Lura Schwarz Smith, Textile Artist

As an artist, I am interested in merging my art background with quilting techniques and to explore those potentials, in the effort to express the inner life through fabric art. As a teacher, my interest is to share those techniques, and more importantly, to encourage students to validate their own art nature, and find their own unique expression of art in their quilt work, no matter what style they choose.

Gallery

Click on one of the thumbnails below to see a gallery of my work.

If you are not already a member of TQS, you can watch our episode FREE during the week of July 25-31 only.
This is a terrific program they produce, with tons of tips, demos, techniques and inspiration. I hope you will enjoy our episode. If you're not a member, you can also get a special discount offer here for joining. The code for the 20% discount is 120384915739. And watch for the short "After Set" portion AFTER the credits to see and hear about this baby quilt, "Night Ryder" (pictured at right.) Thanks, Alex and Ricky, for having us!

Click here to watch video for FREE!: https://www.thequiltshow.com/os/create_account_smith.php

THE SECRET IS OUT -- OUR BOOK IS HERE!
Expand your creative potential with richly colored fabric from your own photos. We show you how easy it is in our new book, "Secrets of Digital Quilting: From Camera to Quilt," with 8 projects and 25 techniques, including inking, painting and embellishing.

To get your autographed copy, click here!: http://www.lura-art.com/store_book.php

La Conner Quilt & Textile Museum - La Conner, WA
January-March 2010 at the La Conner Quilt & Textile Museum in La Conner, WA. I have a solo show, "Imagery & Imagination." I'll be there at the opening reception to give a talk and exhibit tour Saturday, Jan. 16th at 1 p.m.

Details are at: http://www.laconnerquilts.com/category/exhibits/upcoming-exhibits

New Class
My husband Kerby, a professional photographer, and I are now team teaching a new class: The Digital Quilt, where we combine our interests and skills in presenting ways to produce your own digital imagery on fabric.

For more details, see: http://www.thedigitalquilt.com

Come to Empty Spools at Asilomar and learn to successfully trace, shade, ink, paint, and draw on fabric!
Empty Spools at Asilomar: Session II -- Feb. 26-March 3rd, 2010. There's still space in my workshop "Imagery & Imagination: Inks, Paints, Pencils and Fun." No prior art experience is necessary to achieve beautiful, realistic imagery in your quilts. Using textile inks, paints, markers, pencils, pastels and other fun surface design materials, explore fun, easy design and drawing exercises. Learn successful tracing, shading and inking onto fabric, working from your own photographic paper prints (any subject matter). We will explore design elements geared for the specific application of your individual projects, create a master pattern, and explore various construction methods, including a fast, free and easy free-form curved machine piecing technique. Students also learn to enhance digitally printed imagery on fabric. Bring any digital fabrics you may have, or use the class samples provided. Emphasis is on individual applications of techniques, and the fun of developing your own style.

For more information:: http://www.emptyspoolsseminars.com

New Student Gallery
Take a look at some beautiful student work from my classes posted in the Student Gallery page under my Teaching page. Most are in-progress classroom projects, with a few finished quilts shown as people have shared them with me. Coming soon - Digital Quilt Class student Projects gallery.

Student Gallery: http://www.lura-art.com/gallery_student.php

California Fiber Artists (CFA)
I am a member of California Fiber Artists (CFA), established in 2004. This group is a partnership of diverse independent fiber artists working together by consolidating their talents for the purpose of successfully educating the public and promoting fiber art through public exhibitions throughout California.

See more at: http://cafiberartists.com/index.htm