In a recent reader poll, we asked whether you’d ever studied art history, or were interested in learning about the development of art in the past few centuries. And we’ll share those results in our upcoming June-July 2013 issue, but we really loved the lively commentary on the follow-up question for those of you who had studied art history. We askedhow that art history knowledge has informed your quilting. (Now here’s where the real info emerges!)
Many of you responded that your art history background gave you a great foundation for understanding color and linear theory, as well as different forms and styles of art. And there’s the overall appreciation of art in general, regardless of whether you really liked a certain art movement or not. Whether general or specific, many of you spoke eloquently about a strong connection between your knowledge of art and your fulfillment in quilting.
Says one respondent: “I think its greatest influence is in allowing me to embrace the idea that while I may not like a certain artwork (or a quilt), I can recognize why someone else might like it, or at least recognize how the technique, meaning and other attributes allow it to contribute to the narrative of quilting, art, culture, society, etc. (That is, just because I don’t like it, doesn’t mean it doesn’t have value.)”
And some of you found absolutely no crossover at all between your past art studies and your present quilting passion.
“It was part of the classes that I had to take to get my college degree. I doubt that this has really influenced my quilting… my taste is still the same as it was before and who cares about what others have done anyway? Are we copyists or artists?” asks one survey respondent.
As you contemplate the parallels between art and quilting–and there are a ton–we thought you’d enjoy hearing what more of your fellow Q-bies have to say on the subject.
Tell us how knowing a little something about art history has informed your quilting:
“Not a bit! Took it as a required course in college and let’s just say I was more of a math girl. That actually has helped me more in quilting.”
“Gawd… where do I start? Understanding our history is a key to seeing our future. Quilting has gone through as many different movements as fine art, not always in the same order or at the same time, but its all there too.”
“Looking at thousands of slides in art history class really trained my eye towards seeing the importance of design elements, color combinations and how the whole composition works together. All of which is invaluable now as a quilter!”
“Art history classes were what kept me sane in college, just like quilting is what keeps me sane(-ish) today! Color, inspiration, artistry, perspective, history and storytelling, sending a message through art–it’s all part of what attracted me to art from the time I was a fingerpainter and eventually what led me to quilting as an adult.”
“It has TOTALLY informed it–like developing the part of my brain that notices motifs and ornamentation. Like being able to express thoughts and emotions visually.”
“Hasn’t, actually. I have not gotten up the nerve to try to recreate Van Gogh’s Sunflowers in fabric…”
“I had limited studies of art history in college (was an accounting major), and loved all of it! The use of color, texture, subject matter- it’s all so intriguing! I love to see different themes revisited in quilting–from Greek key style quilting patterns to different uses of light in fabric gradation to the theme of the quilt. Is it folksy, romantic, minimalist, leaning to impressionistic? I love it all!”
“I have really enjoyed researching the visual parallels between modern quilting and modern art. Since art movements often “move,” I am excited to see how the definition of “modern” quilting develops and changes over the coming years!”
“Knowing the different styles and palettes through the ages helps ground your work, but also helps you know when it’s already been done to death.”
Let’s keep the convo going…tell us whether your knowledge of art and art history has made a difference in your quilting work.
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
Art history as well as just a general observance of the nature have most definitely helped inform my quilting designs.
I’m a little surprised at the people who said art history hasn’t informed their quilting. Perhaps it hasn’t in a direct way since they are not replicating any given artist. But I would think their use of color, composition and design has been influenced to some degree. That is the value of studying art and for that matter the world around you. You become more tuned in to the elements of good design even if in a subconscious way and that can translate into better quilt designs with better use of color and composition.
Math, Art History, Geometry, Photography, Literature, any and all of these things in my past inform what I do now. It’s all soaked in and has become part of who I am, and when I quilt I am always putting myself into my work. How could I not?
I’ve spent the last 10+ years training to be an art history professor or curator, so I have a pretty strong bias as to whether the discipline has influenced my quilting. I think the commenters who have attested to art history helping them to recognize good design, composition, color choices, etc. are absolutely right. When you spend time studying the finest and most culturally significant art of the past, you can’t help but develop an “eye” for these things; the more art you look at, the better your eye becomes. I attribute any intuitions I have about design to my years spent studying art history, and I’m so glad to see that the subject made such an impact on so many of your readers!
A topic close to my heart since taking Art History in college had a direct connection to my quilting. Taking those courses made me acknowledge for the first time in my life that I had long desired to be “actively” creative. I agree with the other comments that it opened my eyes not only to the basics of color, form and line. But more importantly for me, I was really impressed with how the time during which a particular style of art is created often impacts, reflects or responds to what is going on during the time it is made. That directly led to my interest in quilting because 1) I am continually fascinated with the changing history of quilting and 2) my favorite art style in college was the Impressionist Period and learning about Gai Perry’s “Impressionist Quilts” method was one of the things that pushed me over the edge to try quilting!
During my time in college I took both art history and studio art courses but I shied away from committing to an art related major because at the time I did not believe it was “practical for a career”. I always regretted that and when I later got the chance to indulge my creativity, it turned out that quilting was for me the perfect democratic art: you don’t need to be an expert to make something beautiful or treasured and wonderfully it is now being acknowledged that quilts can be considered as legitimate masterpieces right alongside the works in the more traditional art forms.
My degree was in Art History, and I do feel that, as others above have said, it has helped me in understanding form, shape and colour in my quilting. Mind you, until reading the article I hadn’t given it much thought, it is amazing the things you learn at uni that you think you’ll never use ‘in real life’ but which do end up becoming very useful, even if you don’t realise it at first.