Our SAQA Michigan profile this month is:
Jacqueline Lams
Plymouth, Michigan
How long have you been sewing and when did you begin making art quilts?
Up until about six years ago I had never sewn anything in my life, then one day someone left a 1950's Singer sewing machine in its stand, out for the trash. With a little TLC and a tune-up from a local shop the machine up and running. I attempted to make a traditional wall quilt from a kit, but lining up my points was pretty much impossible for me so I ended up teaching myself decorative stitching to cover up my poor piecing job. Later, I had an old feed bag that belonged to my grandmother and I kept envisioning it as some sort of a cool wall hanging. I kept thinking about how to combine paint and images with the feed bag. I began playing around with different mediums and visiting the local thread shop, where I got involved with Running With Scissors, a local fiber arts group. I started participating in their group challenges and learning all sorts of tricks of the trade for mixed media fiber arts.
Describe your art and its inspiration.
While earning my Bachelors of Fine Arts from Michigan State University in Studio Art, I was exposed to various forms of visual art, such as painting, ceramics, photography, and print making. These are the basics from which I draw when I’m creating a piece. I love to experiment with new techniques and figure out how to combine them with fabric. My work usually has several visual layers in order to create a sense of dimension and texture for the viewer. Themes for my work usually come from an art challenge with my art group or a show theme. Often times though, the world around me gives me an idea to run with.
Where do you do most of your artwork?
A majority of my artwork is done in part of our family room at home. My kids can play with their toys and games and also get an art lesson or two while I work on a project. In the summers, I’ve been known to set up in the backyard to do large amounts of fabric dyeing and any other messy projects I can’t easily do inside.
What are your goals?
Creating mixed media fiber art started out as way to keep my creative juices flowing while being a busy mom, wife and graphic artist. Over the past year or so I have started exploring juried art shows, publications and generally getting more of my work out into the world. While graphic design is still primarily the bread and butter of my business, I wouldn’t mind if someday the artwork took over in that area.
Do you teach, lecture, curate or have a business of your artwork?
I run a freelance graphic design business called Studio Lams and I plan on having an Etsy shop up in running soon to sell some of my artwork globally.
Where can your work be seen?
I have two 4’ x 4’ installation pieces that hang at Michigan State University’s new recycling facility. 1000 Artisan Textiles: Contemporary Fiber Art, Quilts and Wearables by Sandra Salamony and Gina Brown features photographs of four of my pieces. I’m also providing two pieces to the Fiber Arts Show at the 577 Foundation in Perrysburg, Ohio, in June. A piece called My Muse Box will be at the Northville Art House in a show called West of Center in June as well. In addition, I participate in a recurring exhibit in the American Sewing Expo in Novi with my fiber art group Running with Scissors.
My latest artistic adventures are documented on my blog at http://www.studiolams.com/ . My blog links to my flickr.com page with extensive photos of all my work.
What are your interests outside of art?
Most of my time is spent with my husband and two boys. I also enjoy gardening, photography, and playing video games with my kids.
Up until about six years ago I had never sewn anything in my life, then one day someone left a 1950's Singer sewing machine in its stand, out for the trash. With a little TLC and a tune-up from a local shop the machine up and running. I attempted to make a traditional wall quilt from a kit, but lining up my points was pretty much impossible for me so I ended up teaching myself decorative stitching to cover up my poor piecing job. Later, I had an old feed bag that belonged to my grandmother and I kept envisioning it as some sort of a cool wall hanging. I kept thinking about how to combine paint and images with the feed bag. I began playing around with different mediums and visiting the local thread shop, where I got involved with Running With Scissors, a local fiber arts group. I started participating in their group challenges and learning all sorts of tricks of the trade for mixed media fiber arts.
Describe your art and its inspiration.
While earning my Bachelors of Fine Arts from Michigan State University in Studio Art, I was exposed to various forms of visual art, such as painting, ceramics, photography, and print making. These are the basics from which I draw when I’m creating a piece. I love to experiment with new techniques and figure out how to combine them with fabric. My work usually has several visual layers in order to create a sense of dimension and texture for the viewer. Themes for my work usually come from an art challenge with my art group or a show theme. Often times though, the world around me gives me an idea to run with.
Where do you do most of your artwork?
A majority of my artwork is done in part of our family room at home. My kids can play with their toys and games and also get an art lesson or two while I work on a project. In the summers, I’ve been known to set up in the backyard to do large amounts of fabric dyeing and any other messy projects I can’t easily do inside.
What are your goals?
Creating mixed media fiber art started out as way to keep my creative juices flowing while being a busy mom, wife and graphic artist. Over the past year or so I have started exploring juried art shows, publications and generally getting more of my work out into the world. While graphic design is still primarily the bread and butter of my business, I wouldn’t mind if someday the artwork took over in that area.
Do you teach, lecture, curate or have a business of your artwork?
I run a freelance graphic design business called Studio Lams and I plan on having an Etsy shop up in running soon to sell some of my artwork globally.
Where can your work be seen?
I have two 4’ x 4’ installation pieces that hang at Michigan State University’s new recycling facility. 1000 Artisan Textiles: Contemporary Fiber Art, Quilts and Wearables by Sandra Salamony and Gina Brown features photographs of four of my pieces. I’m also providing two pieces to the Fiber Arts Show at the 577 Foundation in Perrysburg, Ohio, in June. A piece called My Muse Box will be at the Northville Art House in a show called West of Center in June as well. In addition, I participate in a recurring exhibit in the American Sewing Expo in Novi with my fiber art group Running with Scissors.
My latest artistic adventures are documented on my blog at http://www.studiolams.com/ . My blog links to my flickr.com page with extensive photos of all my work.
What are your interests outside of art?
Most of my time is spent with my husband and two boys. I also enjoy gardening, photography, and playing video games with my kids.
Be sure to check out Jackie's web site/blog to learn more about her daily adventures and creations! http://www.studiolams.com/
“Crescendo”
16" x 20"
Deconstructed screen print from relief rubbings with musical instruments
Cotton fabric, watercolor crayons and pencils, matte and fabric mediums, Golden Open Paints
“Unraveled”
20" x 24"
An exploration of reusing old materials to create something new. A hand-dyed old doily, mixed with silk fibers, paint, pencils, hand stitching and beading.
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