Meet Susan Bianchi | Fiber Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Susan Bianchi and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Susan, any advice for those thinking about whether to keep going or to give up?
There are two ways to approach this question. How do I know whether to keep going on a specific art piece or give up? And, how do I know whether to keep making art or give it up?

It’s always difficult to walk away from an idea you’re failing to bring to life. I tend to spend a lot of time in my head working out the whys and the hows before I even start a new piece. I wish I could effectively translate all my ideas to finished artworks but that’s just not realistic (far more ideas than time).

I always feel a little sick setting a piece aside after I’ve invested so much time thinking about it and beginning to make it. I hate to admit that most of the time, I’ll push on way past the point when my gut tells me that it’s not working imagining that I can force it into submission. I think that is one of the more important lessons in life to embrace – listen to your instincts. You know when you need to set a piece aside while you figure out what’s not working and if it can be reworked. You also know when you need to give up on a piece entirely and walk away. Trusting yourself and your instincts saves so much time!

I now have what I refer to as a graveyard of pieces. I don’t let go of them because I know that at some point there will be parts that may be incorporated into new works.

The broader question of how do I know whether to keep making art or give it up is much easier to answer. I’ll stop making art when it stops making me happy.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I love my work. I love the act of creating it. I love the results. I love sending them out into the world. I do have favorites and some are not as successful as others but, like children, I love them all equally.

I came to create fiber art from a background in sewing. I began by sewing my own clothing, eventually learned how to sew traditional quilts and I fell in love with the medium. I began to play, experiment, and started the “what would happen if” art journey. I’ve always been drawn to fiber art because it’s so tactile.

To all intents and purposes, my work seems to have two distinct and separate styles, but there truly is a commonality to all my work. Most if not all of my art begins with photographs. It’s incredibly handy that my husband is a photographer and is very generous with letting me use his images as well as using my own. I’m a huge fan of Photoshop and I love playing with the hundreds of photo apps that are out there. Combine photo manipulation with also being a fan of fracturing images in different ways and you just about have my work summed up. I create these button/bead quilt mosaics that are really just an odd form of pointillism and also a different way to create a fractured image.

Creating my first button/bead mosaic quilt was the jumping-off point for getting my work noticed. One of the first people that I showed it to was a woman heavily connected with the fiber art world and she generously pointed me in the direction of what shows to initially enter to get my work seen. That led to creating more in that style and getting pieces into more prestigious shows and in some media. That in turn opened the door to getting my non-button work noticed. Sales and commissions followed.

There are two things I deal with that make being a working artist difficult. The first is that like many creatives, I continually battle with imposter syndrome. It doesn’t seem to matter what I create or the reception it receives, a lot of times I feel like I’m getting away with something and that someone is going to find out I’m just a fraud. It comes and goes! The second and biggest problem is that it takes an incredibly long time to create the button and bead quilt mosaics. Some of the pieces I’ve created and entered in shows end up touring for three years to various shows, museums and galleries. Great for publicity and potential commissions/sales, but I find that I need to stagger the creation of those in between pieces that I can complete more quickly to make sure I have an inventory on hand for other local shows.

One of the things I’ve learned along the way is to be as fearless as possible about getting my work out in the world and seen. That can be challenging. The second thing is to be as organized as possible. Not just with my art supplies but with my paperwork as well. Just doing research and keeping track of calls for art, major shows, the entry deadline dates and associated costs is a handful. Then keeping track of your artwork inventory and where all of it is at any given time is imperative. I’m now very good at spreadsheets.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I live in Saratoga, California very close to San José. This is an amazing spot to live. I’m equidistant to San Francisco and Monterey. Within easy driving distance to the coast and at most, 15 minutes away from redwood forests, an abundance of walking and biking trails, many museums, theaters, restaurants, and wineries. When friends or family come to visit, there are so many options it’s hard to narrow them down. Here are some possibilities.

On day one, I’d start the day with Huevos Rancheros for breakfast on the patio at Taqueria Tlaquepaque and then wander downtown Willow Glen stopping at Hicklebee’s – one of the best independent bookstores in the country. Take a short drive downtown and take a self-directed walking tour to see murals, public art, and some important Californian history sites. End by walking down 1st Street to explore the arts district galleries and museums stopping in at the SOFA Market for an early dinner. They offer a huge variety of different types of foods and drink.

Day two, we’d see the Winchester Mystery House. It’s a must. My father would never take us there when we were growing up because he was sure it was a tourist trap. It is, but it’s a fun one! Sarah Winchester was one odd woman, but the house while unusual, is a visual feast. There are Tiffany stained glass windows, textured wood wallpaper rolls that are stunning, and some of the most beautiful door hinges I’ve ever seen. It’s worth it! After the tour, grab lunch across the street at one of the many restaurants along Santana Row. Then do a tour of all the funky antique and artifact shops along San Carlos. Finish up by looking at one of my favorite stores for odd things, Montebello Road in Campbell. After that, a Cal-Mex dinner at Aqui’s that has to include one of their industrial strength Margaritas.

Day three, we’d start the day with an easy hike at one of the many open space preserves in the Santa Cruz mountain foothills. They are beautiful at every time of year but really sparkle in the spring when the poppies and lupin are in bloom. After a hike, continue on up into the mountains and drive north on Skyline Blvd. There are intermittent vistas of the Pacific Ocean to the left and then one of the best views of the bay area – from San Francisco, Berkley and Oakland down to Gilroy off to the right. Stop at Alice’s Restaurant in the redwoods for some fabulous food and enjoy the unique smells of eating outdoors in the redwoods.

On day four, taking a 20 minute drive to the Cantor Arts Center on the Stanford campus in Palo Alto is always a treat. Outside the museum there are Rodin sculptures on display in the garden. Inside this gem of a museum, they cycle through amazing exhibits. After viewing the exhibits, head over to the Arizona cactus garden. It’s a great way to decompress and see the collection of cacti and succulents – a beautiful setting. For dinner, head over to Gott’s Roadside for amazing burgers and fries. If you’re lucky, their fried brussels sprouts will be available. (They do have vegetarian and vegan options.) Then head to downtown Palo Alto to see a classic movie in the beautifully restored 1925 movie theater with the Mighty Wurlitzer organ that rises from below the stage to play during the intermission at the evening movie showings.

For day five, I’d wander over to Santa Cruz and explore the downtown area and maybe grab some lunch with ocean views at the Crow’s Nest. I’d drive north on Highway one along the ocean and just explore all the beaches. I’d stop for world-class chocolates and ice cream at Richard Donnelly’s Chocolate. Completely amazing! I’d continue on up the coast stopping in Pescadero and Half Moon Bay to explore and then drive back home.

Day six would be a day to pack a picnic lunch and head up to the redwoods. The first stop would be to another ridiculous tourist trap – The Mystery Spot. It’s worthwhile because it’s in the middle of a redwood forest and is beautiful and the rest is just silly fun – balls that roll uphill, gravity just seems off. Then I’d drive on to Roaring Camp. It’s a narrow gauge historic railroad up in the redwoods. The steam train takes you up through a beautiful redwood forest. A diesel train takes you down the mountain into Santa Cruz to the Boardwalk. Across the tracks, is Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park that has a flat walking trail that is just beautiful. Fit the picnic in there somewhere! Plenty of spots to eat either at Roaring Camp or the State Park.

Day seven – there are still so many things to do I’m not sure what I’d pick. By now, I’d be fairly exhausted and would probably revisit some of the things I didn’t have time to truly explore!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I’ve been incredibly lucky to find myself in organizations that allowed me safe places to grow as a fiber artist. Studio Art Quilt Associates (SAQA) is one that has been very supportive. I’ve also been encouraged by some amazing people and artists. Nancy Bavor (author, curator, exhibits coordinator, and executive director of the San Jose Museum of Quilts and Textiles) has been amazingly encouraging and supportive throughout my journey. My husband Curt and son Jake are my go-to guys for advice and inspiration. My siblings Carol, Lisa, Carl and their kids are the best. I also send thanks out to everyone who has had my back and has shared kind words – Karen, Cecilie, Mel, and Gayle to name a few.

Website: https://www.suebianchi.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/susan_bianchi/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/susan-bianchi-788a3014/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/susanbianchiquilts/

Image Credits
Curt Bianchi took all the photos.