In a unique relationship between two artists and two media, a single story is told.

Sanna Rahola and Douglas Drdul create uniquely inspired pieces that combine their individual mastery of medium into a singular artistic vision.

Each of Sanna’s fibre art pieces is made with handmade felt, her images formed by alternating layers of carded wool. As a painter works layers of paint, Sanna layers her hand-dyed fibres, accentuating them with other raw fibres, like silk and linen, that reflect light and add additional depth and texture. 

Complementing Sanna’s fibre art are Douglas’s exquisitely carved panels. Working with Black Walnut, Birch, Limewood, and more, his carvings reveal a sophisticated play of depth and shadow that accentuates the unique character of the material. 

Their process is both controlled and inquisitive. Once a direction for a piece has been agreed upon, it is Douglas who first begins the journey of realizing the work. His hand-carved elements are completed before Sanna starts her own artistic exploration. Their command of material and structure blend together to create a unique and harmonious work of art.

Sanna Rahola

Sanna was born in Finland and, as a young child, quickly became familiar with the vernacular of weaving. She used tapestry weaving as her vehicle of expression until she learned how to felt. It was like weaving without the mechanical—imagination, perpendicular layers of unspun fibres, and her hands.

After studying the pliancy and subtlety of wool felting, Sanna developed a unique ability to ‘paint’ with fibre. Vividly coloured and deftly rendered, her images are sometimes mistaken for pastel or paint, further underlining her virtuosity as a textile artist. 

Douglas Drdul

Born in Canada, Douglas moved to Nova Scotia where he designed and built stringed musical instruments. His artistry as an instrument maker eventually led to a collaboration with Sanna. He first made frames that complimented her tapestries, but now his frames and carved wooden panels are integrated completely with Sanna’s felt pieces. 

Douglas Drdul studied and trained with Finnish master wood carver Oiva Kentte at the Seinajoki Kasi Ja Taideteollisuusoppilaitos, Jurva, Finland. He has shared his expertise through demonstrations such as ‘Decorative Carving’ at the Seinajoki Trade and Convention Center, Seinajoki, Finland.