Super excited to be teaching my first workshop of 2026 online on February 7th! Hope you can join me and @craftymonkies.bsky.social

www.craftymonkies.com/event-detail...

Poster advertising thread painting zoom workshop on February 7, 2026

I’m super excited to announce a new workshop with @craftymonkies.bsky.social: Learn thread painting with me in 2026! Grab your spot soon, as my last workshop sold out. 💥

www.craftymonkies.com/live-zoom-wo...

Ink drawing on paper of David Bowie as Ziggy Stardust, with a golden circle on his forehead.

I’m particularly satisfied of this ink drawing I did of David Bowie. I couldn’t resist adding some copper watercolor to his forehead. This one is currently en route to his new home. 💖 #artsky #bowie

Ink drawing of Bill Nighy with a quizzical expression

Bill Nighy, amirite? (He’s a delight)

8” x 8” x 1.5” canvas artwork in a wooden floater frame. The artwork is created by first painting on raw canvas, and then stitching a drawing using a sewing machine and black cotton thread. Loose black threads are purposely visible across the canvas. This image is a thread sketch of a 1920s flapper woman, looking confidently over her shoulder, and holding a fur accessory, and wearing an extra long pearl necklace wrapped several times around her neck and back. The canvas is painted abstractly with a triangular patch of lime green and a small square of muted red-violet.

Listening to my kid’s tv show, I misheard “heroes of the day” as “here is a bidet,” and I realized: they’re totally interchangeable.

Slide one into your conversations today. 🤘

Including an image of a thread portrait I made for eye candy.

#artsky

Framed square portrait of Kate Bush, created from mixed media (acrylic paint and cotton thread). The canvas is framed in a natural wood floater frame, and is shown against a neutral wall.

Detail of thread portrait of Kate Bush

I recently created this work, honouring the inimitable Kate Bush. She’s an incredible artist, pioneer, and someone I respect for doing things her own way.

Do you have a favourite Kate Bush song?

I created a little video of one of my latest artworks coming together. This, and a few more will be arriving on my website soon.

As always, I’m celebrating the weirdos, sh!t disturbers and makers of good trouble.💥

#artsky #textileart #mixedmediaart #artcollecting

A work-in-progress rests near a sewing machine in a dark studio lit by the machine’s light. The artwork is a portrait of a man stitched in black cotton thread on canvas. His hair and beard are painted purple and his glasses are pink.

Studio vibes at night.

#artsky #workinprogress

A little video I made of my latest portrait coming together. I love rebellious subjects, particularly women. This one is based on @gayesuakyol.bsky.social

Acrylic & cotton thread on canvas

#textileart #chicagoartist #mixedmediaart

Woman’s face stitched onto raw canvas. Her hair and cheeks are painted; her cheeks a lively blue-pink, and her hair and clothing aubergine, with red and teal flecks.

Closeup of stitched and painted portrait

Side angle showing canvas displayed in floater frame

I’m really proud of this painted and stitched portrait. The final size with frame is 13” x 13”. She’ll be coming with me to Talking Threads in Ames, IA opening Saturday 4pm at the Gallery in the Round.

A Normal Venusian, pt 2., 2025
Cotton, acrylic, polyester on wood frame

Portrait of Tina Turner singing, stitched onto raw canvas painted with orange and green

Side view of framed canvas

I made this piece on my birthday: a thread portrait of Tina Turner. This one is filled with birthday magic.

Yes I follow her! I love her work.

Sharing a super satisfying part of my process. 👌

This is a heat-erasable ink I use in my thread portraits.

#artsky #fiberart

@shanandtheclams.bsky.social

Portrait of Shanon Shaw stitched in thread

Working in a couple new thread sketches —here’s one of Shannon from Shannon & the Clams.

#artsky #quiltsky

Ink drawing on white paper of a disheveled David Bowie in clown makeup and attire, smoking a cigarette with a faraway look in his eye

I decided to draw a little bigger today. I normally sketch on an 8” x 8” sketchbook, but I decided to use a sheet of 12” x 16” paper.

Ink drawing of Shannon Shaw (of Shannon and the Clams and other projects)

@mallory-gallery.bsky.social

How’d I do?

Oh yes… she’d be totally awesome to do!

Tilda! She’d be a great subject. Totally into it.

Ahh all such amazing women! I actually had some reference photos of Tina Turner saved on my phone, so I think that’ll come up soon!

omg yes

This idea.

Thread sketch of Kim Gordon from Sonic Youth on hand-painted canvas

Side view

New thread sketch: the one and only Kim Gordon of Sonic Youth.

Who should I do next? Bonus points for badass women.

It’s true. The name may have even been my idea.

Quilted portrait of the artist Björk. She is portrayed in tones of yellow-green and purple, with her hands areas by her face in a playful manner. 3D triangles emanate from her fingers

Close up of the eyes, highlighting the stitching

Close up of background and a 3D stacked triangle

New work, new solo show

The Magician debuts at my new solo show, Talking Threads, at the Gallery in the Round in Ames, IA. Opening night is Aug 2, 4-6pm

My subject is the avant garde artist, Björk. My goal was to capture the playful, enigmatic spirit of one of the most singular artists of our time

Black thread portrait of man in glasses holding a microphone and wearing a pyramid hat. The portrait is stitched onto canvas, painted with a yellow triangle.

Stitched portrait of Mark Mothersbaugh from Devo.

Absolutely. I always need to be making something with my hands.

Thanks Bradley!

Damn right! Everyone loved him. I talk a bit about John Brown in one of the segments. (I think that segment doesn’t air until the Fall of 2026 though…)

Sarah and Susan Brubaker Knapp, host of QA TV, standing on set

Sarah with the producer and director on set, going over the flow of a segment

Sarah and Susan filming, with camera gear all around them

Four of Sarah’s pieces on the QA TV set

Excited to announce that I will be a guest on Quilting Arts TV, hitting PBS stations this Fall. We shot 3 segments this morning, and I can’t wait to share my tricks with you!

#quiltsky