Laurie McRae
I am an oil painter and fibre artist. I love the challenge of painting a variety of subjects (landscapes, animal & people portraits, abstracts and still life, etc.); whatever inspires me at the moment. My fibre work crosses the boundaries of fine art, textile design and craft. I “paint with wool and other textiles" creating highly textured animal portraits, bold and colourful landscapes, florals and abstracts. My fibre paintings include hooked and needle felted pieces- many incorporating both techniques.
Each hooked painting is a creative journey of letting the textiles colour and texture dictate the final visual effects in my designs. Like my early forbearers who hooked rugs, I incorporate many recycled clothing and materials into my pieces, deconstructing and cutting them into strips either by hand or using a cloth strip cutter. Materials include everything from velvet ribbons, metallic threads, jerseys, silks, nylons, wool yarn, wool rovings and wool cloth strips. I work on fine linen backing employing different rug hooking styles; realistic and traditional, Waldoboro (high pile that is cut) and Grenfell (nylons and silk hooked in straight lines). Originally from Toronto I have lived in Prince Edward County since 2002. I have studied under several different artists and teachers. I painted at the Unionville Art Gallery and the renowned Fred Varley Art Gallery also located in Unionville, Ontario.
