Interview with quilt artist Anastasia Gonzales.
Hello there! I love your magazine! I love the photography, and the stories....Normally I would not want to ask to have a story about myself done, but I have been working really hard to become an artist. The art I LOVE to do the most is quilting.
Ok, when I first read this letter I was totally intrigued. I’ve seen quilts before and I’ve always been fascinated by the designs. Why, I’ve always wondered, is quilting considered a craft when it truly is an art form? When Anastasia identified herself as a struggling quilt artist, I had to check it out. Man was I in for a great surprise! Meet artist Anastsia Gonzales.
My mom was also a quilter, and she taught me to embroider and sew on a machine.
When asked why she does it, Anastasia simply replies, “I have to do it.”
Anastasia’s artwork is influenced by her imagination, her surroundings, the memory of her mother, and the encouragement she receives from her husband and friends. Her patience grows day by day for the tedious work involved in quilt art. It is not just the finished product that attracts Anastasia to the art form; it’s the start-to-finish artistic journey.
Anastasia recalls the beauty of nature, people and events in her life through color and texture. She has a great respect for traditional quilting, but her true interest is in creating quilts that use more contemporary techniques and designs. When asked why she does it, Anastasia simply replies, “I have to do it.”
Art quilting gives me a freedom to feel like I'm breaking the rules....a rebel I guess! I feel very lucky to be able to do this style of art, and sell it.
573: Tell us about yourself
I’m a stay at home mom/quilt artist/quilter. I have a beautiful seven year old boy, who is by far my BEST work of art! And I have a wonderful husband, who supports me and my art endeavors........no matter how much I might or might not sell! I love dogs, cats, birds, beads, buttons, fabric, antiques, trees, sunshine, fall and every new day I am given. The simple little things in life are my favorite things.
573: Tell us how you got into quilt art
I started quilting at a young age of seven. My Grandma taught me how to hand piece. I spent most of my days before and after school at my grandma’s house digging through her fabric and buttons. My mom was also a quilter, and she taught me to embroider and sew on a machine. I stopped quilting around age eleven, and I didn't really get serious about quilting until I was 23 years old. I was very inspired by a book called "Glorious Patchwork" by Kaffe Fassett. His colors and style of quilting were so different from the traditional patterns I had been taught. Very bright, very artsy! I got busy and made one quilt after another. After I moved to Cape Girardeau, I joined the local River Heritage Quilt Guild. When I got the nerve up, I finally started showing some of my bright art quilts, and at first I think I might have shocked a few of them, but eventually they really caught on to who I was.
573: Tell us what makes good art
What makes good art, is a love for doing it. As long as I love it, I think it’s good in my eyes, and I can always hope in someone else's also! There are so many styles of art. Sometimes quilting rules are very strict. In some quilters eyes, there is a right way, and a wrong way but with with my art quilts, I do whatever I want. Art quilting gives me a freedom to feel like I'm breaking the rules....a rebel I guess! I feel very lucky to be able to do this style of art, and sell it.
573: Tell us about any future plans
I plan to keep making my art quilts. I love the peace of mind it gives me. It’s good therapy. I sell them on Etsy and to random friends on my Facebook page. I am also on the journey of creating my own patterns which I hope to eventually print, get in stores, and sell.
My etsy site is under- anastasiasadventures.
There are so many styles of art. Sometimes quilting rules are very strict. In some quilters eyes, there is a right way, and a wrong way but with with my art quilts, I do whatever I want.
