Anne Haley, a well-known local artist and member of Combine Art Collective, will present a new body of work in her July exhibit “improv.”

Haley says she loves printmaking because it is a tactile, hands-on experience. She revels in the thrill of the “reveal” as paper is lifted from the plate and enjoys the problem-solving required to plan each successive step.

A former quilter, Haley draws inspiration for her current body of work from improvisational quilting, a process that embraces freedom from design rules, boundaries, and predetermined intentions. The composition emerges organically as the quilt is made. Similarly, Haley’s watercolors and prints begin with the French Curve ruler template traditionally used in sewing pattern design. The placement of color and the layering of shapes create unexpected hues and forms, making each piece an improvisational exploration.