Tell us a bit about yourself name, location, the personal stuff.
My full name is Amber Dawn Coppings. Currently, I am located in Pittsburgh, PA which is really just a small town in a mid-size city atmosphere. My yard is connected to a big green space that is host to deer, owls, woodpeckers and a lot of bunnies.
Apart from creating art, what do you do?
I am the Education Coordinator for Calliope: The Pittsburgh Folk Music Society. We have a School of Folk Music and also develop Outreach programs that provide music education for children.
What first made you want to become an artist?
My mom always encouraged creativity, so I sewed, crocheted and made pretty pictures when I was young. However, it wasn’t until I was a senior in high school and took a sculpture class that I realized that making art was something I could not live without. From then on, I have pursued art-making and a career in the arts relentlessly.
Please describe your creative process how, when, materials, etc.
My main passion is to create three dimensional textures with cloth using sewing, or fabric dyeing techniques called Shibori. Shibori is a general term for hundreds of different Japanese fabric dyeing traditions that use objects to create design on cloth. Think tie-dye times 12 using wood and clamps, sewing techniques and whole lot of patience. While traveling in Japan, I saw many examples of contemporary shibori where the artist left the three dimensional texture of the objects used to dye the fabric in the cloth, though the objects themselves were taken out of the fabric. I was hooked. I started experimenting and I have since created several lines of work that celebrates Dimensional Cloth. Amtextiles and its signature Silk Organza Bubble Wraps use marbles, bicycle parts, vintage buttons and other objects to create ethereal and dimensional art-to-wear. My other line is Xmittens--fleece and recycled fabric accessories that have unusually sewn 3D thread ridges.
As often as possible, I translate these shibori and dimensional cloth techniques into non-wearable art as well. Currently, I am working on a Textile Art Installation for the Mattress Factory in Pittsburgh. The Mattress Factory is world-renowned for its focus on art installation as an art form. I am really honored to have been invited to create a piece! The working title is “Echoes of Objects”. I am creating silk organza “camouflage” panels (hand-dyed and sewn) that will be strung all over the space. Each panel has a series of shapes embedded within the fabric that were created using donated objects such as old toys, broken wrenches, remote controls that don’t work, things that we keep around that have no purpose and we don’t really see anymore. In a sense, they are camouflaged by all the stuff we have in our lives.
To help me create texture, I have a fancy serger (for silks and jersey), an industrial serger (for fleece) and a regular sewing machine. It can become a sweatshop in here in summertime as I get ready for the holidays! My fabric dyeing studio is in the basement, or sometimes I go outside to dye fabrics. I love color very much and it is great to see the beautiful dye colors unfold themselves in the buckets. I use low impact fiber reactive dyes that are non-toxic and create vibrant, permanent colors on the fabric. As I stir the dye bath buckets, I feel very connected to previous cultures that considered creating color on fabric an art form and necessary for their civilization.
My day job is part time and flexible (thank goodness) so I do get 3-4 days a week in my studio. My studio days go something like this: Wake up-computer time-putter around and make lists-make dye baths-go outside-sew-sew-sew-wash and hang fabric to dry- pet the cat and eat- repeat.
What artists have influenced you and inspire you to create?
Yoshiko Wada is a huge influence for me. She almost single-handedly brought back the shibori Japanese art form from near extinction. She has written many informative books that inspired me to start my journey with Japanese shibori dyeing and cloth manipulation methods.
Where else can we find your work and connect with you online?
The best places online are am textiles, and xmittens. For stories and documentation of my artistic process visit my blog, and I am on Flickr. If you are in the Pittsburgh area, visit the Pittsburgh Center for the Arts Shop and/or Patricia’s Boutique in Apsinwall. I travel around and sell my work at shows, so definitely check my blog to see what is coming up!
Images copyright am textiles, copyright 2009.
Tell us a bit about yourself; name, location, the personal stuff.
My name is Leah. I’m married to Brent. I’m the middle of 5 kids {that should
explain a lot} I am just now starting to understand {and appreciate} the
values my parents instilled in me. I’ve been to Ireland, London, Paris and
Rome. And that’s in pecking order too. I can't wait to travel again. I used
to prefer working out to anything. But I am enthralled in Etsy, blogging,
photography, writing, networking, creating, and vintage hunting. I simply
love it. I am kinda shy about it all too. I am just now able to say "on my
blog." I want to paint our kitchen cupboards white. The relationships I make
through my blog and Etsy amaze me. I would probably never meet any of them,
yet I know about them, what they create, how they write, and actually have
met some of them. If you think about that, it's pretty amazing. I failed
miserably {3 times} at making banana bread. And I probably won't make it
again. I love drawstring pants. Oh...and I like to make things.
Apart from art what do you do?
I just don’t know if there is an official apart from art part of my day. my
full time gig: graphic designer for a marketing firm working with non
profits. I’m involved in our church. Any activity is usually more fun when
Brent is around. I’m one of the first to sign up for a family event. And
have been known to create a reason for us to get together. But day after
day, my brain works continuously. Thinking about a blog I will write. Taking
a photo for my blog. Deciding what to list next. Commenting on blogs. Making
things in my studio. Scratching out ideas in my idea book, going to garage
sales, auctions and thrift...no matter what I am doing, I will somehow
connect it back to my art at some point.
What made you first want to be an artist?
I don’t think I have ever called myself an artist. It doesn’t occur to me
that that’s what this {opens arms towards all my art and supplies and
finished pieces) means. For arguments sake, we’ll say I am one. It just
happened, I suppose. My grandma painted, my mother is a photographer and
genius seamstress. My sister watercolors….but those are just things they did
among countless other things. I didn't sit down in a cafe somewhere and
contemplate my coming out as an artist over a soy latte. I just realized I
have a skill and have taking a liking to it and honed it and find it
energizing and a source of great happiness.
Please describe your creative process...
I struggle with actually putting pen to paper when it comes to my process.
Since it differs so much, I will give random facts and you can piece it
together for a process of sorts. I have a journal of lists. So many lists.
Ideas, tasks to be done. for life and art. And both. For tonight and this
weekend. I am neurotically methodical about some things and could not care
any less about others. i have learned to listen to my moods and therefore
know when I am in the mood to take photographs or write a blog or write an
Etsy listing or stand at my art table or sit down and putter with the sewing
machine. and I don’t force it anymore. I used to set a certain block of time
to make greeting cards. and if I wasn’t in the mood, it would be so hard!
Now, when I have my sassy molassy mood, I know I should be making my cheeky
cards or writing a cheeky blog post, not taking photos.
What artists influence your work?
I appreciate all historical art, but inspiration usually comes by way of
current artists. Mostly, kitchen table artists. And living room floor
artists. And converted basement corner artists. You know one...it may be
you. You love making things so you find a place to make things. And the
stuff you make, I am continually amazed. Perusing Etsy always means
inspiration. Looking around too long means inspiration overload. There’s
some crazy inspiring people at kitchen tables right now making something
that will inspire me tomorrow.
Where else can we find your stuff and connect with you online?
I have my goods at various small galleries and shops in Nebraska. The best place to see
what is new and available is my blog. And either of my Etsy shops, moxie photo and design or moxie thrift. I'm also on Facebook and Twitter.
Images copyright Moxie Photo and Design, 2009 -- thanks, Leah!
