Conversations with Deeann Rieves

Today we’d like to introduce you to Deeann Rieves.

Hi Deeann, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I went to Memphis College of Art where I was a painting major but took many fiber arts classes. I worked more traditionally in painting but in my fiber classes I got a feel for abstracts while working with the fabrics, dyes and threads. A few years after graduation, I wanted to do an abstract series and felt like I couldn’t think abstract with paint, but I could with thread. So my work leaned more into fiber art for a couple of years— with holes in the canvas and embroidery stretching across, fabric and lace breaking the edge of the canvas and thread spilling onto the floor. I was missing the paint element and was experimenting in the studio with some papers and realized I could stitch on painted papers and use them as collage. I slowly married the two techniques into the style I use today— mixed media painting with machine embroidery weaving in and out of the painted forms.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
There are definitely ups and downs when you’re a self employed entrepreneur, but I love that with art things can be fluid. There are seasons where I make new collections and paint so much I’m dreaming of colors. Then there are seasons where i show up in the studio and only have enough in me to work on a custom order or the next deadline, then disappear into a good book. I know the spark will come back and that once again my studio will be filled with so many paintings I can barely walk around. (I work flat so when they are in progress, they fill the floor up fast.)

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
People recognize my work because of the stitching. I’ve been adding free-motion machine embroidery to my paintings on paper and canvas for 15 years now. Even though my work has slowly evolved over that time, the stitching is unique enough that people recognize my work. For most of that time I worked abstract in this style, but about 6 years ago, I branched out and began to introduce florals, landscapes and figurative work with the same style and stitching. This was a big step for me and I have loved the challenge of keeping my style consistent but figuring out unique ways to incorporate the stitching in each series.

We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
I will say that I think my generation came into our professional careers at exactly the right time. I had a few years after college to really paint paint paint and figure out my style, which really is the most important thing. Then with perfect timing, Instagram became a huge platform for artists. I began to share what I was doing and gain a following there with ease because of the timing and how the app felt back then. (This was in 2015). Also around this time, having your own website with a shop feature became a thing. I used squarespace to set up a new website with the shop feature and that was the beginning of really selling my work myself through Instagram and squarespace being introduced right at the right time. I have noticed SO many entrepreneurs who are exactly my age (40) and we all came up into our businesses around the same time and I think the timing of technology and phones helped with that— getting our art in front of people and then into their hands.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://deeannrieves.com
• Instagram: @deeannrieves