Fiber artist and Palisades Village member, B.J. Adams will take us through a recent project she did to celebrate her 80th year -- 80 works in one year.  These examples of her textile art range from representational nature studies to expressive abstraction. Her work would be beautiful as drawings but she does each one in embroidery which just takes them to a new level both literally and figuratively.  

Artist Statement:

Reaching the very large number of 80 birthdays in 2011, I decided the best way to celebrate would be to create 80 artworks before my 81st birthday. These 80 works would be only 8 by 8 inches each to further use the number 8.

There are groups of themes, represented, that will vary in both size and medium. These groups may have anywhere from two to twelve, 8 by 8 inch canvases, each with a different medium and theme. The variety of themes include realistic, surrealistic, and abstract. And, the mediums and techniques include free motion machine embroidery, acrylic painting, colored pencil, collage, and quilting.
With this variety there will be something for everyone to view, think about, and enjoy.

All art is on 1 1/2 inch deep stretched 8 by 8 inch canvas or cradled boards. These groups can be rearranged to be hung in many different configurations……all vertical, all horizontal, etc.

Bio:

With a background in fine art, B. J. Adams’ art work varies from abstract to realistic images. Her artwork has been commissioned for both public and private collections and has been shown widely throughout the U.S. and abroad in museum and gallery exhibits. A mixed-media artist and teacher since the early 1970s, her work has appeared in many books, catalogs, and publications.

Using the sewing machine as an artistic tool, Adams work with free-motion embroidery has allowed her to combine traditional painting and drawing techniques with non-traditional embroidery, creating uncommon realistic, surrealistic, and abstract images.

B. J. Adams artwork has been commissioned for both public and private collections. Her work has been shown widely throughout the U.S. and abroad in museum and gallery exhibits. As a teacher and mixed-media artist, her work has appeared in many books, catalogs, and other publications. Please see her resume enumerating exhibitions, publications, commissions and collections.

Adams says, while working on one artwork, another idea often emerges, and it is this constant, stimulating flow that causes my work to evolve, to create new series, and to seek different themes. The unusual or commonplace materials and techniques I use, the focus required by the slow working process of this art, and the infinite available subjects, keep my work ever-changing, challenging, and always motivating.

For more information about B.J. and her work:

http://bjadamsart.com/index.htm