By Jane Delcarson

Susan Hoffmann of Oshkosh and Baileys Harbor will be exhibiting her unique Fiber Art at the UU Gallery during the month of May. A reception open to the public will be held on Sunday, May 26, from 2:00-4:00 pm.  Refreshments will be served.

All of Susan’s art works are representational landscapes or details from nature, created with layers of fabrics, using fabric collage and raw-edge applique techniques and occasionally finishing with pastel or ink.  Her artwork is unique because she uses fabric to create what looks like a painting.

Hoffman is self-taught.  She was originally inspired to create her own technique in an art quilting class. She uses hand-painted cotton, hand –dyed cotton, and cotton batiks to create paintings.  Inspiration for these landscapes starts with a photograph she has taken; many of these landscapes are Door County scenes. She works from the back of a scene, forward, free–hand cutting each element of composition from different types of cotton fabrics.  No patterns or templates are used.  The intricately cut pieces are layered, one over the other, to recreate the scene.  Each piece is applied using pH neutral adhesive.  Most of her artwork requires 10-12 different fabrics, four to six layers, and hundreds of hand-cut pieces to complete.

Susan teaches her technique and is scheduled to present a one-day workshop at the Clearing Folk School on July 12. She has won numerous awards in the short time that she has exhibited (since 2011).  Her work can currently be seen at Greco Gallery in Sturgeon Bay.  Susan will be one of the exhibiting artists at the Door County Art League’s Summer Gallery at the Top of the Hill Shops in Fish Creek.