Darlene Ratte has lived in the town of Newport Center in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont for over twenty years.

Her passion for color has been a thread that has been woven through her life since her earliest memories of the biggest crayon box available, coloring books, and a never ending supply of drawing paper. The thread of color continued through Darlene’s life with pastels and other venues and then into the myriad colors of dyes which she mixes to dye fibers for hand spinning and needle felting. Darlene has been dying, spinning, and selling yarns, fibers, and finished goods for over 25 years. She has won many competitions and her yarns have been purchased by people in just about every state, plus Europe, Asia, and Australia.

Darlene’s love of color and nature came full circle when once again she decided to pursue painting. She works in many artistic mediums, however, pastels and needle felting are Darlene’s true loves and she is happiest when working with them. Spectacular sunsets, sunrises, and clouds play an important part of this drama. The color and emotions inspired by the ever-changing seasons and play of light found in the Northeast Kingdom never ceases to amaze her.

As a member of the Northern Vermont Artists Association her work has been shown in the Bryan Memorial Juried Art Show. She is also a member Vermont Pastel Society and Memphremagog Arts Collaborative in Newport. Darlene and her husband, Norm, are members of the Wooden Horse Arts Guild and enjoy participating in their events. They also participate in many Sheep and Wool Festivals throughout New England.


Email: ratte@woodenhorsearts.com