ANNE ALESSI Knitter, Fabric Painter and Quilter My earliest artistic training was with my mother who was a plein air oil painter. We would walk together in the fields surrounding our home. I prepared her canvas and carried the paints. This was a great hands-on experience of living the life of an artist. My formal training began in Philadelphia with a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts and the University of Pennsylvania. I studied classical realism sculpture, portraiture and the figure, but my love of color instilled by my mother rose to the surface and could not be denied. I spent a year sailing the West Indies, enthralled by some of the most beautiful colorful vistas I had ever experienced. Soon I started painting fabric, creating my own designs in quilting, knitting and clothing, draping the figure in color, selling my work at art shows for the past 20 years. I knit using natural fiber yarns such as linen, wool, cotton and silk. I then paint the garment using impressionistic water color techniques. The dye is set so it will not run or fade. I then add beads and my own handmade polymer buttons. Using progression dyeing and hand painting, I create cotton and silk yardage to be pieced and quilted, creating framed pieces, wall hangings, clothing or bed quilts. The greatest gift I have been given is my life with Don. We met at an art show when I was living on the east coast. I moved to Wisconsin to be with him and it has been wonderful. The transformation of the barn into a glorious work space and gallery is beyond my wildest dreams. Please come and share it with us! PHOTO GALLERY OF ANNE'S ARTWORK LONGARM QUILTING SERVICES |