Who is Gloria Loughman?
I live by the sea, on the beautiful Bellarine Peninsula, in Victoria, Australia. Married with three daughters and nine grandchildren, I am a trained secondary teacher having worked mainly in the literacy and special education faculties. My initiation into the world of patchwork occurred nearly 30 years ago when I was recovering from a course of chemotherapy for breast cancer.
After completing some studies in design and colour as part of a Diploma of Art in 1996, I began to make my large vivid landscape quilts depicting the Australian bush. Having the opportunity to travel to many unique and fascinating parts of our continent, I am continually challenged to reproduce these images in fabric. Most of the textiles used have been hand dyed or painted and feature extensive machine embroidery. These quilts have won many major awards in Australia, Europe, Japan and the United States. My quilt ‘Kimberley Mystique’ was the winner of Australia’s most prestigious national quilting award in 2003.
Travelling extensively, with my husband Tony, a very keen and talented photographer, I am never short of inspiration for my work. In more recent times, my landscapes have become more abstract as I have played with pattern and colour. My series of quilts based on buildings and other facades is a result of a love of architecture and our opportunity to travel and explore, photographing many fascinating buildings. Underlying all my work is a passion for colour and the ongoing challenge to capture light in my work.
I have been teaching patchwork classes for many years and I really enjoy sharing my knowledge and skills with others. I like to challenge my students to design their own quilts but I am also happy to provide patterns for those less confident. My classes have proved to be very popular with lots of students coming back for a second or third class. I have taught extensively in Australia and in more than 20 countries overseas. My commitment to teaching was acknowledged when I received the Rajah award in 2009, which is awarded for 'an outstanding contribution to Australian quilt making.'
I have had a number of solo exhibitions, including two invitations to have a gallery at the prestigious NEC Show in Birmingham, UK.
I have written four books, Luminous Landscapes, Quilted Symphony, Radiant landscapes and Fabulous Facades. This latest book ,published by C&T and based on architecture, is due to be released in August, 2017.
So what began as a therapy has developed into a passion and has given me the opportunity to travel the world exhibiting my quilts, teaching classes and meeting lots of wonderful people.
