Coming to the end of Louise Fletcher’s excellent, free, 7 day painting course – ‘Find Your Joy’.
I have have enjoyed it all so much however abstract painter I am not!
The 7 day process has made me work intuitively to plan colour and composition, and given me so many ideas to take into my next felt project.
All great colours that can be translated in wool and silk fibres and fabrics…..
I’ve always wanted to try to make a large piece of felt the traditional Mongolian way – by dragging a large roll of wool fibres, behind a horse, around the Steppes:
I love this film!
Anyway yesterday, with the advice of a fellow felter, Beth in New Zealand, I managed to make my prototype work – a roll of wool that rolled behind a ride on mower!
First, using a wool blanket in place of wool roving, I made my roll:
Next a tarpaulin to cover and protect
Attached to the mower with washing line ready to go!
Woohoo it works!!
Part 2 – the next thing is to do it for real, with wool fibres in place of the blanket.
Question: how long do I have to mow up and down till the wool fibres felt well?!
Hmmm….I hope to have the answer before too long.
I have only made the Contemplative Figures figures with natural, undyed fibres applied straight onto the form, unlike the Dancers that have a separately made decorative skin
I am playing with ideas for a colourful, textured skin for the larger figures.
Something like this perhaps?
Hmmm – an add-on for the Contemplative Figure course I think!
– where you will learn how to make a large contemplative sculpture using a wet felt method of sculpting.
These sculptures are inspired by the work of modern sculptors, such as Barbara Hepworth and Sir Henry Moore and others. You will have the opportunity to explore the work of these sculptors and, through a series of drawing exercises, create your own shapes.
The finished figure will measure about 16″/40cm – 20″/50cm in height, dependent on the shape and position.
This is an energetic process that involves manual shaping and felting, plus a sander and steamer to finish.
April 22nd – Welcome
April 24th – Week 1 An introduction to Sculpture
May 1st – Week 2 The Skeleton
May 8th – Week 3 The Musculature Part 1
May 15th – Week 4 The Musculature Part 2
May 22nd – Week 5 The Skin and Finishing
The Course is hosted by RUZUKU
Each weekly lesson is comprised of a range of activities to show you how to build your sculpture step-by-step. There are video instructions, text and images and downloadable worksheets for each activity.
Online teaching materials and resources are available to students for 6 months from the beginning of the class. The downloadable course material and PDF’s are yours forever.
There is an online course Discussion Forum where you can chat to me and fellow students, post comments and images and ask questions. I will respond to all comments and questions during the length of the course and while the online classroom is open – I am mindful that there is a lot of work to do and it may take some of you a little longer than the 5 weeks. As you will have full access to the videos, online class materials and Discussion Forum for 6 months, there will be plenty to time to work at your own pace.
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 – August
Felt sculpture workshop – 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!!
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.
Be on the first course……
Head over to my workshop page for more information:
Day 3 – cheating really as this is a sculpture just finished last year for the Prism exhibition in London!
Our 2019 Prism Exhibition at the Hoxton Arches Gallery is on until Sunday 9th June! Its well worth a visit!!
There are over 60 textile artists exhibiting…… a taste of their work.
Day 2 – June 30th
Tried some felt greeting cards – haven’t made any before. I used scraps from yesterday’s felt.
Felt cards
I have added some embroidery, beads and small rings.
Just received my copy of the Feltmatters magazine IFA and am inspired to experiment with texture!
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.