Lura Schwarz Smith has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Art from San Francisco State University. As well as graphic and illustration art, she has been producing art quilts since 1975, originally showing in California galleries throughout the 70s and 80s. In the 90s she showed quilts and received awards at regional, national, and international quilt shows, both in the US and abroad.  Several highlights of her career in the quilt world are that one of her quilts was named one of the “100 Best American Quilts of the 20th Century,” and she was included in the “30 Distinguished Quilt Artists of the World” exhibit at the first Tokyo Dome quilt show in 2002 in Japan.

In recent years, Lura has shifted her focus to art quilt venues, galleries and museums. Her work has been juried into many prestigious art quilt shows such as Quilt National, Quilt Visions, SAQA’s Creative Force, Quilts=Art=Quilts, and other gallery and museum shows. Her work is in Children’s Hospital of Madera and private collections across the country. She is a member of the Yosemite Western Artists, Sierra Mountain Quilters, and a juried artist member of Studio Art Quilt Associates. Learn more about Lura and see her work and resume’ at www.Lura-art.com.

Lura has taught and shown her work around the world. She is married to photo artist Kerby Smith with whom she often collaborates and teaches. Together they wrote and published their bookThe Secrets of Digital Quilting: From Camera to Quilt.

Lura will also be teaching a two day workshop for us the two days prior to her lecture.
“Designing Art Quilts”
Thursday and Friday, August 18-19, 9:30-3:30
Parish Hall, St. Alban’s Episcopal Church
580 Hilgard Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90024

2 Day Fee: $135.00 - $150.00 for Non-members. $15.00 supply fee due to Lura on the day of the workshop.

In this workshop “Designing Art Quilts” learn successful tracing, shading and inking onto fabric, working from your own photographic paper prints (any subject matter). Using textile inks, markers, pencils, pastels and other materials, discover fun, easy design and drawing exercises to achieve realistic imagery in your quilts. You will explore design elements geared for the specific application of your individual projects, and you will create a master pattern from your own images. Emphasis is on individual applications of techniques, and the fun of developing your own style. No prior art experience necessary, but those with an art background will learn specific applications for achieving beautiful imagery on fabric. All the information including the supply list is on the WQ website at http://www.westsidequilterslosangeles.org/Calendar.html.