The Artist
Patti was raised on a farm in the mid-west surrounded by creative people. An uncle was an original animator for Walt Disney. A cousin painted murals in NYC (one is still at La Guardia Airport). Both her mother and father are artists and have seen their daughter carry on the family tradition.
After high school, Patti studied art at Biola University in the Los Angeles area. While working as a fight attendant in Phoenix and in Japan she studied under various masters. After painting portraits for several years she began experimenting with fibers. Having two daughters helped her focus more on the human figure in cloth.
Patti retired from the airline industry in 1996 which has allowed more time to follow her artistic dream. Her husband is a published author. After 31 years as a TV news anchor he currently works as a Media and Communications Director for one of San Diego's County Board of Supervisors. Both of their daughters are grown and they now have a granddaughter. See the Newsletter archives for more updates on the family.
Today, Patti combines her love of fabric and dyes by creating beautiful cloth dolls and journals. She has developed her own technique in beadwork and many of her pieces show this. In addition to the above she has a full line of cloth doll and journal patterns.
In demand as a teacher, Patti travels throughout the world. (Please see the class schedule for more info?)
Culea's work has been featured in magazines and books, for example:
Magazines:
Quilting Arts (US),
Cloth Paper Scissors (US),
Soft Dolls and Animals (US),
Art Doll Quarterly (US),
Dolls, Bears & Collectibles (Australia)
Dolls and Stitch (UK)
Books:
Anatomy of the Doll and Finishing the Doll by Suzanna Oroyan
Creative Cloth Doll Making, by Patti
Creative Cloth Doll Making and Creative Cloth Doll Faces, by Patti
Creative Cloth Doll Courture, by Patti
Creative Cloth Doll Beading, by Patti
Creative Cloth Doll Collection, by Patti
Cloth Doll Workshop, by Patti with elinor peace bailey and Barbara Willis