Featured Artist - Maree Liddington
In this interview, we speak with Maree, a dedicated fibre artist whose practice has been shaped by continual learning, adapting new skills into her practice, and the landscapes of Taranaki that inspire her work.
I took up handweaving when I gave up full time work and was looking for a new hobby that would not only be mentally stimulating and challenging but a useful skill also. I have been weaving for over 40years now and still find I am learning new skills.
Membership of Creative Fibre NZ has meant I have had opportunities to attend workshops and network with like-minded people all over NZ. A Design Course by correspondence organised by CFNZ helped develop my drawing skills and composition.
My big love is Tapestry weaving which totally absorbs the artist from design to execution. I work on a Mecchia Floor loom or simple frame loom for smaller pieces.
Several years ago, I attended a week-long tapestry weaving workshop with World renowned Peruvian weaver Maximo Laura. Maximo's techniques bring more texture into tapestry. Multiple threads are used to get colour shading; knotting and wrapping are used. His course was intense and the challenge has been to adapt this into my work.
Another new influence has been a workshop on Saori ( Japanese freestyle weaving). This is almost the complete opposite to tapestry which is very exact. The two techniques meld quite well for me.
I also ‘dabble’ in felting both wet felting and needle felting, just for ‘fun’ and a break from the intense nature of weaving.
I am greatly influenced and inspired by my environment and travel. I travel with a camera handy and also a sketch book.
Living in Taranaki with the bush, mountain, and coastal vistas, the inspiration is all around.
Maree has a lovely variety of work for sale in Percy's Place from wall-hangings to winter warming scarves. Here is a selection: