Felt SculptureFelt Sculptureby Elsa Moraby Elsa Mora

Who Is Elsa Mora?Who Is Elsa Mora?

Elsa Mora was born in Holguin, Cuba, in 1971.Elsa Mora was born in Holguin, Cuba, in 1971. She is an artist working in a variety of media She is an artist working in a variety of media

including painting, photography, illustration, including painting, photography, illustration, ceramics, porcelain, collage, bronze, mixed ceramics, porcelain, collage, bronze, mixed media, paper cutting.media, paper cutting.

Mora attended the Vocational School of the Arts Mora attended the Vocational School of the Arts in Holguin. She left home when she was fifteen, in Holguin. She left home when she was fifteen, and she moved to Camagüey, where she and she moved to Camagüey, where she graduated from the Professional School of Visual graduated from the Professional School of Visual Arts in 1990. Arts in 1990.

She currently resides in Los Angeles, California She currently resides in Los Angeles, California with her husband and two children.with her husband and two children.

Mixed Media, 2007Mixed Media, 2007

Elsa Mora is interested in nature Elsa Mora is interested in nature along with human thoughts and along with human thoughts and feelings. She is focused on feelings. She is focused on embracing life’s challenges, embracing life’s challenges, exploring insecurities, and exploring insecurities, and celebrating a positive human spirit. celebrating a positive human spirit.

The following images are The following images are only a sampling of Elsa only a sampling of Elsa Mora’s creative endeavors.Mora’s creative endeavors.

DreamsDreams

Kiki Paper DollKiki Paper Doll

RosettaRosetta

This is Elsa’s This is Elsa’s interpretation of interpretation of Frida Kahlo's Frida Kahlo's necklace in paper necklace in paper

Birds, 2005Birds, 2005

Organic ShapesOrganic Shapes

in Porcelainin Porcelain

FearsFears

Inner ThreadInner Thread

The WoundThe Wound

The paper cuts are created by drawing a mirror image on the back of the paper.

The negative space is cut away.

For thee dimensional layering, the quality paper is embossed from the back side.

Embossing is done by placing the paper, front side down on a soft surface. The paper is gently rubbed with a smooth rounded tool, stretching the paper until it curves.

By layering the smaller embossed pieces, Elsa can create three dimensional pieces.

Wow! Check out this bumble bee.Wow! Check out this bumble bee.

Red and WhiteRed and White

Girl BirdGirl Bird

Dress with Dress with Branch and BirdBranch and Bird

Dress with Teddy BearDress with Teddy Bear

Snow DressSnow DressThis dress with a teddy bear and a bird, is constructed out of white felt stuffed with This dress with a teddy bear and a bird, is constructed out of white felt stuffed with

polyfil. polyfil. The branches were made out of stiffened felt.  The branches were made out of stiffened felt. 

Winter SceneWinter Scene

SSoft sculpture out of felt stuffed with polyester fiberoft sculpture out of felt stuffed with polyester fiber

Project Tips & RequirementsProject Tips & Requirements

Please let Elsa Mora’s work be an inspiration – a starting point.Please let Elsa Mora’s work be an inspiration – a starting point.

You will create a 3D sculpture in You will create a 3D sculpture in white feltwhite felt.. You will need sharp scissors, white felt, white thread, sewing needles, and cotton balls or You will need sharp scissors, white felt, white thread, sewing needles, and cotton balls or

polyester fiberfill. polyester fiberfill.

The assembled piece must stand on its own and be a minimum of 10 inches in either length or The assembled piece must stand on its own and be a minimum of 10 inches in either length or height. The width from front to back must be at least 2 inches.height. The width from front to back must be at least 2 inches.

Nature will be your muse. The sculpture does not have to be a dress or a landscape. It just has Nature will be your muse. The sculpture does not have to be a dress or a landscape. It just has to have natural forms as the main element.to have natural forms as the main element.

Start by brainstorming. Make at least three sketches. Start by brainstorming. Make at least three sketches. Label the parts of your design and print out a few visual resources.Label the parts of your design and print out a few visual resources.

Think in layers; some will be stuffed while others are not. In order for the piece to stand, some Think in layers; some will be stuffed while others are not. In order for the piece to stand, some stuffed forms will have to have a base, like a pyramid or cylinder. Check out the bottom of Elsa’s stuffed forms will have to have a base, like a pyramid or cylinder. Check out the bottom of Elsa’s felt dress sculpture. It’s fine for other pieces to be made of two parts, sewn and stuffed like felt dress sculpture. It’s fine for other pieces to be made of two parts, sewn and stuffed like Elsa’s birds. Elsa’s birds. Include at least three stuffed layers. The more layers you include, the more depth Include at least three stuffed layers. The more layers you include, the more depth your work will convey. Make at least 5 total layers.your work will convey. Make at least 5 total layers.

It’s easier to make paper patterns first, then place or pin them to the felt to cut out shapes. It’s easier to make paper patterns first, then place or pin them to the felt to cut out shapes. Avoid visible marking on the white felt with pencil or pen. Often it will show or soil the work.Avoid visible marking on the white felt with pencil or pen. Often it will show or soil the work.

Continue to the next slide.Continue to the next slide.

If you do not have experience hand stitching, please go online for a quick tutorial. If you do not have experience hand stitching, please go online for a quick tutorial. See this site for the whip stitch. Easy! (Yes, hand stitching is preferable to machine.)See this site for the whip stitch. Easy! (Yes, hand stitching is preferable to machine.) http://gratzindustries.blogspot.com/2008/11/tutorial-how-to-whipstitch.htmlhttp://gratzindustries.blogspot.com/2008/11/tutorial-how-to-whipstitch.html Go to this site to learn the blanket stitch.Go to this site to learn the blanket stitch. http://stitchschool.blogspot.com/2009/12/blanket-stitch.htmlhttp://stitchschool.blogspot.com/2009/12/blanket-stitch.html

The main concerns with hand sewing:The main concerns with hand sewing: Keep the stitches small and evenly placed. Keep the stitches small and evenly placed. Leave tails at the ends of your knots. Leave tails at the ends of your knots. Hide your knots by placing the first and last knot inside the seam. Hide your knots by placing the first and last knot inside the seam. Be sure to leave a small opening in each piece so that you can stuff it. Be sure to leave a small opening in each piece so that you can stuff it. Gently pull the cotton or fiber fill apart, stretching it to make easier to work with.Gently pull the cotton or fiber fill apart, stretching it to make easier to work with. If your fingers cannot get the stuffing into the small areas, try using the eraser If your fingers cannot get the stuffing into the small areas, try using the eraser end of a pencil, a skewer, or knitting needle.end of a pencil, a skewer, or knitting needle. Then, neatly sew the opening closed.Then, neatly sew the opening closed.

For layering 3D pieces, try to sew them together, with hidden stitches, whenever For layering 3D pieces, try to sew them together, with hidden stitches, whenever possible. If you must use glue, make sure it won’t show and allow the piece time to possible. If you must use glue, make sure it won’t show and allow the piece time to dry before handing it again.dry before handing it again.

To stiffen single layers of felt that need to hold their structure: Water down white To stiffen single layers of felt that need to hold their structure: Water down white school glue or gel medium. Place the cut felt piece in a shallow dish to soak with the school glue or gel medium. Place the cut felt piece in a shallow dish to soak with the liquid. Remove and let it dry on a flat surface protected with plastic wrap. You can liquid. Remove and let it dry on a flat surface protected with plastic wrap. You can gently peel the plastic wrap off the back of the dry felt shape.gently peel the plastic wrap off the back of the dry felt shape.

Keep your hands clean, free of grease from snack food. Dirt loves to stick to the oils Keep your hands clean, free of grease from snack food. Dirt loves to stick to the oils

from your hands.from your hands.

Amory LenahanAmory Lenahan

I used Styrofoam eggs I used Styrofoam eggs wrapped with hand stitched wrapped with hand stitched white felt for the head and white felt for the head and body for this project. I used body for this project. I used foam pipe covering for the foam pipe covering for the neck and wire for the beak neck and wire for the beak and hand stitched white felt and hand stitched white felt over these. I cut and glued over these. I cut and glued individual feathers to the individual feathers to the body and then spray body and then spray painted the Cattails white. I painted the Cattails white. I then attached the bird and then attached the bird and Cattails to a piece of Cattails to a piece of Styrofoam that I stitched Styrofoam that I stitched white felt to. white felt to.

Did this student artist meet all Did this student artist meet all the project requirements? Are the project requirements? Are there at least three stuffed there at least three stuffed layers? layers?

Student work:Student work:Read over the project requirements and ask Read over the project requirements and ask yourself which objectives were met and which yourself which objectives were met and which were not.were not.

It’s My Fantasy by Tina Zang It’s My Fantasy by Tina Zang 20102010

This sculpture depicts a grassy mound, This sculpture depicts a grassy mound, high above the clouds. A small lamb sits high above the clouds. A small lamb sits under the dreamy tree and blows the under the dreamy tree and blows the petals off of a flower.petals off of a flower.

This piece won a Gold Key at the This piece won a Gold Key at the Scholastic Art Competition.Scholastic Art Competition.

This piece has artistic vision and voice. This piece has artistic vision and voice. It’s an individual interpretation of the It’s an individual interpretation of the assignment. Instead of simply creating a assignment. Instead of simply creating a stuffed animal type form, this sculpture stuffed animal type form, this sculpture tells a story. The overall form is very tells a story. The overall form is very interesting and the details pull us in. It’s interesting and the details pull us in. It’s layering and detail show advanced layering and detail show advanced technical ability. The student artist took technical ability. The student artist took the project prompt and made her own the project prompt and made her own interpretation.interpretation.

Detail imageDetail image

Bouquet by Rachel Slater, 2010Bouquet by Rachel Slater, 2010

This lovely floral is accented by This lovely floral is accented by beautifully hand-sewn sea beautifully hand-sewn sea creatures. If you look closely, creatures. If you look closely, you’ll see a fish, sea turtle, sea you’ll see a fish, sea turtle, sea horse, and coral. horse, and coral.

Detail Detail imageimage

Maryyann Landlord2011-2012

Hand-sown Felt, String, Glue Dimensions: 19’’ X 32’’ X 21’’

ResourcesResources

http://www.etsy.com/shop/bittystarrhttp://www.etsy.com/shop/bittystarr http://www.etsy.com/listing/40099109/bee-miniature-paper-sculpturehttp://www.etsy.com/listing/40099109/bee-miniature-paper-sculpture http://elsita.typepad.com/http://elsita.typepad.com/