Cindy Grisdela

Cindy is an artist, teacher, and author of Artful Improv and Adventures in Improv Quilts, both books about creating original quilts without patterns. She specializes in Improv design and using color fearlessly in quiltmaking. She creates abstract designs in fabric with a focus on color and line. Her work is designed improvisationally without a preconceived pattern, a little bit like jazz music, where each decision about color and shape influences the next. The color is the first step. Putting colors together intuitively, Cindy uses fabric the way a painter might use paint to create graphic compositions that engage the viewer from a distance yet invite a closer look. The texture is the second step. The stitching lines provide contrast and dimension to the piece, integrating the elements into a cohesive whole.