Denise Oyama Miller

Artist Statement

Some artists paint with brushes, others with words. I paint with my scissors using fabric and thread. I am inspired by the beauty found in Nature and man-made objects and structures. My quilts range from larger landscapes of light and memory to smaller designs of complexity and detail.
My quilts are often described as paintings in cloth. I hand-dye, paint, print, embellish, and layer my fabrics to create dimensional compositions that have a life of their own. My inspiration flows from the landscapes around me - California architecture, forests, hills, mountains, coastal horizons, and the delicate structures found in plants, rocks, water, and architectural details. I also draw from my Japanese ancestry, weaving in the quiet harmony and reverence for Nature and old worn objects found in traditional Japanese art.

I invite you to look closer at the details: the design of the stitching that shapes the objects and often defines the direction of the wind, the repetition of color and light that draws your eyes over the entire work.