It’s always fun to meet other embroidery artists and today I want to introduce you to the work of Diane Scott! I first became acquainted with Diane and her work on Instagram and she is truly a mixed media artist. I love getting a peek into her art journals to see how her paintings or sketches inform her embroidery work, whether it’s her birds, florals, or abstract compositions.

I’ve been especially fascinated with her free-style embroidery pieces and had the opportunity to ask Diane a bit about her process and her art in a recent interview!

Q - Tell me a bit about yourself!

A - I live in Colorado with my husband and three kids. I enjoy nature and the study of its details. The wonder and beauty of it often inspires the things I create. Plus, spending time outdoors refreshes my soul.

Q - When did you discover hand embroidery as an art form?

A - I discovered hand-embroidery in February of 2018. Some of my mixed media friends were stitching fabric scraps together and embroidering on top. I liked the effect it had and decided to try something similar. I loved it immediately! Soon afterwards, I stitched a free-style sampler (of sorts), trying my hand at mastering several basic stitches. Embroidery quickly became a fun and relaxing new way to express myself. I haven’t looked back since.

Q - It’s clear from your Instagram feed that you enjoy a wide variety of creative outlets. What’s your favorite medium to work in? Do you ever mix mediums?

A - I would describe myself as a mixed media artist who is currently exploring embroidery. So, presently fiber is my favorite medium. However, I enjoy painting, collage, weaving, drawing, and hand lettering. So, it’s hard to pick a favorite. I just enjoy something until I get bored or become stagnant and then I switch to something different.

Q - How has engaging in other creative outlets influenced your embroidery work?

A - Engaging in other creative outlets has influenced my embroidery work by inspiring me to do new things and giving me the confidence and courage to pursue techniques that I would otherwise be intimidated by.

Q - Your embroidered pieces range from detailed birds and flowers to more abstract art. When you’re beginning a new embroidered piece, do you have a pretty clear idea of what you want to do, or does the concept develop and change as you stitch?

A - When beginning a new embroidery piece, sometimes I know exactly what I want the outcome to be, like in my floral or thread painted pieces. Other times, I just want to play with different stitches in a free-style format.

Q - I’ve noticed that you often take doodles, paintings and colorways from your art journals and use them as inspiration for your abstract embroidery art. Tell me a bit about your process for these pieces.

A - I love to go back through my old art journals and find something that inspires me. It could be a color palette I’ve used or a set of marks or shapes. It’s a great way to start because I’ve already explored a bit with the design elements and colors, so I use that as a springboard for new work in stitches, allowing myself the permission to re-use what I want and/or re-work something I did previously in paint.

Q - What’s your favorite thing about creating abstract embroidery art?

A - Creating abstract embroidery art is, for me, a very intuitive process and I love that. It becomes almost a puzzle or a riddle I must solve (design wise). So, I enjoy the challenge aspect of it the most.

Q - Do you sell all of the embroidery you create, or is some of it just for your own enjoyment? Where can we buy your creations?

A - I have most of my embroidery pieces available for purchase and also have a small private collection I keep just for me. Currently, I only sell from Instagram @dianeescottart, and can be reached through direct message regarding purchase info.