Alison Arens
Maplewood, Minnesota
Tell us a little bit about who you are and what you do:
Alison Arens
I'm an artist and parent working in the Saint Paul area here in Minnesota. For most of my career I worked in special education, focusing on crisis intervention and de-escalation. I learned to embroider as a child, then focused on printmaking and watercolor as I got older. Once I had children I found embroidery to be much more portable and easier to keep away from the kids. As I've developed my style, I've been able to incorporate some printmaking and watercolor into my fiber work as well.
What is your signature style / item? How did it become so?
My signature style is inspired by visible mending. I combine black and white embroidered line work with colorful fabric collage, hundreds of tiny stitches, and traditional embroidery techniques to produce unique work.
Photo Courtesy: Alison Arens
What makes your business unique to the industry?
I rarely incorporate text or traditional embroidery stitches in my work. My subject matter tends toward surrealism and fantasy, so combined with sketchy line work and fabric collage it has a different look and feel than most embroidery. Embroidery is all about texture, but I achieve my texture changes with appliqué, running stitch, and watercolor rather than standard stitches.
What's been your biggest roadblock when it comes to business and how have you been able to overcome?
Pricing is very difficult for embroidery. Everyone would like to have low cost pieces to make it more accessible to everyone, but the truth is that needle work takes time, a lot of it. It can take upwards of ten hours to produce a single piece. I've had to learn to value my own work. I've learned that eventually, many of my pieces speak to someone, and go to the home they're meant to be in.
How has your business had to adapt amidst the Covid-19 Pandemic? What are you doing to navigate the situation?
Because my subject matter and style are so unusual, I participate in only a few big shows per year. With Covid-19, I haven't had a single show in 2020, the art exhibit I was participating in opened the week the lock down started, and it's unlikely there will be any other shows this year. I've been focusing on refining my techniques, participating in fundraisers for local non profits, and my online store.
What is your favorite part of what you do?
When I'm making work, I love the moment when I remove all of my guidelines from the piece and finally see it complete. The work is always so much sharper! At shows, I am delighted when someone finds a piece that "speaks" to them, it's like each piece just has the right person waiting for it.
What is your *must do* local activity?
Mojo Monkey donuts is my happy place. Since Covid they've been offering donut delivery, they're just the best.
Where to find Alison Arens:
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/alisonarensstitches
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Alisonarensstitches