Meet Kestrel Michaud: Crafting Dreams in Fabric
- By American Quilter's Society
- Oct 19, 2023
Kestrel Michaud: Crafting Dreams in Fabric
Once upon a time, in the realm of fabric and imagination, there was a young artist named Kestrel Michaud. Her journey into the captivating world of fabric artistry was one paved with determination, innovation, and a boundless passion for crafting stories through textiles. Today, she is a quilting visionary, captivating hearts with her quilts and guiding her students to play in their own enchanting fabric-built worlds.
FROM FINE ART TO FABRIC ART
Kestrel's artistic roots run deep. As a classically trained imaginative realism fine artist, she started experimenting with fabric back in 2004 when she was just a junior in high school. Her journey into fabric art was a fusion of creativity and a unique vision. By the time she graduated in 2006, Kestrel had already crafted nearly 30 unique fabric pictures. Her remarkable talent was showcased in galleries across Pennsylvania as part of the National Road Heritage Corridor program. Kestrel had also earned more than 50 local, regional, national, and international awards, even winning a Grand Prize at the 62nd World Science Fiction Convention when she was just 15 years old.
A CREATIVE EDUCATION AT RINGLING COLLEGE OF ART AND DESIGN
Kestrel's journey took her to the prestigious Ringling College of Art and Design in 2006. Her admissions portfolio was entirely comprised of fabric artwork. Though initially hesitant about the future of fabric art, her professors saw her potential and insisted she continue in this medium. Kestrel's senior thesis featured six gallery-sized fabric artworks, each woven from her vivid imagination and the intricate detail that fabric allows. In 2010, Kestrel graduated with honors and a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Illustration, equipped with the knowledge of how to bring captivating fabric works to life.
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REDISCOVERING THE MAGIC OF FABRIC
After working as a full-time graphic designer until 2017, Kestrel's passion for fabric art was rekindled. She discovered a thriving community of artists using fabric as their medium and decided to create her first art quilt in 2018. Her journey took off, and she went on to win major awards at quilt shows across the country. Her quilts have graced galleries, museums, and quilt shows in the US and internationally, taking her imaginative realism to countries around the world.
THE CLASSROOM: A GATEWAY TO CREATIVE DISCOVERY
Kestrel's passion for crafting stories through textiles doesn't stop at her awe-inspiring quilts. It continues to flourish in her role as an educator, where she shares her enthusiasm for quilting with students eager to explore their own unique creative paths.
She believes in creating a learning environment where her students can embark on their unique creative journeys, no matter their skill level. Kestrel's philosophy is to provide structure while preserving creative freedom, ensuring students have the opportunity to explore their artistic potential.
YOUR JOURNEY INTO IMAGINATIVE QUILTING
As you step into Kestrel's classroom, you're not just learning a craft; you're stepping into her world of creativity. She encourages you to explore the wonder of imaginative realism, allowing your imagination to roam freely. Kestrel's technique, fused raw-edge appliqué, becomes your tool to craft intricate, vivid quilts that tell stories.
Kestrel offers a gentle structure designed to nurture your creativity by providing guidelines like friendly signposts along the way, ensuring that your quilting compositions thrive. Her teaching philosophy cherishes the delicate balance between guidance and creative liberty.
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JOIN THE CREATIVE ODYSSEY
Today, Kestrel Michaud is not just an artist; she's a devoted educator who shares her knowledge through lectures and workshops. She invites you to join her on this creative adventure, guiding you through the art of imaginative quilting. Your journey into Kestrel's imaginative world is about to begin, and it's a world full of endless possibilities.
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