Artist Statement
I am an artist who works primarily in stitched surfaces. My physical surroundings provide constant stimulation and often awaken my curiosity about scenes that are unfolding, or what has come before. Even mundane details, such as windows and doors, patterns in the snow, and tiny lines of bubbles at the edge of the ocean, provide endless inspiration. Sketching on location with ink and watercolor enables me to capture the essence of a place, time or experience, to see details that might go unnoticed, and to cement my memories in a way that taking a photograph alone does not achieve. Here, I begin to explore the story in a more intimate way.
Working in my studio, I continue to explore what began with my eye, sketchbook, and camera. I use a variety of techniques and materials to do this, creating “textile paintings”. I dye fabric, cut it into small shapes and fuse it, creating a fabric collage. Or I may begin by machine stitching on whole cloth, using thread to create the look of ink sketches on paper, painting later to add drama. With each method, I then add many quilting lines as another design element to add a textural dimension. For my non-fiber work, I sketch directly on paper with archival ink, adding an ink wash or watercolor for visual interest. The method is chosen by deciding what will best tell my story.
I make my art to understand and describe emotions that I feel when in a place that affects me in some way. I work in a series to go deeper into my subject matter and explore new techniques and ways to interpret the subject. As I progress in a series, I become totally immersed in it, which often leads me in surprising directions. Working in the studio is such a solitary practice that it lends itself to a kind of focused meditation. While I work, I grow -- not just as an artist, but also as a human being.
Biography
Donna Deaver grew up in a career military family, moving extensively throughout her childhood and teenage years, living mostly in the coastal regions of the United States. She credits this with her high level of curiosity, wanderlust, and extensive love of the ocean. Coming from a highly creative family, she states that she often had a needle, sketchbook, or camera in her hands, which she continues to this day.
After years of exploring different media, Deaver began making contemporary textile art in 2008. A self-taught artist, her award-winning art has been exhibited in juried and invitational shows nationally and internationally and is included in both private and corporate collections throughout the United States and Europe.
Deaver is a Juried Artist Member (JAM) of Studio Art Quilt Associates (SAQA) and serves as volunteer Global Exhibition Coordinator for the organization. Her home and studio are in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, in the northwest region of the United States.
