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 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 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
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:
…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?
I have been developing a way of creating sculptures with a clay and textile mix on a wire frame.
The figures (usually felted) are changing in response to the theme of ‘Fragility’ for the Prism Textiles Exhibition at Hoxton Arches gallery, London next month.
There is nothing the least fragile about my felt sculptures that go through a very vigorous, wet felt process. By creating a ceramic sculpture I have introduced an element of fragility to the form – or that is my intention!
The process thus far:
The figures have a twisted wire skeleton – 2mm and 2.5mm to reinforce the standing leg.
I made a paper clay slip with stoneware clay, paper and water and used this to soak ribbons of cut knitted woollen fabric to bind around the wires – then left to dry.
I repeated this process with the same material to shape the arms and the hips and legs. The torso was formed with solid clay to add a textural contrast.
Once dry I polished the torso clay to bring it up to a smooth shine – but only possible in places so not very sucessful!
Firing the figures
I have placed the figures in a foil ‘saggar’ with a range of colouring materials.
Materials:
I wrapped fine wire wool and banana skins around the figure securing them with copper wire. Spirulaena and salt was sprinkled on last and wrapped the whole in layers of foil.
Figure wrapped in foil
Then out to the yard and my steel bin!
I put a good 30cm of sawdust in the bottom of the bin and lined the sides with wood. I then placed two foil parcels of figures onto the sawdust base. Long ribbons of fabric soaked in white spirit were tucked into the this layer and then filled the rest of the bin with smallish pieces of wood. Finally I pushed more spirit-soaked fabric through the four vent holes, into the layer of sawdust, at the bottom of the bin.
I lit the kiln from the base of the bin – lighting the four fabric ribbons.
Once the fire was really going – about 8-10 minutes – I closed the vents with fire proof fabric kept in place with bricks.
Finally, once I was sure the fire was hot and fierce, I put the lid over the flames and there it stayed for 18 hours (over night).
Link to Raku firing
The materials have added plenty of colour to the figure and happily there are no cracks in the clay!
My final task is to find a suitable base in which to set the figures!
Question – do I add a wire head dress? Gold leaf to highlight? Lacquer? Hmmmm……
The Prism 2019 theme is ‘Fragility’ and knowing just how robust the process of making the felted figures is I really can’t imagine them as fragile. However by combining clay with the fibres on wire would create a fragile form – the fibres being burnt out in the kiln….
Problems:
Chris Dunn – great teacher
First attempt 22.10.18
Looks good – shows potential however the clay cracked on drying and on further research realise that I should use a paper clay…
As I have already bought a large slab of stone ware clay and a pot of slip I need a recipe!
Next… paper clay making!
Life size (in height) felted sculptures in their beautiful new home in Colorado.
The first Molly, ‘Tall Molly’, took 6 months to develop and has been followed by two more and there is another in the planning to fill this amazing space.
Commissions welcomed!
White, natural Blue Faced Leicester wool bowl, Lino printed with a figurative motif. This small bowl looks wonderful against the contrasting, polished dark wood.
This is an example of a new line of sculptures that I am working on for my Etsy shop. More images and information soon about new products and shop opening.
It has taken me about 6 months to develop a full size felt figure and there have been plenty of problems to overcome along the way when upsizing from a 40cm tall figure to one that is 4 times bigger!
From these small figures…
…to this one – 164cm high
The problems I encountered were due to the scale of the figure and they began with the wire.
I tried heavy fencing wire however this just wasn’t strong enough to hold the figure up right one leg so I had a length of steel tubing bent to follow the line of the spine down to the toe of the standing leg and built the rest of the body around this structure.
The musculature was added beginning with a layer of knitted woollen strips to cover the wire to form a base for the wool fibres. I used Blue Faced Leicester wool, wet felted in layers, to build the shape of the body and a steamer and sander to aid with the felting and fulling.
The final layer or ‘skin’ was felted separately and then stitched onto the the figure.
As you can see from the variety of figures in this post I have made several more! I am now going to experiment with adding the colour and texture straight onto the figures to cut out the rather lengthy processes of making the felt skin, stitching it in place and fulling with steam and sander. So watch this space!
Comprised of 28 small figurative felt sculptures.
I use the wet felt method to create these little figures
Two large figurative sculptures suspended
Both pieces together in the gallery
My art work is for sale and I also welcome commissions.
Please contact me for further information.
Molly
I am working on four new felt sculptures in the form of Modern Dance.
The movement and emotion in this art form is wonderful and I use images of dancers to create the sculptures.
Starting with a wire I make a skeleton and then cover it lightly with knitted fabric to give me a soft layer to attach the wool fibres. I then build up the musculature with layers of wool fibre using soap and water to felt so that the final shape is firm and well sculpted.
The decorative skin is a piece of handmade felt that I hand stitch onto the body of the sculpture – this is the most time consuming part of the process.
Three dancers ready to be mounted on wood
I love the contrast between the rough felt and smooth polished wood – both are natural and compliment each other.
People often ask me how to look after their felt sculptures – and it is very simple!
Just wipe gently with a damp cloth to remove dust. Moths are the main concern especially in the summer. You can buy moth killer to spray on the felt or periodically put the felt sculpture in the freezer over night – this will kill any moth eggs.
I will be posting the dance sculptures in my shop in the near future and if you are interested in ordering a sculpture or would like me to notify you when new sculptures are ready – please contact me.