Cindy Grisdela Art Quilts



Cindy Grisdela Art Quilts

About The Artist

Cindy Grisdela • Reston, VA
Fiber & Textiles • WHOLESALE AVAILABLE • CUSTOM COMMISSIONS

Cindy Grisdela creates abstract designs in fabric focusing on color and line. Her work is designed without a pattern, a like jazz music, where each decision about color and shape influences the next. Putting colors together intuitively, she uses fabric the way a painter might use paint to create graphic compositions that engage the viewer from a distance yet invite a closer look. The stitching lines provide contrast and dimension to the piece, integrating the elements into a cohesive whole.



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Q&A with the Artist

Tell us how your work is made.

I start with a color idea or shape. Working intuitively, I cut shapes from solid cotton fabric and arrange them on my design wall until the composition pleases me. Then I sew it together and “sandwich” the top with batting and backing. Finally, I stitch motifs with my sewing machine to create texture. Although I use a sewing machine for this step, the process is entirely freehand--there's no marking or computer program ahead of time. I drive the machine and create each stitch one at a time.


What makes you passionate about the medium you work with?

My primary medium is decorative fiber, which I call contemporary art quilts for the wall. I'm excited about creating abstract designs in fabric with a focus on color and shape. As a fiber artist, I have a unique opportunity to add texture and dimension to my work with the quilting stitches I put into each piece. That's the reason I choose to work with fabric and thread--the tactile nature of the medium. It's always exciting to feel the texture grow under my fingers as I stitch each piece.

What is something unique about you or your practice?

I grew up in a family where my interest in art was encouraged, so I tried a variety of mediums, but I didn’t know any quilters. I discovered quilting by accident as a college student and was intrigued by the possibilities of creating with fabric and thread. I gave up other artistic pursuits and garment making and pursued my passion as a hobby while working as a financial journalist and raising a family. Once I got the opportunity to make art full time, I dove into fiber art wholeheartedly.