Barbara Belle Sloan

Growing up in Chicago, Illinois, creativity was part of everyday life.  I have vivid  memories of asking my father to draw Mickey Mouse, or another Disney character--or anything else at all.  He was a natural artist albeit a colorblind one.  I like to think that I inherited my artistic talent from him.  Throughout childhood I was always drawing pictures, coloring, or making paper dolls.  In elementary school, my favorite assignments were the ones that included creating illustrations.  High school art introduced me to a wide array of processes: silk screen, linoleum printmaking, soap carving and copper enameling in addition to the usual drawing and painting.   In college I took classes in etching and ceramics but it was woodblock printing that captured my attention and the media to which I have devoted my talents.

I am fortunate to have been able to combine my printmaking skills with an interest in costumes and textiles.  A graduate degree in European costume history combined with museum experience in non-western clothing provided me a worldwide view of the history of dress.  Recent travel to Japan has influenced my most recent prints.