"I can't paint a straight line to save my life," said local artist Traci Alvelo whose work is currently being displayed and sold on-line and in Raleigh.
Alvelo specializes in painting quilt block patterns. She realized that when she paints the stitches of a quilt block the imperfection of the lines actually adds to the visual interest of the piece by mimicking the movement of fabric.
Alvelo has been painting and doing arts and craft work her entire life. "When I was in college I made life size replicas of 'The Simpson' characters for my friends' dorm rooms."
The quilt paintings are done in acrylics and mixed media, including origami and scrapbook paper as well as various fabrics. She works on a variety of materials including canvas, metal and wood.
"I've bought used canvases for a quarter at a yard sales and repurposed them," she said. "I will paint on anything."
Her inspiration comes from quilting resources, her imagination, and from the clients themselves. "A lady asked me to do cupcakes for a little girl's room," she said. "I've done a series of them now."
Many of the designs have a whimsical, folk art theme like dogs cut from quilting fabrics decoupaged to the canvas and finished with a painted border. Other painting draws more directly from traditional quilt block design. Currently Alvelo is working on a fan quilt block that she is producing in Japanese rice paper on canvas.
"My pieces have been sold nationwide," Alvelo said. She has had interest in her work from overseas clients and hopes to begin shipping worldwide soon. "It's been very successful," she said.
The Raleigh coffee chain Joe Van Loco discovered Alvelo on her Etsy site and chose her as the first artist they are displaying at their new location at 8369 Creedmoor Road.
Alvelo plans to show her work at the Creedmoor location for six months and then hopes to display and sell her work at another Joe Van Loco location.
She is also working to get representation as a participant in First Friday Gallery Walk in downtown Raleigh.
Alvelo, her husband and four sons moved to Clayton four years ago after her husband got a teaching job in Raleigh. Prior to relocating she was a dorm parent and director of summer programs for a school in Boston.
"After working as a dorm parent I run a pretty tight ship," she says of finding time to take care of four boys and maintain a successful home-based business.
Her work can be seen online at etsy.com/shop/alveloquiltart.
