LISA THORPE:
I began my artistic journey as a kid sewing crazy clothes for all my Barbie dolls on my hand crank, kiddy sewing machine. This trail led me to UC Davis Design and Art departments, where my emphasis was on textiles and wearable art. Later I received my teaching credential in Art and Education from San Francisco State University. I currently live in Little Rock, Arkansas after living my whole life in Northern California. This move has pushed me in unexpected ways to tell my story, state my case, explain myself in a new way in a new culture. It has been good and hard all at once!
As an artist I am an explorer and observer first. I like to wander and wonder, let things percolate while I ponder. I have numerous sketchbooks full of chicken scratch drawings and cryptic thoughts. Over time (and often during a long hot shower) an idea will keep rising to the surface, I might even push that thought bubble below the surface, telling it I don’t have time for you, but the best ideas won’t pop and so I move on from thought to action. I have used many mediums over the years from fabric to painting to printing and collage but the unifying thread through all these mediums is a love of the puzzle. I like to problem solve, to piece and play with an idea until it can take shape as a visual idea.
As a mixed media artist there are no limits- if a technique or medium will achieve my goals I’ll try it, I’ll play with it, I’ll shape it to my purpose. I love to share what I’ve learned from my explorations through workshops and technique articles for creative magazines. To see how the same materials and techniques can reveal the voice of each artist is very rewarding and I always learn something from my students to put into the mix of my next creative endeavor.
I teach creative workshops throughout the country. I have been invited to lead workshops for quilt guilds, church groups and friend groups and been honored to teach at national creative conferences such as Craft Napa, IQF Houston and more. I have published technique articles in Quilting Arts, and Cloth Paper Scissors magazines and was a feature artist in the 2024 season of the PBS Quilting Arts TV show and on The Quilt Show in 2022 (episode 3002). I hope you will invite me to lead a creative workshop where ever you are or via Zoom in the comfort of our own homes.