Laid Fibre Paintings
Quite a while ago now I posted a picture of a wonderful wool painting. I found out via the artist that is wasn’t a needle felted picture or a wet felted picture but a laid fibre picture. I admired the picture so much that I contacted the artist to ask more about this technique. This was the picture, you may remember it. It is called ‘Elements‘.
‘Laid fibre’ is exactly what is says, basically. The picture is totally created by laying the fibres onto the board and creating a picture. Then you simply place glass on top to hold it all in place. It may sound quite easy, but in theory it does have a drawback. When I and others create a wool picture, we may go on to free motion or hand sew it, or add all sorts of embellishments such as beads etc. The laid fibre technique makes you think a little further, you have to create the picture as a whole, as it cannot be added to in this way, as it essentially, loose fibres. I find it a very satisfying way to work, it feels very ‘calming’.
I have stayed in touch with Penny the fibre artist who inspired me and I am pleased to say we are now great friends. She lives in a rugged part of North of Scotland, Thurso. I am sure we will meet one day. She has been very generous with her tips to get me to this point of my creativity. If you would like to see more of her work, find it here:
https://pennyirvinefibreartist.co.uk/
I have created a few laid fibre pictures and I am thrilled to say I have sold three of these, the sheep has found a home in the USA.
Tuscan Sunflowers
Sunflowers and Tulips
Tuscan Poppies
Wildflower Meadow
If you would like to see more of my work you can find me on fb at Tracey Thompson Textiles. Thank you.
https://www.facebook.com/traceythompsontextiles/?modal=admin_todo_tour
20 thoughts on “Laid Fibre Paintings”
My mom’s family is from Thurso. I’ll have to check Penny Irvine out.
Fantastic, Tracey! That sheep is a favourite of mine.
Thank you so much Leonor, mine too xx
These are great Tracey. Are the photos taken before the glass is applied? Does the glass change the look of texture at all? I’m excited for you that your work is selling, I can see why. I hope you and Penny are able to meet in person.
If I remember correctly Ruth, the Sunflowers and Tulips is through the glass but the rest are before the glass goes on top. I personally think it does not change the appearance greatly. If the wool looks soft, pressure from the glass won’t change that. Thanks for the lovely comments.
Stunning!
That is very kind of you Lucette, thank you very much!
All of your pictures are lovely Tracey (and no wetting or rolling – bonus!) fabulous colours too.
It’s fun to do and you’ve mastered the technique beautifully.
Great news about your three sales – we hope you have many more!
Thank you so much Lyn. It is good to try different techniques, keeps things interesting
Tracey, your Fibres pictures are wonderful. Each so unique. You’ve really mastered this process.
Thank you very much Marilyn, very kind. The process feels so gentle and calming, maybe because you don’t throw water over it at the end or stab at it with vicious needles! 🙂
Haha 😆. So right!
Tracy your work is lovely. I remember when a couple of years ago, I started to place my wool on to my pictures. And I was told you wet felt or needle felt. But I’d just started, but I like you like the effect of laying glass on it give a softer finish in my opinion. But I’m still a novice and I can do wet, needle and mixed media now but it’s a learning curve. And every peice you do is original.
Thank you very much for the lovely comments Sharon! Keep practising and creating. I also wet felt, and create textile pictures too. It is lovely to experiment with different things, it keeps I all interesting. Happy playing!
Lovely pieces Tracy. Do you press them down to help them stick together or just lay them on? I often really like my pieces before wetting down. One of the thing on my list of things to do is to take good pictures before felting to use to make prints, so I can have the best of both worlds.
Thanks Ann. That is a really great idea about taking photos before wetting them. The fibres are just laid on the board to create the picture and the glass/plexi holds it all in place.
Wow Tracey your pictures are lovely – you’ve achieved great sense of depth, and perspective with your use of colour. I’m glad your work has gained admirers and that you have sold 3 already. I love your playful sheep, just hope his locks don’t crush too much under the glass.
I’ve not tried ‘stopping’ once I’ve laid my fibres, perhaps I should as wetting and felting often changes what I WAS happy with, particularly the placement of fibres, and the delicate subtle blending of colours.
It also strikes me as being quite ethereal – continuous vibration or removal of the glass and the image could be gone.
Thank you Antje for your lovely comments, much appreciated!
The locks do squash a little but they don’t lose the definition as much as if they are wet felted and rubbed hard to get them to adhere. In answer to your other question, the backs of these pictures are packed tight so they don’t move, and I put a note on the board saying the frame and glass cannot be changed because it is a laid fibre picture, as you are right, if it was opened up it would be lost. However if the buyer is happy with the frame, there would be no need to do this.
Do have a go!
Love this technique. Pictures so beautiful. Want to try this soon. Thanks for the share. I have some wonderful felt, just need to learn how to work with it. Do you use a special glass, perhaps non-glare?
Thank you so much. I have stopped using glass all together in case I have to ship, and use plexi-glass, however I would just use normal glass otherwise, hope this has helped, do have a go!