Ana Sumner
Favorite Mediums:
Fiber Art
Fibers- painted with Watercolor, Acrylics, and oil pastels,
embroidery
silk ribbon
Ana Sumner
As a mixed media fiber artist, I am inspired by the natural world—landscapes of flowers, trees, and ocean reefs—and strive to capture their beauty through dimensional textile art. My work blends traditional fiber techniques with painting, creating richly textured scenes that reflect realism and depth.
My artistic journey began later in life, sparked by an invitation to “create from the imagination” during a Crazy Quilt workshop. Since then, I have developed a unique style that combines painted fabric backgrounds with silk ribbon embroidery, specialty threads, lace, beading, and thread painting. I add final highlights with watercolor pencils and oil pastels to enhance shading and form.
Through this fusion of media, I explore the interplay between texture, color, and light to evoke the vibrancy of nature. My goal is to invite viewers into an immersive experience, where the tactile qualities of fiber art bring natural scenes to life in unexpected ways.
Gallery
For interest in pieces available for purchase, please contact the artist directly
This textile artwork features a delicately handstitched hummingbird, brought to life with intricate threadwork that captures the motion and grace of its flight. Surrounding the bird is a lush garden of silk ribbon flowers, each petal carefully formed by hand to create a vibrant, three-dimensional effect. Subtle brushstrokes of paint enhance the composition, adding depth, texture.
This textile artwork captures a peaceful nature scene brought to life through intricate thread painting on the sewing machine. Majestic trees frame a calm pond, where a small boat rests beside a wooden dock, each detail stitched with careful precision. Hand-embroidered reeds gently rise along the water's edge, adding texture and depth. The surrounding grassland is skillfully felted, offering a soft, tactile contrast that enhances the organic beauty of the scene. Subtle brushstrokes of paint enhance the composition, adding depth, texture.
This intricate mixed-media textile piece brings the vibrant beauty of an underwater coral reef to life. Hand embroidery using a variety of traditional and contemporary stitches captures the delicate textures of coral formations in stunning detail. Painted lace and silk ribbons are skillfully arranged to depict flowing aquatic plants, adding depth and movement to the composition. The background fabric is hand-painted with acrylics, creating a rich, oceanic atmosphere that ties all elements together. A sculptural centerpiece—a molded and hand-painted fish—emerges from the scene, adding a striking three-dimensional focal point to the work. This piece is a celebration of marine life and textile artistry, blending painting, embroidery, and sculptural elements into a cohesive and immersive underwater landscape.
This textile artwork featuring a hand-painted backdrop of soft blue sky. Bursting with life, vibrant multicolored tulips are lovingly hand-stitched using fine silk ribbons in shades of purple and white. Nestled near a patch of lush green grass, a sweet baby bunny—carefully hand-embroidered in brown and white—adds a tender, whimsical touch. This piece beautifully captures the serenity and joy of spring through texture and color.
This textile artwork captures the warmth of a dusky sky, rendered in rich sunset hues, as it sets the backdrop to a lush, blooming garden. Handstitched silk ribbon flowers rise from the earth in vibrant detail, their petals full of life and texture. Delicate painted lace overlays enhance the floral tapestry, adding layers of depth and whimsy. Above it all, a silk-painted butterfly hovers gently—mid-flight—bringing motion and grace to this tranquil scene.
This textile artwork features a hand-painted backdrop of a luminous blue sky, against which hand-stitched silk ribbon sunflowers bloom in harmony. Subtle brushstrokes of paint enhance the composition, adding depth, texture.