why my art brain goes into high gear right when I want to fall asleep! – just lets all that nonsense fall away. I’m not talking about any kind of formal meditation. Just put on your favorite music and close your eyes. It’s amazing what will shake loose when you just chill!

You have a new book coming out. Congrats! Please tell us more. Thanks! It’s my first book and I’m so excited about it! It’s called Intentional Printing and its focus is on learning to print fabric tailored to the project you are working on. That way you are sure to be satisfied with your surface design efforts. There are several surface design techniques and projects to get you started on your printing journey. It’s a really accessible book for anyone looking to start working with paint and fabric.

It’s also about having the confidence to use your artistic voice and trust yourself. I think that’s the first step – letting go of the idea that we have to be perfect. Instead just make stuff. Some will be good, some will be bad and each one will be worthwhile.

On your website you say that when you print fabric it's "the most honest part of your day." Tell us about that. What's honest about it? I guess I call it honest because there is never any other agenda when I’m printing fabric. There’s no goal to impress, no pressure to perform. Even when I’m working on a project that has a deadline and I really, really want it to come out well, the fabric printing is always stress free.

That’s because when I really embraced surface design, I promised myself that I would not assign the need for perfection to it. Because that whole business just strangles the joy of it. So when I put paint to fabric, I completely enjoy every part of it and it’s so great! Favorite artists? I honestly can’t say that I have favorites because there’s so much art to enjoy out there, I seem to bounce around with what is new and exciting to me. Of course, there’s Frida Kahlo, Lee Krasner, many of the Abstract Expressionists.

Daily habits? I have a full-time, non-art day job so I’m not able to say that I spend all day in the studio. But, I do make sure that I incorporate art into every day. Whether it’s working through the details of an idea in the notebook I keep with me, reading the blogs of artists I admire, writing a little bit, or stitching in the evenings, there is always something. One of the habits I have is to do prep work for projects on the weekends when I work in my studio. I split up the elements of a project into what needs to be done in my studio and what I can work on when I’m hanging out on the sofa in the evenings with Carter (my doggie) unwinding with a TV show. There are so many elements to the art we make, managing them so that they fit into our schedules is a great habit to develop.

Any advice for aspiring fiber artists? Don’t be afraid of making bad art. I’ve learned just as much from the stuff that doesn’t work as I have from the stuff that did.

You give failure too much power if you become afraid of it. It just means you try again.

And, be persistent. Everything takes time. I’m not so good at being patient when it’s something I really want, so I understand the desire to go quick and be successful immediately. But it rarely works that way. Instead just be yourself, do the work, and over time, things will fall into place.

Lastly, I couldn't let an opportunity pass for you to talk about your second passion - coffee! What makes the perfect cup? Oh yes! Love my coffee! I bet you could ask a hundred different people and get a hundred different answers. But, I will tell you how I like to make my favorite cup. I use an electric percolator. I have this weird belief that non-plastic coffee makers make the best tasting coffee. I like to mix unflavored coffee and flavored ones. My absolute favorite flavored is Northern Michigan Cherry from Paramount Coffee here in Michigan. I like sugar and sometimes creamer. But more often than not I drink it black. There’s just nothing better than a good cup of coffee!

Lynn Krawczyk is a surface design artist and writer living in Southeast Michigan. Her textile work consists of collage, hand stitching, and multiple paint printing methods. She believes art will heal the world. You can contact Lynn, see more of her work, or read her insightful blog at her website, Smudged Textiles Studio.

All Creativelike: An Interview with Pattern Designer Holly Emidy

Artists seem to inhabit the nooks and crannies of the world. We're holed up and hidden away making things - things that don't always see the light of day. Despite the fact our orbits were overlapping, it took years before I met my neighbor Holly Emidy. Both of us were plugging away on our own little creative planets. Fortunately for everyone, Holly's beautiful work does see the light of day. In fact, you might even have some of it in your home. I asked her this week about the process of designing patterns, and she obliged with an interview that gives great insight into that world, with all its highs and lows. How did you get started as a pattern designer? My parents both worked in the design department of a large textile manufacturer - my mom as a design director, and my dad as a textile designer. As a kid I spent many vacation days and afternoons after school waiting in my Dad's office, drawing and doing homework. One day one of the VP's asked if I could paint something for the line. I had never worked in repeat or painted with gouache, but I did it and never looked back. I was seventeen years old.

What do you love about pattern? Just a little bit of pattern can turn the everyday into something artful and interesting. A geometric can look cool or retro. A Jacobian can be traditional or fanciful. A beautiful floral can make you think of a spring day. A bright graphic really pops in an otherwise plain space. There are so many possibilities.

"A good pattern can make you feel happy & inspired."

How would you define creativity? Being creative is like having an extra sense that allows you to see possibilities where others just see what is right in front of them. It is a sense of wonder that can be expressed in writing, making music, creating visual art, or doing crafty stuff with the kids. You don't need talent or skill to be creative. You just need ideas.

Where does your inspiration come from? A lot of my inspiration comes from nature. There are so many colors and patterns, so much fabulous flora and fauna. It's all around us, and it's amazing. Of course, I also have to stay on top of trends since I'm trying to sell my patterns to the home fashion industry. I find out what's going on now through Pinterest, magazines, and window shopping, then I put my own spin on the trends. I like to take a look and move on. I don't ever want my work to be overly influenced by someone else's.

Tell me about the process of developing a pattern. Some start with photos I take myself or ones I find online, anything from flowers and animals to African kuba cloth or vintage toiles. Intricate motifs may be worked out on paper then scanned in. I do most of my drawing in Photoshop & Illustrator. Anything I've done in the past 8 years is on file in the computer, and copies of what I had done in the 10 years prior to that are in my file drawers. So I have a large library to look through if I get stuck.

When the company I worked for many years ago switched from painted work to CAD I was disgusted and wanted to quit. Now I really enjoy the ease of it. It is so much better for working out repeats and changing things around. It is also easier on my hands. I don't hold the stylus quite as tightly as I held those #00 paint brushes. I remember not being able to use my hands after finishing a highly detailed design.

What are the challenges and rewards of being a work-for-hire artist and having to navigate clients' needs and desires? My work seems to come in cycles of all or nothing. When I get a bunch of assignments at the same time, it's hard to balance life and work. I often wear myself out. When there is no work I freak myself out and question what I've done with my life. Trying to figure out what someone else wants is not always easy, but I've had pretty good luck with being on target. My biggest challenge is getting paid and getting paid enough. It's difficult for companies to realize that this is my living. I am just a small part of their operations, but they are all big parts of mine. If I don't get paid in a timely manner, I don't have money to live. I also have a habit of putting way too much work into a project that may have a small budget. Honestly, I could use a manager.

"The biggest reward is the feeling of accomplishment after finishing a great pattern, especially if it had been really challenging in the beginning."

What kinds of things have your patterns been featured on, and do you have a favorite item? Most of the patterns I've sold have been used on upholstered furniture. I've also seen them on journals, cards, bedding, packaging, and apparel. It's cool to see my work out and about, especially when I can afford to by it. Of course my name isn't on them, and I don't get any royalties after the initial sale. Pattern designers don't make the big bucks. I have favorite patterns, but I'm not sure what my favorite item is. Maybe my Nate Berkus throw (featured above). Handy Living's Angelo Home is putting out some cool furnishings featuring my patterns, so I'm hoping to buy something for my family and for me. My grandmother told me she walks through stores wondering if any of the patterns are mine.

Do you have any daily or weekly habits and practices? All of my habits are bad ones. I waste too much time. I don't exercise. I don't drink water. I take my computer to bed. And, I stay up too late. I want to change, but maybe not enough. It is really dangerous working at home without a daily schedule... another thing to add to the list.

Favorite artist(s) or influence? My father was my biggest influence. He was always drawing and painting. He taught me everything I know. Also, living in a community of artists is a constant inspiration and influence to keep going. My boyfriend wants me to have a show at one of the local galleries some time, and I have two friends in town who want me to put some of my work in their shops. It's so nice to have that kind of support.

Any advice for aspiring pattern designers? I can't say I would recommend it to anyone. I've been doing it for 24 years and I love it, but I often wish I was good at something else. It isn't easy. If you really want to do it, one tip would be to start with your drawing and painting skills. Don't skip that step to go directly to the computer. If you establish your style with a paint brush and gouache, you should be able to carry that same hand over to CAD. If you start on the computer your look tends to be less organic and more "computery." I would also go to one of the surface design trade shows in NYC: Printsource or Surtex. See what people are doing. Ask questions. Make connections.

Holly Emidy is a surface designer and day dreamer living in a charming waterfront town in Rhode Island. She enjoys hearing seagulls and fog horns as she creates patterns for home decor, upholstery, apparel, stationary, and wallpaper markets. View more of Holly's work at her website HERE.