SAMPLES: TOWARDS AN ANIMAL MASK

4 or 5 days
Type: workshop
Level: Intermediate

About the workshop

Samples: Towards an Animal Mask is a 4 or 5-day preparatory workshop developed in direct response to student requests. It is highly recommended for feltmakers who want to experiment with colour, eye types, hair, fur, plumage, surface techniques, and other special effects before committing to making a full animal mask.

Whether you are preparing for your first animal mask or returning to mask making with a new design in mind, this workshop offers a focused, low-risk environment to research your chosen animal species, test ideas, and develop technical solutions through a series of small 2D and 3D felt samples.

By separating research and experimentation from the complexity of a full mask, you’ll gain clarity, confidence, and a much stronger sense of the outcome you’re working towards - saving time and avoiding unnecessary frustration later on.

What you’ll explore

Through the creation of multiple felt samples—both 2D and small-scale 3D—you will explore key visual and structural aspects of your chosen animal, which may include:

Working with resists, volumes and sculpting
Colour and colour patterns
Skin textures, fur, hair, or plumage
Ears, horns, and other structural elements
Eyes: shape, expression, and inclusions

Samples will typically measure around 30 × 30 cm for 2D work, alongside smaller 3D studies where appropriate. Sample topics will vary between students depending on the animal species chosen, but most participants will explore colour, surface texture, eyes, and ears as a minimum.

How learning is supported

Although each participant follows a personal line of inquiry, learning is deeply enriched by the shared studio environment.

Support throughout the workshop includes:

One-to-one consultations tailored to your specific project
Practical group demonstrations
Illustrated explanations of a wide range of feltmaking techniques and approaches
Ongoing exposure to the experimentation and discoveries of your fellow students

This balance of individual guidance and collective learning creates a dynamic, responsive studio atmosphere where ideas can cross-pollinate and understanding deepens.

What you’ll walk away with

By the end of the workshop, you will:

Have explored a broad range of feltmaking techniques relevant to animal mask making and beyond
Have created a coherent series of 2D and 3D samples to support the development of an animal mask
Have translated observation and research into felt through appropriate technical solutions
Be able to evaluate, integrate, and apply newly acquired techniques to your own practice
Have begun building a personal reference library of samples, ideas, and approaches that can continue to grow at home

What this workshop is not

This is not a full animal mask-making workshop
You will not be taught how to construct a complete head mask
The workshop does not focus on shrinkage or producing a finished sculptural object

Please do not attend expecting to begin or complete a full mask during this workshop.

What this workshop is

A focused research and sampling workshop
A space for both 2D and 3D experimentation without the pressure of finishing a final piece
A technical preparation lab for future animal mask projects
An opportunity to test ideas, refine techniques, and develop confidence before committing to a full mask

Who this workshop is for

This workshop is suitable for intermediate and advanced feltmakers.

It is ideal if you:

Are planning to make an animal mask and want to prepare thoroughly
Have previously attended a mask-making masterclass and are developing a new design
Want to deepen your understanding of colour, texture, form, and animal features in felt
Enjoy working experimentally, analytically, and iteratively through sampling

While this is a stand-alone workshop, it is especially beneficial for anyone intending to attend an animal mask-making masterclass.

Basic wet felting skills - such as making pre-felt - are assumed.

Why join this workshop

Making an animal mask is complex and demanding. This workshop allows you to:

Reduce risk by testing ideas in advance
Make informed design decisions through hands-on experimentation
Explore form and surface independently from full-scale construction
Work more efficiently and intentionally when you begin a full mask

By isolating individual elements—eyes, ears, surface, colour, and form—you can focus fully on skill development, without having to manage the demands of an entire mask at the same time.

Experience level required

This workshop is suitable for:

Intermediate feltmakers: proficient in 2D feltmaking, with experience of 3D wet felt, basic shrinkage calculations, and working with resists
Advanced feltmakers: confident with complex techniques, surface textures, and material choice

It is not suitable for total beginners or beginners who have not yet attempted 3D wet felt.

Advance preparations

Once you have registered, you will receive a Materials List.

Please ensure you:

Allow sufficient time to source required materials, as some may take time to obtain
Familiarise yourself with the materials before the workshop
Complete the short pre-workshop homework outlined in the Materials List

All teaching and instructions are given in English. A basic understanding of English is required. Some written handouts (in English) will be provided.

Provisional course outline please note this is flexible and subject to change

Day 1 — Fibre choice, colour & colour patterns
We begin by establishing a solid technical foundation. You’ll experiment with colour mixing, layering, and pattern development. The focus is on understanding how colour and fibres behave in felt and how to utilise this to mimic animal skin

Day 2 — Skin textures, fur, hair & plumage
This day is dedicated to surface development. Through a series of samples, you’ll investigate different approaches to creating skin textures, fur, hair, or feather-like effects, depending on your chosen animal species. Emphasis is placed on material choice, fibre behaviour, and surface decoration.

Day 3 — Ears & horns
You’ll explore structural elements such as ears and horns, working through both 2D studies and small 3D samples. Topics include form, proportion, sculpting considerations, and how these elements influence expression and character.

Day 4 — Eyes

The final day focuses on eyes as a key expressive feature. You’ll experiment with shape, scale, placement, sculpting treatment, and expression, developing samples that support the emotional and visual language of your animal design.

Samples towards an animal mask

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Colour Play

COLOUR PLAY:

COLLAGE, CONTRAST, SHADE, BLENDING & LAYERING TECHNIQUES

3 days
Type: workshop
Level: Beginner/Intermediate

Dyed wool for felting is available in such a rich array of colours these days… It can be tempting to buy every colour under the sun, but this is like opening Pandora's box.

This workshop is for the felt maker who finds colour overwhelming or who doesn’t know where to start. It aims to grow your confidence with both colour and fibre in a playful way ,and to help you develop a colour language that is unique to you.

In this workshop you will explore the ways in which colours and fibres interact with each other, and how we can make the most of these characteristics in our felt work. Through a series of pre-felts and felt samples, we will explore basic colour theory and colour schemes, how to build colour up through the layers and make colours ‘sing' or tone them down, how to achieve seamless and subtle colour blending and how to exploit colour contrast. This workshop is responsive to the needs of the students, but in most cases will culminate in a free flow and responsive selective framing and re-assembly process that will help you look at composition and colour combinations in a fresh light.

You are encouraged to come with an open attitude and a sense of play. Expect to work outside your comfort zone or usual way of working with colour. There are no 'mistakes' during this process, just opportunities to learn. Learning is supported through practical demonstrations, handouts and illustrated explanations.

All teachings/instructions are given in English. You will need a basic understanding & command of the English language. Some written handouts (in English) will be supplied.

COURSE OUTLINE

DAY 1 Basic colour theory, pre-felt colour schemes, how to achieve subtle colour graduation

DAY 2 Apply theory to felt

DAY 3 Select & frame, assemble, collage, present. Show & tell.

EXPERIENCE LEVEL

Suitable for

Beginners
Intermediate
Anyone booked on to a mask making advanced workshop/masterclass who would like to spend some time exploring colour options for their mask

Please note that some basic felt making knowledge will be assumed, so this workshop is NOT suitable for total beginners who have never wet felted before.

Please use the definitions below to work out if this workshop is suitable for you:

Total beginner: I have never wet felted before & wouldn't know where to start (but I may have dry/needle felted)

Beginner: I have made pieces of 2D wet felt but have not attempted any 3D work. I know the difference between felt and pre-felt.

Intermediate: I am proficient in 2D wet felt making, and have made 3D work wet felt. I have basic knowledge of wool breeds, shrinkage/calculations, and have practical experience of working with pre-felt and felting around a resist

Advanced: I am an experienced wet feltmaker, and have very good working knowledge of both 2D and 3D wet felting techniques, including surface textures such as 'cracked earth' technique, and working with more complex resists. I have good theoretical knowledge of wet felting and have a practical understanding of the characteristics of different wool breeds and when to use them.

Professional: Felt making provides my main source of income. I have excellent practical and theoretical knowledge of a wide range of wet felting techniques, including and exceeding those of the advanced felt maker (above). I have developed a particular technique/style in my work. I currently am/would consider teaching my own workshops.

ADVANCE PREPARATIONS

Once you have registered you will be sent a Materials List by the venue. Please make sure you give yourself plenty of time in advance of the workshop to familiarise yourself with the materials you are required to bring.

Please note that there is some pre-workshop homework set in the Materials List.

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SAMPLES: A LIBRARY OF IDEAS

5 days
Type: workshop
Level: Intermediate

This workshop - a creative inquiry into the potential of both felt and samples - has been developed in response to student requests.

Whether you are a felt maker preparing for a specific project or body of work, or someone who simply would like to explore textures and techniques through some guided & unguided experimental play, this workshop aims to help you get started with the formation of your personal library of ideas.

The power of the humble sample is often underestimated, and in this workshop you will come to (re)appreciate the role sampling has to play in your creative journey. You can think of these samples as a library of felt trials and “sketches”; a continually growing resource that you will be able to fall back on for inspiration in future. Not only can these sketches help avoid costly (and painful) mistakes in the long run, they can also help to get through creative blocks, and can even become art works in their own right.

Although you will be pursuing your personal line of creative inquiry, you will benefit greatly from being exposed to your student cohort’s work, and from the experimentation in the room around you. Throughout the workshop, learning is supported through 1-to-1 consultations, practical group demonstrations and illustrated explanations of a wide range of felt making techniques and creative approaches.

Some reflective exercises may be offered in support of your line of inquiry, to help you keep a record of your thoughts and associations and to enable you to share your thoughts on the process with others.

Please note: This is not a 3D sculptural workshop. Please do not come expecting to make sculptural work. While some 3-D elements may be incorporated on the surface of the felt, we will be focussing on the creation of 2-D samples only.

All teachings/instructions are given in English. You will need a basic understanding & command of the English language. Some written handouts (in English) will be supplied.

PRACTICAL LEARNING

During this workshop, you will make a series of 2-D felt pieces from which small samples (approximately 15 x 15cm) are selected. These will form the jumping off point for a deeper exploration of felt making techniques and effects, as well as contrast and composition, and become the basis for a very personal line of inquiry. This workshop is not about achieving a particular outcome, but rather about the joy of responding in the moment and learning through play, trial and "error". It is intended to give you the freedom and time to explore, experiment that is so often lacking in our daily life, and to deepen your understanding of the medium. You will develop the beginnings of a reference library of techniques and ideas to enable future projects, which can continue to grow at home. A wide range of materials may be incorporated into the samples, and you will be encouraged to think outside the box.

By the end of this workshop, you will

have explored a range of felt making techniques
have greater confidence to interpret your ideas and observations into felt
have demonstrated the ability to evaluate, integrate, and apply newly acquired techniques and medium to your own felt practice
have learnt ways to break through artistic ‘blocks
have demonstrated the ability to reflect on your personal artistic journey through presenting your work to a peer group
have developed the beginnings of a reference library of techniques and ideas to enable future projects, which can continue to grow at home

Whether you are a felt maker preparing for a specific project or body of work, or a felt maker who simply would like to explore textures and techniques through some experimental play, this workshop aims to help you get started on what may well become a life-long addiction.

The contents of this workshop are flexible, and the second half of this workshop is tailored to you individually. You are expected to come with an open mind and playful, experimental attitude. Learning is supported through practical demonstrations and illustrated explanations.

COURSE OUTLINE

DAY 1 Group work: Starting out, pre-felts, fabrics, textures, contrast

DAY 2 Group work: Framing & selecting, zooming in, following an inquiry

DAY 3 Individual inquiry

DAY 4 Individual inquiry

DAY 5 Individual inquiry continued, presentation methods, show & tell, closing

EXPERIENCE LEVEL

Suitable for

Beginner
Intermediate
Advanced

Although this course is a stand-alone workshop which may be of interest to any intermediate felt makers wishing to further their understanding of sampling in their work, it will also benefit anyone attending a 5-day mask making master class or professional felt makers wishing to experiment and prepare for a new body of work. Basic wet felting skills such as the making of pre-felt will be assumed.

Please use the definitions below to work out if this workshop is suitable for you:

Total beginner: I have never wet felted before & wouldn't know where to start (but I may have dry/needle felted)

Beginner: I have made pieces of 2D wet felt but have not attempted any 3D work. I know the difference between felt and pre-felt.

Advanced: I am an experienced wet felter, and have very good working knowledge of both 2D and 3D wet felting techniques, including surface textures such as 'cracked earth' technique, and working with more complex resists. I have good theoretical knowledge of wet felting and have a practical understanding of the characteristics of different wool breeds and when to use them.

ADVANCE PREPARATIONS

Once you have registered you will be sent a Materials List by the venue through which you booked. Please make sure you give yourself plenty of time in advance of the workshop to familiarise yourself with the materials you are required to bring, as some may take some time to source.

Please note that there is some pre-workshop homework set in the Materials List.

Sampes: A library of ideas

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Animal Masks level 1

INTRODUCTION TO MAKING ANIMAL MASKS - THE BASICS (LEVEL 1)

5 days (schedule includes 1 rest/catch up day on 28 September)
Type: Advanced workshop
Level: Advanced

In this advanced workshop, you will be guided step by step through the entire process of creating a bird mask.

Birds are an excellent starting point for learning to make an animal mask as there is such a wide variety of them. Though the majority of birds may appear deceptively simple in shape, the technical and sculptural challenges presented by this animal offer a great way in for the beginner mask maker, while at the same time being quite forgiving.

A basic template will be provided by the tutor, and will be adapted and personalised by you. Together we will consider and plan for the skeletal structure, and you will learn how to build this up through the layers of wool; culminating in the application of feather plumage and learning about the sculpting process.

Although this advanced workshop focuses solely on birds, please rest assured that the basic techniques offered are the same for all animal masks.

Due to the wide variety of birds available to choose from, a range of technical challenges and solutions will be demonstrated to the entire group at each stage. During the workshop the tutor may advise you to simplify your design if it becomes apparent that time is an issue. This is so that you are able to experience the entire process from start to finish while the tutor is there to advise and support.

Important information, please note:

This advanced workshop consists of 5 days of tuition in total. Students must be prepared to work additional, untutored studio hours if necessary, in order to finish their mask within this timeframe.

All teachings/instructions are given in English. You will need a basic understanding & command of the English language.

PRACTICAL LEARNING

Making a realistic animal mask in felt is a hugely time consuming and complex process, and takes much repetition and practice to master.

In this advanced workshop, you are introduced to and guided through the basic principles and techniques of felting an animal mask, step by step, from start to finish, using a bird as your starting point.

The focus is less on achieving a hyper-realistic and hyper detailed mask of the type created in masterclasses, and more on achieving a thorough understanding of the different aspects involved in the process, and on executing each stage well. The sculpting aspect, in particular, is something that many find difficult and daunting, as it requires more than just a knowledge of felt making. By focusing on relatively “simple and plain” animal shapes such as birds, we spend less time on intricate surface details, complex technical feats, or a wide variety of embellishments, and more time on learning how to achieve strong and convincing sculptural shapes.

Among other things, you will learn:

How to calculate the size of a base resist
How to create a base resist
How to translate the bird's characteristic bone structure, features and colour markings into an adaptation of the base resist
How to lay out wool around a complex resist and stay in control
How to build up colour through the layers
How to achieve facial symmetry
Ways to create types of plumage and how to incorporate this into the mask
How to incorporate texture and other characteristics
How to sculpt and shape the felt, and how to achieve a strong and convincing whole
How to achieve felt with a good finish

In order to finish the mask within the allocated time, you will adapt and personalise a bird mask template provided by the tutor.

This advanced workshop is aimed at those who would like to know how to make a full head cover animal mask, but who are not yet ready to make intricately detailed and hyper realistic pieces. This workshop is an excellent prelude to those who wish to progress to the Faces of Extinction master class in future.

Learning is supported through 1-to-1 consultations, group demonstration, illustrated explanations, Q&A sessions. Written handouts (in English) will be supplied.

Learning is supported through practical demonstrations, one-to-one consultations and practical help, handouts and illustrated explanations.

COURSE OUTLINE

DAY 1 Shrinkage / designing & preparing the resist / laying out 1 & 2

DAY 2 Eyes / laying out 3 & 4 / creating plumage

DAY 3 Laying out 5 & 6 / incorporating plumage

DAY 4 incorporating plumage/ felting / sculpting

DAY 5 Sculpting

DAY 6 Sculpting/finishes

EXPERIENCE LEVEL

Due to the ever growing, popular demand for this topic, and the wide range of experience levels of students attracted to it, the topic of mask making has now been separated into two levels in order to serve students better:

An Introduction to animal mask making - the basics (level 1); advanced preparatory workshop
Faces of Extinction (level 2); masterclass.

Felting masks is a complex, demanding and physical process which requires wet felting experience, stamina and determination. In both the advanced workshop and masterclass, daily tasks will be set and the pace will be demanding. For this reason, regrettably, neither level 1 or level 2 are suitable for beginners, or those suffering from back or hand/arm injuries or other health issues that prevent them from standing/felting for long periods of time.

This advanced workshop sits somewhere between a workshop and a master class. It is suitable for:

Intermediate
Advanced

Practical knowledge of felting around a resist and a good understanding of wet felting in general will be assumed, as there will only be limited time to go over felt making basics during this workshop. Furthermore, you will have a willingness and ability to work additional untutored hours, if necessary, to achieve the daily targets set. An aptitude for sculptural form will be helpful but not essential.

Please use the definitions below to work out if this advanced workshop is suitable for you:

Total beginner: I have never wet felted before & wouldn't know where to start (but I may have dry/needle felted)

Beginner: I have made pieces of 2D wet felt but have not attempted any 3D work. I know the difference between felt and pre-felt.

PLEASE NOTE

All teaching/instructions are given in English. Students need to have a basic understanding & command of the English language. Some written handouts (in English) will be supplied.

ADVANCE PREPARATIONS

Once your registration has been accepted, you will be sent a Materials List by the venue, which also contains some pre-workshop homework.

Please give yourself plenty of time before the workshop to complete the homework and to familiarise yourself with the materials you are required to bring.

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FOE France

FACES OF EXTINCTION (ANIMAL MASKS)

6 days tuition + 1/2 day untutored time to finish (some venues) + 1/2 day photography for online exhibition
Type: Master class
Level: Advanced (application criteria apply)

Today wildlife accounts for only 3 percent of earth’s land animals; human beings, our livestock, and our pets take up the remaining 97 percent of the biomass. This is due both to the explosion of industrial agriculture and to a hollowing out of wildlife itself, which has decreased in abundance by as much as 50 percent since 1970. This cull is from both direct hunting and global-scale habitat destruction: almost half of the earth’s land has been converted to farmland (Source: Peter Brannen, The Ends of the World)

Faces of Extinction is an international community art project & online exhibition that aims to draw attention to the impact of human activity on eco systems and habitats, the huge challenges to wildlife across the world, and of imminent natural network collapse. Faces of Extinction occupies a dedicated Instagram site and Facebook page, and all images share a distinct set of guidelines to encourage visual unity.

About the Masterclass

Faces of Extinction is a 6.5-day intensive masterclass (plus 2.5 untutored studio days) focused on creating a highly detailed animal mask. This project contributes to the online exhibition Faces of Extinction, an international community art initiative raising awareness about wildlife loss and the threats facing ecosystems worldwide.

All animals selected for this masterclass must come from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Students will research their chosen species and prepare a sign displaying key facts about the animal. The masterclass culminates in a professional photography session and celebration.

What You’ll Explore

During this masterclass, you will:

Design and construct a complex resist for a bespoke animal mask
Learn to lay out wool layers to create colour, muscle, and surface textures
Create fur, hair, plumage, and sculpt horns, fins, wrinkles, and other anatomical details
Analyse sculptural planes, concave/convex surfaces, and volumetric form
Learn to problem-solve independently while guided by expert consultation
Develop technical and creative solutions to take your felt work further

You’ll have the opportunity to work in both 2D and 3D, layering and sculpting wool to achieve a highly detailed mask while also exploring textural and sculptural effects.

How Learning is Supported

Learning is supported through:

One-to-one consultations and guidance
Step-by-step techincal group demonstrations
Illustrated explanations of a wide range of felt-making techniques and Q&A sessions
Written handouts (English)
Exposure to the work and wide variety in experimentation of your fellow participants
Access to untutored studio time to catch up or experiment independently

What You’ll Walk Away With

By the end of the masterclass, you will:

Have completed a highly detailed, realistic animal mask
Be confident in complex felt layering, sculpting, and texturing techniques
Understand sculptural principles for 3D form and surface detail
Have strategies to work independently on future mask or sculptural projects
Have contributed your work to the Faces of Extinction online exhibition
Build a personal reference library of techniques, ideas, and inspiration

What This Masterclass Is Not

This is not a beginner workshop; basic felt making, resist experience and felt making vocabulary is assumed.
You will not be learning basic wet felting techniques.
This is not a purely sculptural workshop: although sculpting is a very important aspect, the focus is on creating an animal mask from start to finish, using resist design, wool layers, surface techniques, feltmaking techniques, and sculpting.

What This Workshop Is

An advanced, immersive masterclass for creating a bespoke animal mask
A chance to explore detailed textures, realistic colour layering, and complex sculpting in wool
A supportive environment for experimentation, problem-solving, and independent creativity
A space to push your skills, expand your sculptural understanding, and produce quality work, while supported and guided

Who This Masterclass is For

Intermediate, advanced, or professional felt makers with experience in 3D felting around a resist
Students who have attended previous mask workshops with the tutor or can demonstrate equivalent skill
Students who have attended ‘Samples - Towards an Animal Mask’ workshop
Felt makers who want to take their masks to the next level with detailed realism and sculptural sophistication
Artists ready for a physically and mentally challenging, highly focused workshop
Students who are self-motivated, able to work independently and are ready to challenge themselves
Those with an aptitude for 3-dimensional form

Not suitable for: Beginners, or those unable to stand/felt for long periods, or with health issues limiting physical participation.

Why Join This Masterclass

Contribute to a meaningful international art project raising awareness of species loss
Learn advanced techniques for realistic animal masks and sculptural felt making
Gain expert guidance through one-to-one consultations and structured demonstrations
Join a vibrant community of motivated felt makers & regular students
Develop a professional, high quality mask for exhibition and portfolio
Learn skills and techniques that can be used in any felt making project
Experience a combined approach of thorough planning and intuitive sculpting

Advance Preparations

Upon acceptance, students will receive a Materials List including:

Pre-workshop homework: selecting an animal, researching anatomy, colour, texture, eyes, and horns/fur/plumage
Guidance on wool selection, prefelt, and accessory materials (lenses, fabrics, decorative elements)
Photography session preparation: appropriate clothing, letterboard, and display instructions

Optional: Students may contact the tutor in advance with images or ideas for advice on materials and animal choice to ensure a flying start.

Please respect the tutor’s time: This is not a personal tutorial nor a lengthy correspondence; it is purely to help you get off to a flying start and save time during the masterclass. gladys@gladyspaulus.com

In some venues, Samples - Towards animal masks’ workshop may be offered in advance of Faces of Extinction. This is a highly recommended opportunity to explore and practice certain aspects of your animal masks in isolation, without the pressure of creating an entire mask.

Course Outline

Day 1 – Shrinkage & Resist Preparation, Wool Layers 1 & 2

Learn template design, calculate shrinkage, and lay the first 2 wool layers. Learn how to stay in control of the wool, and how to build up colours.

Day 2 – Wool Layer 3-4 & Eyes

Build colour and texture; introduce eyeballs and construct eyelids

Day 3 – Eyes, Attachments & Inclusions, Wool Layers 5–6

Add attachments and inclusions; feathers, wrinkles, ridges, scales, spikes, skin textures etc

Day 4 – Fur, Hair & Locks

Complete wool layering; add detailed hair/fur/surface textures

Day 5 – Untutored Studio Catch-Up

Day 6 – Felting & Sculpting Start

Begin shaping, sculpting, and outlining form. Sculptor’s mindset and working with the fibres to achieve the desired shape

Day 7 – Untutored Sculpting Morning & Fine Sculpting afternoon

Untutored sculpting morning
Sculpt fine details and refine shapes; afternoon tutored session

Day 8 – Final Sculpting & Finishing Techniques

Complete mask; learn drying, de-hairing, and stiffening tips

Day 9 – Untutored Finishing & Photography Session

Morning catch-up & finishing touches; afternoon photography session and celebration

All teachings/instructions are given in English. You will need a basic understanding & command of the English language. Some written handouts (in English) will be supplied.

Experience Level Check List

Please use the definitions below to work out if this masterclass is suitable for you.

Total beginner: I have never wet felted before & wouldn't know where to start (but I may have dry/needle felted)

Beginner: I have made pieces of 2D wet felt but have not attempted any 3D work. I know the difference between felt and pre-felt.

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Tree barks in felt

TREE BARKS IN FELT

4 days tuition
Type: Workshop
Level: Beginner/Intermediate/Advanced

About the Workshop

Tree Barks in Felt is a four-day exploratory workshop that uses trees as a rich starting point for investigating texture, surface relief, colour layering, and experimental feltmaking techniques. With an estimated 73,000 tree species worldwide—and thousands still undiscovered—the natural world offers an almost limitless source of inspiration.

In this workshop, you will narrow your focus to one or two tree species and study them closely, learning how to translate the unique qualities of bark into felt through observation, material choice, and process-led experimentation.

What You’ll Explore

Translating natural textures and surfaces into felt
Layering, relief, and depth through fibre and material choices
Colour relationships found in bark, mosses, and lichens
Experimental approaches using inclusions, prefelts, and surface decoration
The balance between control and chance in feltmaking

In the 3 day version of this workshop, you will create a series of small 2D studies to test a range of ideas, colours and textures which may remain as a series in its own right, or serve as a starting point for future work . In the 4 or 5-day version of this workshop, you’ll begin with small 2D studies to test ideas, colours, and textures before developing a larger felt piece measuring approximately 25 × 40 cm.

How Learning Is Supported

Learning is supported through a combination of:

One-to-one consultations
Practical group demonstrations
Illustrated explanations of techniques and approaches
Peer learning through shared experimentation in the studio

As each participant works from a different tree species, the diversity of processes and outcomes in the room becomes a valuable learning resource in itself.

What You’ll Walk Away With

By the end of the workshop, you will:

Have explored a wide range of feltmaking techniques, which may include inclusions, hollow spaces, differential shrinkage, prefelts, colour layering, stitching, and embroidery
Have produced a series of small studies and one (or more) larger finished felt piece
Feel more confident translating observation and inspiration into felt
Be able to evaluate, adapt, and apply new techniques within your own practice
Gain approaches that can be applied well beyond the theme of tree bark

What This Workshop Is Not

This workshop is not a purely sculptural or 3D feltmaking course, although sculptural elements may be incorporated where they support the student’s creative exploration
It is not a step-by-step replication class producing identical outcomes
It is not focused on botanical accuracy, but on creative interpretation

What This Workshop Is

A surface-led, exploratory feltmaking workshop
A space for experimentation, observation, and material play
An opportunity to deepen your understanding of texture, layering, and relief
A process-driven course with room for personal interpretation

Who This Workshop Is For

This is a stand-alone workshop suitable for:

Beginners with basic wet felting experience
Intermediate feltmakers looking to expand surface techniques
Advanced and professional feltmakers seeking fresh inspiration and experimental approaches

Some basic wet feltmaking knowledge is assumed (for example, understanding prefelts), but no sculptural experience is required.

Why Join This Workshop

Trees offer an endlessly rich and accessible source of inspiration
The techniques explored can be adapted to many future projects
You’ll develop confidence in experimental, surface-led feltmaking
The workshop encourages curiosity, play, and creative risk-taking
You’ll learn in a supportive environment that values individual outcomes

Advance Preparations

For inspiration, please bring either:

A piece of naturally shed tree bark, or
Good quality colour images of your chosen tree bark (printed at a minimum size of 20 × 30 cm, or on a tablet)

If travelling internationally, please check customs regulations regarding the transport of plant material. Once registered, you will receive a detailed Materials List. Please allow sufficient time before the workshop to gather materials and familiarise yourself with what to bring.

Course Outline

Day 1
Small studies: pre-felts, fabrics, textures, contrast

Day 2
Framing and selecting studies; choosing and preparing materials

Day 3
Felting a large bark-inspired piece

Day 4
Further developing and refining the large piece

All teaching and instruction is delivered in English. Participants should have a basic working understanding of the language.

Experience Level Check List

Please use the definitions below to work out if this workshop is suitable for you.

Total beginner: I have never wet felted before & wouldn't know where to start (but I may have dry/needle felted)

Beginner: I have made pieces of 2D wet felt but have not attempted any 3D work. I know the difference between felt and pre-felt.

Sculpting Lab

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FELT LAB

4 or 8 days

Type: a hybrid between a sculpture studio, an artist residency, and a trouble shooting clinic

Level: Intermediate/Advanced

The Felt Lab is not a conventional workshop. Think of it instead as a hybrid between a sculpture studio, an artist residency, and a troubleshooting clinic - a focussed development space designed for felt makers who already have a sculpting practice and want time, space, and expert guidance to deepen it. This is a place to slow down, experiment, problem-solve, and refine. A place where unfinished sculpting work is welcome, uncertainty is productive, and play is taken seriously. A place designed to help you move your 3D felt work forward with confidence.

This open Lab supports you in resolving unfinished work, strengthening sculptural decisions, and deepening your understanding of 3D form, structure, and surface. You bring the work; together we identify what it needs next.

What this Lab is

The Lab offers dedicated studio time, access to equipment, professional insight, and a supportive peer environment. It is ideal if you are already working on your own felt sculpture, mask, or other 3D felted form and need space to focus, alongside experienced guidance when questions arise. Bring you unfinished or unresolved sculpting projects - especially those that have left you stuck, frustrated, or unsure how to proceed - and we will work through them together. Rather than following a set brief, you'll be supported in developing your ideas, forms, sculptural language and sculpting skills.

This format allows for far more time spent on sculpting and refinement than a standard taught workshop, making it especially valuable for those wanting to push their work further.

This is a space to:

Resolve structural or technical issues
Refine sculptural form and proportion
Test ideas through hands-on experimentation
Receive targeted feedback at critical moments

Unfinished or uncertain work is welcome. By the end of the Open Lab, you can expect greater clarity around your project’s direction and the technical confidence to continue independently.

What This Open Lab Is Not

This is not a step-by-step, tutor-led workshop.

This is not for 2D (flat) felt projects.
There is no prescribed project, no fixed outcome, no prescribed aesthetic, and no beginner instruction.

Instead, this is a shared studio environment that prioritises experimentation, professional development, creative growth, independent thinking, and the development of a personal sculptural language, with expert support available throughout.

Who This Open Lab Is For

This Open Lab is suitable for:

Intermediate, advanced, or professional felt makers
Artists who want focused time on sculptural development
Those who prefer working on their own ideas rather than following a set brief
Makers with experience of felting around a resist (basic 3D felt-making skills are assumed)
Existing students (online or in person) who want time to complete or refine ongoing projects, or a project started in a previous workshop
Mask makers and sculptors seeking dedicated support for complex forms
Makers wanting to strengthen form, structure, and decision-making
Mask makers and sculptors preparing work for exhibition, performance, or further development

If you value autonomy, depth, and thoughtful guidance, this space is designed for you.

Who This Open Lab Is Not For

This Open Lab is not suitable for:

Beginner felt makers
Anyone new to working around a resist
Those looking for a fully structured, step-by-step or introductory class

A solid foundation in wet felting and 3D hollow felting around a resist is essential to make the most of this experience.

How Learning Is Supported

Although you will follow your own line of inquiry, learning is supported throughout the workshop via:

One-to-one consultations
Practical group demonstrations
Illustrated explanations of a wide range of felt-making techniques
Exposure to the work and experimentation of your fellow participants

The shared studio environment becomes an important learning tool, offering insight into multiple approaches and creative problem-solving strategies.

Why Join the Felt Lab?

To gain clarity on unresolved sculptural problems
To spend meaningful time refining form, structure, and surface planes
To work within a focused, supportive community of experienced makers
To receive expert input exactly when you need it—without interrupting your creative flow
To reconnect with play, curiosity, and confidence in your sculptural practice
Make tangible progress on an existing felt sculpture or mask
Strengthen your ability to assess and refine your own work
Expand your problem-solving toolkit through experimentation
Build confidence in your sculptural decision-making
Develop a clearer sense of direction for future projects
To turn uncertainty into informed action
To work with focused support rather than generic instruction
To invest time in depth, refinement, and artistic growth
To give your sculptural work the attention it deserves

This is an invitation to treat your felt work seriously, while remaining open, experimental, and responsive. This Lab is for artists who are ready to pause, reflect, and push their work further—without losing the joy, playfulness, and curiosity that make making meaningful.

You will leave with work that has moved forward, practical insight you can apply independently, and renewed momentum in your practice.

EXPERIENCE LEVEL REQUIRED

Suitable for

Intermediate
Advanced
Professional

Please use the definitions below to work out if this Lab is suitable for you:

Total beginner: I have never wet felted before & wouldn't know where to start (but I may have dry/needle felted)

Beginner: I have made pieces of 2D wet felt but have not attempted any 3D work. I know the difference between felt and pre-felt.

ADVANCE PREPARATIONS

Before attending, please take some time to consider whether this Lab is the right fit for you.

Participants should be comfortable working independently and able to identify unfinished projects or ideas they would like to develop during the lab. You are welcome to bring work that is still on the resist at the pre-felt stage, or pieces that have moved into early sculpting but remain soft and open to further shaping. As long as the felt has not been fully finished and there is still scope for additional shrinkage, it can be brought to the lab.

There is no set materials list for this Lab. As you will be working on your own projects, you are best placed to decide what materials you may need. Bring your usual felt making equipment, soap and shaping tools. In addition, please come prepared for different creative directions, including the possibility of reworking or starting again through small sculptural trials. Bringing additional wool and a small stash of resist material and gaffer tape as backup is therefore strongly recommended. It can also be really helpful to bring some stiff paper, scissors and tape, and/or playdough/modelling clay, to help you think through any new ideas that emerge during the Lab.

While the primary focus of the Lab is on sculpting and form refinement—an area often difficult to explore fully within standard workshop formats—there may be occasions where revisiting resist design or creating new 3D test pieces from scratch is beneficial. A limited range of wool fibres will be available for purchase on site; however, if you are working with specific breeds or colours, please ensure you bring these with you. For sculptural work, fibres of 23 micron or above in carded bat format are generally recommended, though roving is also welcome, particularly if it aligns with your established working methods.

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Samples Fantasy 1

SAMPLES - TOWARDS A FANTASY MASK

A focused, experimental workshop for felt makers preparing for complex sculptural mask work

3 days tuition
Type: Workshop
Level: Beginner/Intermediate/Advanced

Important Note

This is not a mask-making workshop.
You will not be taught how to make a full head mask.

About the Workshop

Samples: Towards a Fantasy Mask is a preparatory, skills-focused workshop designed to help you research, test, and refine specific elements of fantasy mask making - without the pressure of completing an entire mask.

Instead of committing to a single large piece, you’ll work through a series of small, targeted samples, allowing you to experiment, problem-solve, and develop confident technical solutions. This approach reduces risk, saves time in later projects, and builds a solid foundation for more ambitious sculptural work.

While particularly valuable for students preparing for a mask-making masterclass (or returning to mask work after one), this workshop is equally beneficial for intermediate and advanced felt makers who want to deepen their experience with complex resists, sculptural detailing, and surface transitions.

The techniques explored are widely transferable and can be applied to sculptural work, costume, installation, and garment design.

What You’ll Explore

Through guided experimentation and sample-making, you will focus on:

Eyes – exploring different shapes, expressions, and structural approaches
Ears – human and non-human forms
Hair, fur, and transitions – moving convincingly between skin and texture
Additional elements – depending on individual interests and time

Each sample allows you to isolate one challenge at a time, helping you understand how technique, wool choice, shrinkage, and structure interact - without the distraction of managing a full sculptural form.

How Learning Is Supported

Although you will follow your own line of inquiry, learning is supported throughout the workshop via:

One-to-one consultations
Practical group demonstrations
Illustrated explanations of a wide range of felt-making techniques
Exposure to the work and experimentation of your fellow participants

The shared studio environment becomes an important learning tool, offering insight into multiple approaches and creative problem-solving strategies.

What You’ll Walk Away With

By the end of the workshop, you will have:

Explored a broad range of felt-making and sculptural techniques
Created a small series of focused samples in preparation for a fantasy mask or sculptural project
Translated visual and conceptual ideas into practical felt solutions
Strengthened your ability to evaluate, adapt, and apply new techniques
Begun building a personal reference library of techniques and ideas that can continue to grow at home

What This Workshop Is Not

This workshop is not:

A full mask-making course
A step-by-step beginner class
Suitable for those new to wet felting or 3D felt work

Who This Workshop Is For

Felt makers preparing for a mask-making masterclass
Returning students wanting to refine skills before starting a new mask
Intermediate to professional felt makers interested in complex resists and sculptural detail
Artists who prefer focused experimentation over finishing a single large piece

Experience Level Required

Suitable for:

Intermediate
Advanced
Professional felt makers

Basic wet felting skills are assumed, including experience with pre-felt and felting around a resist.

Level Definitions (for guidance):

Total beginner: I have never wet felted before & wouldn't know where to start (but I may have dry/needle felted) → Not suitable
Beginner: I have made pieces of 2D wet felt but have not attempted any 3D work. I know the difference between felt and pre-felt → Not suitable
Intermediate: I am confident in 2D wet felt making, and have made 3D work wet felt. I have basic knowledge of wool breeds, shrinkage/calculations, and have practical experience of working with pre-felt and felting around a resist → Suitable
Advanced/Professional: I have extensive 2D and 3D experience, with strong technical and material knowledge, incl. Surface textures such as ‘cracked earth’ technique, and working with more complex resists. Good theoretical and practical understanding of the characteristics of different wool breeds and when to use them → Highly suitable
Professional: Felt making provides my main source of income. I have excellent practical and theoretical knowledge of a wide range of wet felting techniques, including and exceeding those of the advanced felt maker (above). I have developed a particular technique/style in my work. I currently am/would consider teaching my own workshops.

Course Outline

Day 1: Shrinkage, skin textures, hair & fur
Day 2: Eyes – structure, expression, and placement
Day 3: Ears – human and non-human forms

Why Join This Workshop

Reduce risk before committing to a full mask
Save time by solving technical challenges early
Build confidence through focused experimentation
Develop repeatable techniques you can return to again and again
Strengthen your sculptural thinking and decision-making

This workshop is about working smarter, not harder, and setting yourself up for success in complex felt projects.

Advance Preparation

Once registered, you will receive a Materials List.

Please allow sufficient time to source materials, as some may take longer to obtain
Pre-workshop homework is included and forms an important part of the learning process

All teaching is delivered in English, and a basic working knowledge of English is required. Written handouts will be provided.

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SAMPLES: TOWARDS AN ANIMAL MASK

About the workshop

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What you’ll explore

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How learning is supported

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What you’ll walk away with

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What this workshop is not

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What this workshop is

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Who this workshop is for

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Why join this workshop

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Experience level required

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Advance preparations

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Provisional course outline please note this is flexible and subject to change

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COLOUR PLAY:

COLLAGE, CONTRAST, SHADE, BLENDING & LAYERING TECHNIQUES

SAMPLES: A LIBRARY OF IDEAS

FACES OF EXTINCTION (ANIMAL MASKS)

About the Masterclass

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What You’ll Explore

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How Learning is Supported

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What You’ll Walk Away With

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What This Masterclass Is Not

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What This Workshop Is

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Who This Masterclass is For

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Why Join This Masterclass

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Advance Preparations

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Course Outline

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TREE BARKS IN FELT

4 days tuition

Type: Workshop

Level: Beginner/Intermediate/Advanced

About the Workshop

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What You’ll Explore

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How Learning Is Supported

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What You’ll Walk Away With

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What This Workshop Is Not

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What This Workshop Is

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Who This Workshop Is For

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Why Join This Workshop

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Advance Preparations

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Course Outline

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FELT LAB

What This Open Lab Is Not

​

This is not a step-by-step, tutor-led workshop.

This is not for 2D (flat) felt projects. There is no prescribed project, no fixed outcome, no prescribed aesthetic, and no beginner instruction.

Instead, this is a shared studio environment that prioritises experimentation, professional development, creative growth, independent thinking, and the development of a personal sculptural language, with expert support available throughout.

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Who This Open Lab Is For

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This is not for 2D (flat) felt projects.
There is no prescribed project, no fixed outcome, no prescribed aesthetic, and no beginner instruction.