For fiber artist Lorraine Turner, the success of her work has come faster than most other artists. In less than three years, her work has garnered international acclaim and created an immense following. Perhaps, it can be attributed to her artwork’s intangible meaning and inspiration that she applies to each piece.
Turner said in a recent interview that she gets her ideas while spending time meditating. During those meditation sessions, the images of wild animals, like calico horses, lions, and tigers have flashed vividly in her mind.
In the following video, Turner talks about the realization of how her work has touched the hearts of others while helping distressed animals.
Turner will be speaking at the Sterling Society’s Coffee & Conversation event at noon on Oct. 11th. She will also be conducting two workshops W-FB801 – Fabric Collage with Customized Texture and W-FB800 – Beginner’s Fabric Collage with Lorraine Turner from Oct. 22 – 24.
Video Transcript
Improving with Each Art Piece
That’s the whole thing though. I wanted to learn this craft. And, each one I did, the learning experience, I was able to put it into the next one even better. I mean. I just really did. It got stronger. I think that’s with most of the things. I don’t care if it’s cooking. The more you apply yourself to this, the better you’re gonna be.
Helping Endangered Animals Worldwide
For the majority of my work, the profits go to endangered animals. So, I have organizations that I work with all around the world. So, it’s funny when I’m telling my husband what I’m doing.
He goes, “Ah, this one’s going to the wolves?’ “This is going to the Wolf Federation?”
I’m like, “Yes.”
“How about this one? Snow lions?”
“Oh yeah, that’s going to the World Federation of Snow Lions.”
Reaching Children Through Artwork
I believe. Also, I worked with a lot of children. I’ve taken a lot of time to give free art lessons. I give free watercolor lessons. And, I speak to Native Americans. I go into reservations. Gone into schools. I’ve gone into all different organizations and communities around this world. I’ve gone internationally.
Because I believe that the children are the future ambassadors of this planet. And, I care deeply about animals and the animal kingdom, human beings, humanitarian. You know, I just really do care. I work on children. I work with children. I offer them solutions and different opportunities so that they can think and rise above whatever the situation they find themselves in.
I believe that if you can reach one child, you can reach 10. Reach the world.
Discovering Artwork's Intangible Meaning
Touching my heart very deeply. Give me a minute here. I’m thinking of one woman in particular. She was an amazing woman. She was a person that rescued many animals and just opened her home. And, she purchased a white lion painting I did to help the white lions because of her heart.
And, she was just this person that was umm a huge light that just helped so many. She sent me the picture and told me it was in a special spot in her home. She showed it to me. I just remember the first time I looked at that.
Here I was just designing these… I don’t know. I thought my artwork was. I thought it was nice and I was happy about it. But, when I realized what it meant. It was her connection for almost like a reward to herself that she had a piece of my art in her home to always remind her of the work that she’s doing. It symbolized something for her.
That really touched me deeply and it was when I started to understand that my work was almost like a healing for some people. It was really helping them. She needed a little something for her and she chose my art. So, I thought that was incredible.
Just got an email last night from an 80-year-old woman thanking me for the work that I’ve been doing and for the information I’ve shared. She feels that she is going to be able to try and reproduce a painting her husband gave her. And, she wants to do it in textiles now that she’s seen my work and seen my how-to.
She said to me ‘Lorraine, you’ve taught me I’m never too old to learn.’
That! You can’t get a blue ribbon or a paycheck to match that!
That is gold!
Lorraine Turner