To construct her elegant and intricate works, North Carolina weaver Patti Quinn Hill uses traditional basketry techniques and a non-traditional material: painted archival paper.
Artist: Born in New Orleans, Hill grew up in nearby Metairie, where her mother and grandmother taught her needlework and sewing skills.
Company/studio: Patti Quinn Hill is based in Weaverville, NC. The artist, who started making baskets in 1986, works in a studio on a rural farm that she shares with her husband and numerous farm animals in the Appalachian Mountains.
In the beginning: After moving to North Carolina from New Orleans, Hill took numerous craft classes in different mediums as well as basket classes at the local community college. Hill also attended workshops, where she learned traditional basketry techniques.
Along the way, she joined the Blue Ridge Basketmakers, North Carolina Basketmakers Association and National Basketry Organization (NBO).
Art & materials: Vessels woven of heavy cotton archival paper that are painted on both sides, textured and cut into strips to weave the vessels. Materials include watercolor paper, acrylic paint, wood, metallic thread, metal leaf and Japanese washi paper.
“The medium of paper empowers me to explore and have fun with technique, structure, color, and detail, while the curls give emphasis to movement, texture, and dimension,” said Hill.
What’s popular: The Midas Touch Vessel in various sizes ($850 to $3,500 each).
Other favorites: Vessels, including Sunbeam ($1,600 to $4,500) and Luminosity ($850 to $4,500).
Process: Draws on traditional basket-making techniques. For example:
- Baskets with raised feet are inspired by Shaker basket forms.
- Baskets with wooden bases are similar to the Nantucket Lightship basket construction.
- Baskets with curls are a Native American technique. The curls add movement, texture, and dimension.
“Basket making is meditative, relaxing, and has a rhythm that I find pleasurable,” said Hill.
Favorite tools: Micro clips, utility knife, weaving stand and Rigby cloth cutter. Also “anything that my husband invents for my work that makes my life easier. He does this often.”
Inspirations: Color from nature, animals, textiles, ethnic prints, contemporary weavings, clothing and her mountain surroundings.
Recent award: “Most Elegant” award for the last three years from the NBO’s “Every 1 Exhibition.”
Recent project: A three-artist show called “Color in Motion” at Blue Spiral 1, a fine arts and craft gallery in Asheville.
What’s next: A solo show at Blue Spiral 1 in May 2025.
Where to buy: Contact the artist at pattiquinnhill.com or through bluespiral1.com.
