Kelli Perkins is a fun, fabulously, inspired mixed media artist, whose book Stitch Alchemy, Combining Fabric and Paper for Mixed Media Art
is a treasure trove of technique, approach and creative exuberance. I have had the pleasure of meeting Kelli and know that you will love her art and her personality as much as I do. Kelli is a working mother, in a great and loving relationship, which might suggest that she has her hands full. But it seems she makes time to glue, paint and stitch papers to cloth in fun, whimsical and expressive ways.
Melly T: I would love to know how this approach in materials and style came about, can you tell us about that?
Kelli NP: There has been a long process of accepting my own work. In the beginning I spent a lot of time thinking about what other people considered to be artistic. I am drawn to outsider and lowbrow art, including street art and graffiti. Yet, when I sit down to create, cute, pretty and colorful come out. I used to think something was wrong with me and I needed to push past that. Now I embrace it and create things that make me happy. When it comes to materials, I try new things all the time and when something really speaks to me, I keep working with it. That's what happened with stitchpaper.

MT: Knowing that your plate is full, having a full time job and a family, can you please talk about how you make time for art, how you think about your studio and what it gives you in return?
KNP: Art in the small spaces is my motto. There is no bridge of time too small to contain creation. I keep at the very least a sketchbook and pens with me at all times. I bring a bag of sewing to work and stitch during my lunch hour. I always collage, bead, embroider or do other handwork while watching a movie. In five minutes waiting in the dentist's office, I can accomplish a lot! All of these little bits add up at the end of the day. What it gives me in return is joy. There is no other expression for it than that.

MT:As an artist working in different mediums/medias, if you took one thing out of the mix would that stifle your process?
KNP: Oh absolutely. I need touchy-feely and combining paper and cloth with stitch is just the thing. I am not much of a museum person because you can't touch. What good is that? This is why I'll always be drawn to functional forms like books, quilts, dolls etc.

MT: What do you do when you are feeling creatively dull?
KNP: That's the time to whip out my notebooks and files of creativity scraps. I get ideas all the time, so I jot them down for further exploration. I could use several lifetimes exploring all of the things that have popped into my head in the middle of the night.
MT: What are your fears as an artist and how do you face/overcome/talk yourself out of or USE them?
KNP: I gave my inner critic a name, so when the voice in my head tells me my art is not good enough, I can pin it on her. It's just this one crazy person living inside my head, so why should I listen to her? If she showed up at my door and said those things in person, I would dismiss her as a lunatic. So why should I give the voice more credence because I can't see it? My fears are the same as yours. Are we ever good enough?

MT: You will be doing some teaching soon. Is there anything you would like to say about that? Times, dates and places?
KNP: Yes! I'll be at CREATE with Cloth Paper Scissors in Rosemont IL in August, with a full slate of ridiculously colorful classes, including; Stitchpaper Alchemy, Paper Bead Alchemy, Stitched Imagery and a Trinket Journal class. I'll also be selling some stitchpaper packs, paper beads and artwork. It's been a long time since I've had a vendor table and I've missed it. I used to be a soapmaker.

MT: Tell us about a piece of art that you made that you espcially like and why.
Since I make more functional art than stand alone pieces, let me praise the merits of paper beads. Have you ever stood on the beach and sifted through sand for rocks or shells? Each one is more beautiful than the one before. When we visit Lake Superior I can't come back without pocketfuls of rocks. Paper beads are like that. Each one is completely unique and you have to hold it in your hand and spin it about to appreciate its full beauty.
Next week I will do a full review of Kelli's book here on my site. Until then, please go check out Kelli's blog, her book and the possibility of taking a class from Kelli at the Create Retreat. Ay the very least I hope you enjoy the luscious showing of Kelli's work.