Artwork for Jenny Biddlecombe
Ghost Hare
Springer Spaniel
Sheep
Terrier
Elderly Jack Russell Terrier
Gloucester Old Spot Pig
Hare
Daschund
Details
Needle felting is a technique where the fibres are matted and then sculpted by stabbing the fibres using a single barbed needle. I use mainly sheep wool, but also alpaca and occasionally silk fibres. The base of my creatures starts with a wire armature which once finished allows these animals to be slightly poseable which I think adds to their charm. I love to study the animal I am making so I can add as much detail as I can to make them as realistic as possible and bring out their character. I take inspiration from the wonderful countryside around me and my love of animals and I strive to bring them to life; I always feel that they have a little magic in them.
I discovered needle felting in 2017 and fell in love with this process. I really enjoy the therapeutic aspect of needle felting, I find it very relaxing and hearing the gentle crunch of the needle as it stabs the fibre, you can get totally absorbed in the process and time just flies. I love the freedom to be able to look at a pile of wool and know that I can create anything I like from it, no restrictions other than my own imagination and skills. I like that with practise your skills develop and your knowledge increases and you learn the wool and what each type is capable of and can be used for. I love the challenge of figuring out how to create a particular ear, or a tail or a colour blend for example and using different techniques to achieve the end result. I remember the first time someone called me an artist I was totally thrilled and felt very humbled that people wanted to buy my work.
I would describe myself as a three dimensional needlefelt artist. Using the art of needle felting I sculpt animals from natural fibres, mainly sheep's wool, around a wire armature by stabbing the fibres using a single barbed needle.
The animals I create currently are mainly commissions of people's pets and I enjoy the challenge of getting the details right and creating something that can be cherished and many times are able to bring back memories of a beloved pet. I started to teach needle felting last year and I did a couple of 1 day workshops which I really enjoyed and would like to continue with this in the future. I love to create these wool sculptures just because I can too and I would like to take part in more craft fairs when time allows.
I am self taught in the art of 3D needle felting following on from a one day needlefelt course that I did in 2017
The Artist's Gallery, Ludlow Food Centre, Bromfield 2024
The Artist's Gallery, Ludlow Food Centre, Bromfield 2023
Blue Magpie Contemporary Craft Fair, Malvern 2023
Faun Christmas Fair, Malvern 2022
The Lion Gallery, Leominster - now Oxenham Art, Leominster
The Old Chapel Gallery, Pembridge
Oxenham Gallery, Hereford
