Lorraine Roy

Born and raised in rural Southwestern Ontario, Canada, Lorraine developed an early appreciation for the land and its natural beauty. Her early introduction to fabric and sewing was the start a lifelong passion for textile art. A B.Sc. in Horticulture and subsequent studies on the biology, cultural relevance and mythology of trees are the source and inspiration for her current imagery. She now lives in the beautiful Niagara Escarpment Region near Dundas, Ontario. In her work, Lorraine draws upon her background in botanical science to create images that evoke our intimate connection with the natural world. Fabric is an ideal material for expressing and capturing the attributes of natural forms, and her techniques mirror processes which bring order to diverse and humble materials. Her intention is to arouse emotional connection by shining a warm light on Nature’s largely unseen forces. The biology, mythology and symbolism of trees, classic emblems of the communion of earth and spirit, are her main inspiration. About her process, Lorraine says: "I use fabric and thread in my work like painters use paint. After I’ve created a design on paper, I refer to it as a visual guide for laying cut and ripped fabric on a plain backing. Once the surface begins to resemble the drawing, the fabrics are pinned in place and sewn using the free motion option on my very old industrial sewing machine. The edges are left raw to better represent the attributes of nature, and I usually enhance them, and the entire surface, with extra stitching. Fabrics of all kinds make their way into my work: plain and printed cottons, silks, and synthetics. Each kind reflects light and texture in a different way. When the surface is finished, I can mount it in a wooden frame or stitch it as a quilted wall hanging.