A fiber artist, painter, quilter and poet, Cindy Rinne describes herself as a mixed-media artist – “using just about everything that can be stitched on, from fused plastic bags to wire mesh,” she says. Rinne, who lives in San Bernardino, CA, likes tactile mediums and creates fabric collages that contrast opaque and transparent layers – borrowing inspiration from the outdoors. “The stitched edges are usually left raw, changing and unraveling like nature does,” she explains.“My collages are abstract with elements of narrative in the form of a figure, animals, branches, flowers or stones.”

Lately, she says, her poetry and her art have fused, with poems appearing as part of the artwork or presented with it. “Sometimes I draw and paint on my fiberart and add my poems by hand,” she says. “I still enjoy a paintbrush in my hand, drawing with India ink and hand embroidery.” Stressing the importance of networking, attending art shows and taking workshops, Rinne believes artists should keep an eye on what fellow artists are doing to draw inspiration. But they should also stay true to themselves, always. “Trends are changeable,” Rinne says. “Do what you love.”

Find Cindy Rinne on Facebook (Facebook.com/Fiberverse), Instagram (Instagram.com/Fiberverse), and her blog (Fiberverse.com).

(c) copyright Carlos Puma, courtesy of Dorothy Ramon Learning Center.

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