COLUSA, CA (MPG) — Fiber artist Claudia Buchanan will return to the Colusa County Arts Council on Thursday, Sept. 25, to host a free demonstration in recognition of National Sewing Month.
The event will run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Arts Council gallery, 151 Fifth St. in Colusa, and will highlight fiber art and free motion quilting. Visitors will be able to watch Buchanan work and ask questions throughout the day.
Buchanan said she came to fiber art after retiring and looking for a new pursuit.
“I had time on my hands. I took a class on fiber art,” she said. “It’s layering fibers, fabrics, and layering them with inks.”
Her process starts with a blank canvas.
“I start with a white piece of fabric and begin layering on top of that to build up the art,” she said. “At times I felt it to give texture and dimension.”
Buchanan often draws inspiration from images by artist Sue Graue and incorporates natural effects into her work.
“One of the challenges is learning how to do the angles on the barns to make it look like it’s shaded,” she said.
While Buchanan focuses on barns, and landscapes, she also dabbles in fabric staining.
“I have some designs cut on a laser cutter, then I spray the metal with vinegar and salt and lay it on the fabric, and even use steel wool to give it texture,” she said. Rust, she added, often serves as a dye source.
Unlike traditional quilting, Buchanan said she prefers the freedom fiber art allows.
“I do not quilt. I made draperies, slip covers, and home decor, that’s my background,” she said. “With this you can just lay it down, stitch it, and make it look pretty.”
Buchanan, who built a studio behind her Maxwell home, also works in watercolor painting and takes custom commissions in both mediums. She said she looks forward to opening her process to the public during the Colusa demonstration.
“People can just wander in and see how I do it. Maybe they will want to take a class in the fall,” she said. “There are some people that are interested.”
Buchanan recently held an artist reception at the Arts Council, where guests browsed her work and spoke with her about her methods. The upcoming demonstration builds on that event and continues the Arts Council’s efforts to highlight local artists.