My work in fiber, textiles and paint is a play of texture, pattern, and colour. And play I do, drawing inspiration from traditional designs across cultures, from nature, and from the everyday objects of whimsy that share my studio space.

My love of paper and cloth, both fibers at their inception, comes naturally.  Dad was a pressman for the Edmonton Journal, and paper — especially endless rolls of newsprint — was omnipresent in our lives. Mom, a Ukrainian farmer’s daughter, sewed clothes, curtains, bags and costumes, using fabrics that were rich, lush, sturdy, playful and patterned.

Papers and fabrics, textures and designs, colour and pattern: have all left an imprint on my work. I make cloth, be it woven, felted, knit, or crocheted, as well as embellish cloth, by stitching, needlefelting, beading, etc. I also paint: on paper, on eggs (Ukrainian pysanky), on cloth. And sometimes I mix it all up, through collage or painted weavings.

Much of my work demands a slow and tactile process, allowing me to create are at a pace that invites contemplation and musing — a magical meditation, really, as I am deeply moved by the sense of touch.

Two years of study at the New Brunswick College of Craft and Design (Foundation Visual Arts and one year in textiles), along with many workshops in many media and extensive travel, have also greatly influenced my work. After living in Edmonton, Quebec City, Barcelona, Montreal, and Argentina, I am happy to call Saint John, New Brunswick, home.

All images are the property of Deborah Payne Designs. Please contact Deborah Payne if you wish to use an image.