Pat Bishop
medium: textiles
portal wisconsin featured artist
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Contact information
W4929 Bartelt Blvd.
Shawano, WI 54166
Phone Number: 920-460-0617
Email Address: patbishop@new.rr.com
Web site: www.patbishop.info
Artist statement
I am a fiber artist who loves nature and all things textilian. I work with fabric first of all because of its comfort value and soothing qualities. It truly amazes me what you can accomplish with fabric, thread and basically a sewing machine. I use fabric as a painter uses paint yet I have the advantage of not just value variations but all the textures. Working in this medium give results that can be challenging and pleasingly unpredictable which feeds my desire to be a problem solver. I am a maker/creator, I always seem to have to be making something and I feel I’ve found my niche.
I love spending time outside in the woods, near the water, investigating plants, trees, birds and other animals. This time spent outdoors inspires my artwork. I work intuitively though I do usually have a vague idea in mind but not a true final vision. The ability to achieve representation in the simplest form possible is one of my goals and I am attempting to recreate natural elements because I find them so intriguing. I feel like I can keep the memory alive if I use it as an inspiration in my artwork.
I tend to keep my compositions simple yet powerful with the use of strong color contrast, lots of texture and simple shapes. My work is identified by the use of vibrant color and the striation affect of the piecing and/or stitching. To me my work signifies the strength, beauty and simplicity of nature.
Biography
My medium is fabric, thread and a sewing machine. Texture is an important part of my work, so I use many different weaves and sources of fabric such as repurposed and unconventional materials.
I am inspired by simplicity in the visual world. I work intuitively with the inspiration most often from one of my photos.
My work has exhibited nationally and internationally. I have won numerous awards in fine art venues, the Houston International Quilt Festival and have been juried into prestigious fiber art exhibits. I lecture, enjoy teaching and have written numerous articles at the request of publishers, magazines and websites. My work was featured on the cover of Quilting Arts magazine.
Affiliations:
Studio Art Quilters Association – Juried Artist Member
Portal Wisconsin.org
Trout Museum – Artist Member
Wisconsin Visual Artists - Artist Member
Women Who Run With Scissors
Fiber Artists Coalition – Curator for Wabi Sabi: Appreciation of the Imperfect