Author Archives: mollywilliams551

About mollywilliams551

Textile artist and designer specialising in 3D felt art - figurative sculptures, vessels and handmade felt accessories. I have an interest in Ottoman history. I create colourful hand drawn designs inspired by the arts and crafts of the Ottoman Empire. I am a Reflexologist MAR practicing locally in the Crowborough, East Sussex area.

Creating an online course

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I’ve been designing an online course for several months and it is finally published and I have lovely, talented students from several parts of the world working through it.

It has been a BIG learning journey for me and one I have really enjoyed.

There has been much to figure out when it comes to:

  • Setting up my studio

Small desk set up for close work

  • Lighting
  • Videoing
  • Recording and editing
  • Audio presentations
  • Screen shots and video
  • AND First – finding the right Online Platform for me!

Large table set up

So….. I thought I would write a course about how I went about setting up mine and how I got round the problems I encountered along the way.

A point though – all the online course platform sites have their own excellent, and free, courses on ‘How to create your online course’. These are very good and will get you on your way. However there were lots of things I had to figure for myself…..

….for example:

When I filmed my first videos, on my iPhone, I could not see what I was filming – hence very often my hands migrated off the screen mid-demonstration! I discovered Mirroring Apps that let me view my video, on my Mac screen, while the iPhone did the actual filming – I could literally keep an eye on what I was doing! Eureka moment!

I’m hoping this course will help others, especially non-techie artists and craftsmen like me, to create their own online workshops and teach the world their amazing skills.

Would value some feedback!

I’ll post my views about the Course Platforms I have researched..

 

2019 Review

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I have been looking back at the year, as I go through my accounts and plans for 2020. It’s been a significant year for my art practice, taking me on a different and very exciting path!

Felt bowl workshop Mayfield School – March

 

Experiment – Raku fired clay and fabric sculptures – April

 

Prism at Hoxton Arches May 29th – 9th June

 

Felt bowl workshop at Lillstreet Chicago USA – August

 

Felt sculpture workshop in Tampa USA – August

 

Felters Fling USA 2019 – August

 

Prism at the RBSA Gallery, Birmingham UK – October 8th – 19th

 

Online course – Contemporary Dancer – a new venture! January 17th – 28th February 2020

 

…..and the next course I’m working on

It’s been a fantastic a year and I have met wonderful artists and felters along the way. I am looking forward to 2020 with new courses in mind, sharing a studio during the South East Open Studios, possible exhibition in Kuwait and workshop in the Netherlands and a big family wedding!!

 

 

 

 

Why did I start? Where am I now!

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I have been making these figurative wet felted sculptures for over 10 years and people often ask me when, why and how, I started to make them – not the easiest question really!

Several thoughts though –

  • I have worked figuratively since about 2005 and the first sculpture I made was for the final show of  my BA Embroidered Textiles 2008. She is now a feature in my garden and it’s amazing how long she has endured through weather all year round!
  • If I hadn’t discovered wool fibres and felting I would work in clay – I love to mould and sculpt and shape and use the energy of my hands.
  • I had an idea to see if I could mould the wool fibres as I would clay – and it worked!!

I have shown my figures at Prism and SDC exhibitions in London and Birmingham and have sold them in local galleries.

This year I made ceramic and mixed-media figures for the first time!

RBSA Prism 2019

Then, out of the blue…..

I was asked to teach at Felters Fling 2019 – I had a wonderful time and met amazing felters and friends – and I realised that what I am doing, with wet felt sculpture, is very different and of interest as a new technique.

So….I am embarking on another new venture, to teach online! It’s been a huge learning curve for me and I have had a lot of fun finding out and mastering many skills and processes:

  • Studio lighting
  • Filming
  • Talking and making at the same time!!!
  • Editing videos
  • Creating written content and illustrating handouts and worksheets
  • Finding the best course platforms and learning how it all works
  • Classroom discussion forums
  • Selling and marketing

…and I have had a great group off Felter’s Flingers to trial the course with me –  their advice and encouragement has been invaluable! Thank you, thank you xxxx

Maybe you’ll join me?

Contemporary Dancer Online Workshop

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My new 5 week online workshop

Contemporary Dancer – A Unique Felt Sculpture

Friday 17th January till Friday 21st February 2020

Registration for the course is open!

 

This is an exciting online workshop where you will make a free standing figure 20″/50cm tall. You will learn a new, energetic wet felted process that has similarities to clay sculpting and can be easily adapted to make any shape or form. 

The course is suitable for intermediate felt makers and will include simple hand sewing techniques. 

The online classroom is hosted on RUZUKU – each lesson contains multiple videos, presentations and downloadable course information and worksheets to show you, step-by-step, exactly what to do in a simple, clear format.

I am so excited to have developed this course and hope you will join me in January!!

Be on the first course……

Head over to my workshop page for more information:

New online course: Contemporary Dancer – a Unique Felt Sculpture

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My New Online Course coming soon!

Contemporary Dancer – a Unique Felt Sculpture

Watch this space and please contact me if you would like to learn more about it and when, and where, to sign up!

Registration begins on Friday 6th December 2019
The online course goes live on Friday January 24th 2020

molly williams felt sculture online course 2010

This is an exciting 5 week online workshop that teaches you how to create a unique, figurative sculpture using wool fibres on a wire armature.

Each figure stands about 20″ / 50cm tall and is free standing on a small plinth.

Weekly lessons have presentations, videos and downloadable worksheets to show you step-by-step exactly what to do in a simple, clear format.

The process includes wet felting and has similarities to clay sculpting.

Practical lessons include drawing and research tasks that look at the anatomy of the body and movement in dance.

There is a Discussion Forum where you can chat to me and to fellow students and ask questions about the lesson content.

It’s amazing! – join me for the 5 week online week course and learn how to make your own fabulous dancer, full of movement and energy!

I will post more information about the course during the next few weeks!

Please contact me if you would like to join my emailing list to be notified as soon as registration opens.

 

My 30 Day Challenge 2019

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A 30 Day creative challenge for myself starting Friday 31st May 2019.

  1. Create a new piece of art every day
  2. 30 minutes minimum
  3. Drawing, painting, sculpture
  4. Try new materials – recycled, acrylic and oil paint, fabrics, wood, metal, concrete, paverpol, plaster, collage, 2D and 3D.
  5. Log daily with images and text
  6. Daily instagram and FB

Day 1- 31 May

Decorative felt for a bag.

Added a lot of fabric and wool and then finished with free machine embroidery – this was for a bag however the felt was too thick to attach to the purse fixing and will use it to make a pouch bag with a clip closure.