top of page
painting.jpeg

Welcome to My Website

I live in Vancouver, Canada where my creative practice includes drawing, oil painting and textile arts. My work is deeply rooted in the observation of the natural world, the interplay of light and colour found within my own garden and the coastal landscapes of British Columbia. This fascination with chromatic depth serves as a bridge between my atmospheric canvases and my intricate fibre works. 

 

My oil paintings employ an impressionistic approach to capture the shifting weather of the Pacific Northwest. My compositions often explore the contradictions of light—bursts of sunshine against dark waters or the seasonal transformations I witness in my garden. These works translate the fleeting qualities of the atmosphere into enduring visual narratives on canvas. 

 

My textile practice is defined by a rigorous engagement with traditional techniques and sustainable materials. Following advanced studies in textile arts at Capilano University and specialized training in Japan, I utilize ancient Shibori resist methods and natural dyes such as Madder, Indigo, and Logwood. Working with merino wool, silk, and linen, I create complex patterns that reflect a commitment to environmentally conscious craftsmanship. 

 

A graduate of Emily Carr College of Art and Design, my career includes six years spent in Paris teaching design and colour. My work has been exhibited in Canada, France and Japan.

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
IMG_6095-2000x1500.jpg

Textiles

My wearable art, handmade one of a kind pieces, are created using 100% natural fabrics~ Silk, Merino Wool, Linen, Cotton. The natural dyes I use are a sustainable way of creating colours on cloth. Indigo, Madder, Logwood, Weld, Lac, Persimmon, Cochineal, Myrobalan.

Watching colours change and emerge from a dye bath is a magical experience. ​To create the patterns on my scarves I use various Shibori resist techniques that I learned while studying in Japan. I love the surprise and wonder each time I unfold a piece of Shibori, whether it has been folded, stitched or clamped.​

My travels in Japan and India awakened my love of traditional craftsmanship. Slow fashion~ using natural fabrics and dyes~ has a minimal impact on our environment. We are becoming more and more aware of the damage to our planet of mass production and chemical dyes.​

My background in the Visual Arts as a painter leads me to approach each of my scarves as I would an abstract painting.​

You can purchase my scarves ~ wool, silk, linen and cotton~ dyed with natural dyes on Etsy.​

My scarves are also for sale at: Circle Craft, 1666 Johnston Street, Granville Island, Vancouver ​​More of my work can be seen at www.marydowne.com

Hydrangeas

Tulips

© 2025 by Mary Downe

bottom of page