Jean Wells
Twilight Medley
51” x 36”
Techniques: Raw edge appliqué, block printing, machine and hand stitching, organza overlays
Materials: Cotton, silk organza, raw silk
Artist Statement: As the sun begins to set the light in the garden quickly changes. I wanted to capture the beauty of sunflower and their wildflower friends using raw edge appliqué. The freedom that the collage technique provides seemed the right technique.
Photographer: Paige Vitek
Twilight Medley - detail
No Stone Unturned
54 x 37
Techniques: hand applique, machine piecing, decorative stitching by hand, domestic machine quilting
Materials: cotton, linen, silk, hand dyed and hand printed cottons
Artist Statement:
My fascination with color, texture, and natural configurations began at an early age picking up stones. These experiences are the common thread running through my mind as I work intuitively designing quilts letting the design take on a life of its own.
Photographer: Paige Vitek
No Stone Unturned - Detail
SOLVE Works!
42 x 40
Techniques: machine piecing and quilting, hand appliqué, embroidery
Materials: cotton, linen, silk, hand dyed and hand printed cottons
Artist Statement:
Oregonians are blessed with pristine beaches along the Pacific Ocean. In recent years SOLVE, a volunteers-based organization has an annual event to clean the beaches of debris. This effort has positively impacted our beaches in Oregon in a positive way. Manzanita is our family's favorite beach. We are pleased that the clean up allows us to continue to enjoy the seasonal rhythmic movement of the waves as the ocean meets the shore.
Photographer: Gary Alverz
SOLVE Works! - Detail
Pacific Gyre
59 x 23
Techniques: machine piecing, embroidery, machine quilting
Materials: cotton, silk, linen, stone, feather, hand printed fabric
Artist Statement:
The Pacific Ocean has one of the largest whirlpools of plastic debris in the world swirling between California and Hawaii. Plastics take many years to break down if ever, always leaving small particles in the environment. The United Nations reported that the environmental damage caused by plastic to be 13 billion USD. SOLVE is a worldwide clean up organization that is working to eliminate plastics from getting into our rivers and oceans.
Photographer: Gary Alverz
Pacific Gyre - Detail
A Stone's Throw
44.5 x 26
Techniques: hand applique, machine piecing, machine quilting, hand embroidery,
Materials: hand dyed and hand printed fabric, cottons, linens, silk
Artist Statement:
The rhythm, color, and textures of sand, stones, the ocean reminds me of a walk along the beach. Treasures are to be found in the transformation of the shoreline. These experiences are the common thread running through my mind as I work intuitively designing quilts letting them take on a life of their own.
Photographer: Paige Vitek
A Stone's Throw - Detail
Deserted Foothills
55 x 30
Techniques: machine piecing and quilting
Materials: cotton, linen, silk, hand printed fabric
Artist Statement:
Pillars of basalt stretch across the Oregon desert creating high standing ridges of stone above the sage covered desert floor. August brings the glorious golden yellow tones of the sage that cover the desert floor in the high plateau of the Central Oregon landscape.
Deserted Foothills - Detail
Deschutes
44” x 34”
Techniques: Piecing, machine quilting, applique
Materials: Cotton, linen, silk, hand printed fabric
Artist Statement:
The timeless quality of stone fascinates me with all of its' color, shape, and line work.The Descutes River runs through many canyons and the basalt rock is stunning along with the desert foliage.
Irresistible
Time adds life to exposed stone
Subtle color
Ever changing
Photographer: Paige Vitek
Shelter
27” x44”
Techniques: Machine pieced background, fused sticks, machine quilting
Materials: Cottons, linens, silk
Artist Statement:
Shelter means the same regardless of the species and no two nests are exactly alike. "Originality means shaping what has come before until it belongs to you."...Robert Hunt. The idea of a home brings comfort to the soul. Working with twigs to build a comforting enclosure with a circular form was my challenge and discovery all at the same time.
Photographer: Paige Vitek
Shelter - Detail