This online workshop consists of a 4-week dynamic project - the creation of your art piece. Fiber is a magnificent medium; its broad possibilities are the reason for the emergence of fiber art. This course aims to expand your capabilities in creating fiber paintings, wall hangings, and 3-D wall art pieces using wool fiber, various plant fibers, and natural textiles.
After becoming acquainted with our materials' properties and understanding their interaction with each other, we can begin creating a "palette" for 3-D painting with an element of Bas-relief. Then, we will create artwork by combining newly learned techniques.
This class is for participants already familiar with basic felting techniques and skilled felters who need some inspiration or to refresh their arsenal. It will require about 4-6 hours, on average, of studio work every week, and the amount of information would fit into a 4-day in-studio workshop.
How the online classes work (FAQ): https://www.feuer-und-wasser.com/online-classes
Supplies and tools:
• Table ( an average kitchen table, or foldable table, or desk)
• Bubble wrap enough to cover your felting table, plus an additional piece about 30'' X 45''
( or 80 cm X 115cm)
• Soft plastic sheeting or plastic painter's drop, 40" X 45" piece
• Watering device (ball brauser), a squirt bottle of a choice
• Container for water/soap solution (small bucket)
• Natural liquid soap (clear, biodegradable, and eco-friendly dish soap is the best); your favorite soap bar as well
• Pool noodle about 3' long
• Short wood dowel (about 20''), optional
• Elastic ties for rolling (stockings or pantyhose)
• Window screen material (soft fiberglass mosquito screen material is ideal, a synthetic fabric shower curtain is okay); about 1 m X 1 m (2' X 2' or a little bigger)
• Two old bath towels
• Any favorite felting tools (Palm Wash Board, ceramic felting stone, etc.)
• Any sculptural felting tool like The Felt Helper from www.tarveycottagestudio.com, wooden honey dipper with a smooth finish, ergonomic handless food scraper, etc.
• Small bamboo sushi rolling mat
• Soft plastic shelf lining with a bumpy surface (Ikea, or other), comes in rolls, optional
• Small hand carder or metallic dog/cat brush
• Cheap grocery plastic bag
• Measuring tape
• Permanent marker
• Pen and notebook
• Large and sharp needle with a big eye
Materials:
• Merino wool tops (or roving), 18 - 22 micron
200 g (10 oz) of the primary color ( the background of your painting)
50 g (2 oz) each of black and white colors
200 g (8 oz) total of three or more additional colors of your choice
Please create your color palette considering lighter and darker hues; and if the coarse wool and Bergschaf are not dyed, choose shades of Merino that look good with the whites or naturals
• 50 g (2 oz) of coarser wool, Finn, Falkland, or Corriedale, roving or batts
• 50 g (2 oz) of Bergschaf batts, optional
• Plant fiber is made from plants, processed into roving, and dyed.
40 g (1.5oz) of Ramie(fiber made from nettles) or Bamboo roving
40 g (1.5 oz) of Flax or Hemp roving
Please choose the color suitable to your palette but contrasting to the primary wool color. It's easier to control the layout's thickness and quality if you can see the fibers on the surface.
• Silk loose-weave fabric, 2 -3 momme, 2 meters/yards if the width is about 1 meter;
I prefer and enjoy working with the thinned silk gauze (Margilan) from Uzbekistan. This silk is soft, shiny, lightweight, great for felting, and easily manipulated into gorgeous surface effects. You can substitute this fabric with other loose-weave and very thin silk gauze.
• Thin yarns (machine knitting, crocheting) for the hand top-stitched accents
If you have any questions, don't hesitate to get in touch with Katia: https://www.feuer-und-wasser.com/contact