ARTIST STATEMENT / April Sproule

For me, being an artist requires strengthening my powers of observation, in order to truly capture the essence of my subject. The beauty of a piece often lies in the subtle details, so it becomes very important to know when to stop, and not over-work a piece.

Experimentation is crucial to my creative process. Where once I was a great planner, drafting out the most minute detail to scale, I now work intuitively, waiting for the fabric to tell me what the next step in the process will be.

I am in constant awe of the world around me, and greatly inspired by the diversity in nature. Living in a small community in Northern California, where I maintain a full time studio, provides me with an ideal creative environment.

As I delve deeper into the area of surface design (the dyeing, printing, painting, and manipulation of fabrics), I find the possibilities to be endless. I devote a great deal of time to the research, and learning of time-honored techniques. I find traditional skills that are passed down through the generations in various cultures quite fascinating, and invaluable. After mastering these skills, I am then able to apply them to my original works.

Textiles hold a special attraction for me, as a medium that is so receptive to change. The ways the varied textures absorb, and reflect the light offers great variety. Color infuses my work with emotion, sometimes dramatic, sometimes very quiet and subdued. I consider design almost secondary to color, because if the color’s off, the synergy of the piece is nonexistent.

I strongly believe that we are all endowed with a special gift, a certain talent, skill, or ability. We owe it to ourselves to develop those gifts, and pass them on to others at every opportunity to keep them alive.