Hooking Painterly

What does it mean to hook painterly? This is an interesting question because it is not only about the way you hook but the way you approach the whole world of rug hooking. Hooking painterly means you are thinking a lot about the artistic merit of your work while still considering only the technical merits that matter to you. It is more about hooking freely than hooking perfectly.

When I first started rug hooking, I do not think that I was hooking in a painterly way. I was really focused on outlining and filling in. In a way, I was more interested in coloring than in painting. As a child, I colored happily for hours; sometimes still today when I hook rugs, it feels as if I am coloring, especially if I am doing a more graphic or color-block style of pattern. In this style of pattern, I often outline and fill in. It can be a very comforting way to hook. It is a way that many of us are used to.