I’m always intrigued when an artist brings several familiar materials together in a way that feels fresh and new. Such is the case with the mixed media paper art of Sally Brandl, an artist in Evanston, Illinois. Her vibrant pieces are a celebratory bridge between modern painting and traditional fiber arts.
I hightailed it over to Sally's Instagram grid the moment one of her often wildly popular images appeared in my feed, recognizing that she was doing something radically different and exciting with quilling strips, along with thread and beads.
A Background in Fiber Arts
Sally explains on her website, Sally Brandl Art, that she worked for many years in the needlework industry and has always loved creating with fibers and paint. "I began experimenting with combining the two and thoroughly enjoy creating these works. I have an unrestrained love of color and the joy it brings."
She relies on a colorful bounty of gouache shapes, embroidery stitches, and dimensional elements, coalescing these features into captivating designs.
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| Even Maude the cat agrees. |
Achieving Structural Harmony
Each piece begins with transparent watercolor shapes, but without a strict plan. Sally lets the composition evolve as she works, adding thread, beads, and paper coils in the final stage. These additions give the paintings an energetic quality, as if the patterns have been gently animated.
What I find especially appealing is the harmony she achieves while using such varied elements. A single piece might contain circles, triangles, squares, stripes, grids, or dots, anchored by a profusion of bright colors. That amount of information could feel chaotic, yet each design is winningly cohesive.
Even this delightful Party Princess Golden Retriever silhouette, while different from Sally's geometric pieces, exudes a sense of cheer. (It also brings back memories of Sena Runa's endearing printable dog to which I had fun adding quilled elements.)
A Rich Mixed Media Vocabulary
Sally has written that she hopes her art makes the viewer feel happy. That aim comes through clearly... while the elements are carefully composed, each piece offers a spontaneous sense of fun. Her work bridges the gap between craft and fine art.
Keep your eye on Sally's Instagram grid, @sallybrandlart, as it is where she posts upcoming shows and events. During the hectic art fair season, she doesn't sell via her website, although she does welcome inquiries via Instagram.
