"Artist Statement"
There is something wonderful about wool fiber. It is soft, light, and warm. It has all kinds of natural colors and then you can dye it too. Next, there is the 'magic' part; how the felting needle interlocks the fibers and creates form and shape. Also, you can pick up your needle and wool, work on it, put it down, go off, or bring it along if it's a small piece... No major set up and clean up...just be sure to keep your needles safe. Finally, there is a satisfying crunch sound every time you poke the wool with your needle (or, failing that, you poke your finger and agony!).
I've enjoyed arts and crafts all my life, but discovered wool and needle felting 10 years ago. It stuck. I started mostly sculpting figures in wool, but since 3 years back I've taken to 'painting' with wool and making pictures. I like the 3 D possibilities it affords and how you can incorporate embroidery floss, yarns, thread or objects if you wish. The canvas is wool, the frame is wool, and I try to hang the tapestries from a wood stick or bamboo stick that I feel match the painting. Since the wool has not been mechanically carded or handled I am continuously removing what is known in fleece circles as 'vegetable matter', foxtails and other seeds that get stuck in the fur of the sheep. My wool is from sheep that keep the rows clear of weeds in a vineyard in Sonoma.
Working in wool suits me as compared to watercolors or oil. I like to start with one idea without sketching or a defined plan and then let things develop as I'm working. I pull off the wool or cut it out with scissors and redo what I don't like, I can try things and take it off. With watercolor you have to know what you are doing or you loose the purity of the colors, overworking makes it dull and grey. Oils and acrylics will not allow too much redoing either and too many layers of failed attempts. A tapestry in wool is more forgiving, you can work on it forever. You can also explore the 3D aspect and the contrast between the wool fibers and thread, floss, beads and fabric. Wool seems a natural for making clouds and rolling hills and furry animals. It is fun to go from an idea and see how it turns out.
I'm Swedish, but married an American man. I have lived in California for 20 years, and now both my kids are in college. We moved to the little Coastside community of El Granada 5 years ago and love the setting, the beautiful scenery, the ocean views and laid back life style. Our two cats and one dog love it here too.
Birgitta Bower in El Granada, California
There is something wonderful about wool fiber. It is soft, light, and warm. It has all kinds of natural colors and then you can dye it too. Next, there is the 'magic' part; how the felting needle interlocks the fibers and creates form and shape. Also, you can pick up your needle and wool, work on it, put it down, go off, or bring it along if it's a small piece... No major set up and clean up...just be sure to keep your needles safe. Finally, there is a satisfying crunch sound every time you poke the wool with your needle (or, failing that, you poke your finger and agony!).
I've enjoyed arts and crafts all my life, but discovered wool and needle felting 10 years ago. It stuck. I started mostly sculpting figures in wool, but since 3 years back I've taken to 'painting' with wool and making pictures. I like the 3 D possibilities it affords and how you can incorporate embroidery floss, yarns, thread or objects if you wish. The canvas is wool, the frame is wool, and I try to hang the tapestries from a wood stick or bamboo stick that I feel match the painting. Since the wool has not been mechanically carded or handled I am continuously removing what is known in fleece circles as 'vegetable matter', foxtails and other seeds that get stuck in the fur of the sheep. My wool is from sheep that keep the rows clear of weeds in a vineyard in Sonoma.
Working in wool suits me as compared to watercolors or oil. I like to start with one idea without sketching or a defined plan and then let things develop as I'm working. I pull off the wool or cut it out with scissors and redo what I don't like, I can try things and take it off. With watercolor you have to know what you are doing or you loose the purity of the colors, overworking makes it dull and grey. Oils and acrylics will not allow too much redoing either and too many layers of failed attempts. A tapestry in wool is more forgiving, you can work on it forever. You can also explore the 3D aspect and the contrast between the wool fibers and thread, floss, beads and fabric. Wool seems a natural for making clouds and rolling hills and furry animals. It is fun to go from an idea and see how it turns out.
I'm Swedish, but married an American man. I have lived in California for 20 years, and now both my kids are in college. We moved to the little Coastside community of El Granada 5 years ago and love the setting, the beautiful scenery, the ocean views and laid back life style. Our two cats and one dog love it here too.
Birgitta Bower in El Granada, California
Current
The yarn store, ’Fengari’, 415 Main Street Half Moon Bay, is showing 2 of my pieces.
Past
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-Coastal Arts League, Half Moon Bay, July 20 - Aug 11, 2019, All Media Show, 'Personal Journeys', juror Chanda Carey.
Second prize in sculpture for 'Golden Hour on Haleakala' |
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- Coastal Arts League, Half Moon Bay, CA. June 21 - July 22, 2018, All Media Show, 'Fond Memories', juror Brian Bowes,
First prize for 'Morning Fog' |
’Morning Fog’ won first prize at the juried all media show at Coastal Arts League in June 2018. The theme was ‘Fond Memories’.
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