unique pet portrait felted paintings of the animals you love
Description
Bespoke wet felted pet portraits with plain coloured background of your choice. Mounted on artist stretched canvas, worked from your personal photograph. Handmade in Camberwell, London from merino wool tops and other fibres with or without pet groomings. Felt, through its tactile qualities instantaneously triggers and connects to the act or memory of stroking your beloved pet. If photographs capture a moment in time and paintings depict more of a story, felt provides a tangible memory. It’s this sensory response that makes felt absolutely perfect for pet portraits. Sizes 40x40cm or 25x35cm standard or chunky depth frame. Worked from photographs it's really important you choose a great reference photo(s). It/they should best portray your pet but also not be blurry (unless you're looking for an abstracted portrait), be well exposed and a high resolution. I welcome being sent a selection of photos as this helps me get to know your pet. Most portraits take between 1 and 3 weeks once the reference photo(s) have been chosen. Please contact me for information on the best type of photo.
How this was made
All my felted pet portraits are made in London by hand using the wet felting technique from merino wool tops (the finest longest fibres from the wool making process). Felt is a non-constructed textile created from wool. Fibres making up the textile are matted together into a non-constructed fabric that unlike woven or knitted cloth, when cut won't fray. It's made by adding hot soapy water to wool fibres layered in alternate directions and then applying lots of friction. Pets come in all shapes and size; dogs, cats, rabbits, hamsters - the two things in common with my pet portraits are they're all commemorating a special friendship with a beloved pet and fur. If you wish, I can incorporate hair groomed from your pet into the piece.
What's included in the price?
Felted pet portrait wrapped over a stretched standard or chunky canvas. wrapped in tissue and tied with red string. If it's a gift I'll wrap it for you and tie with double satin ribbon and attach a tag with your message on - just let me know.
Duration
Maker
Heather Fiona Martin is a graduate of Goldsmiths College, University of London. She is an experienced felt maker who for over a decade has worked in educational and community settings. In addition to her community work she runs Purr & Wag It, fine art felted portraits. Heather holds an enhanced DBS certificate for children and vulnerable adults.
Suitable for
- Mother's Day
- Pet lovers
- Romantic
- UK Holiday
- Christmas
- Father's Day
FAQs
Merino wool tops and pre-felt come in many colours and qualities. I like to think I provide some of the best and I will share my sources with you after you've attended a workshop. At in person workshops a very wide selection of different colours and shades are available.
I buy all my wool tops from suppliers who certify it is Non-Mulesed. Mulesing is the removal of strips of wool-bearing skin from around the breech (buttocks) of a sheep to prevent the parasitic infection flystrike (myiasis). It is illegal in the UK.
It has also been dyed to Oeko-Tex Standard 100: meaning the finished dyed wool has been tested for harmful substances and found harmless for human health.
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It's the felting business of Heather Fiona Martin and was borne out of a wet felted pet portrait painting of a beloved Bearded Collie. Tabletop Workshops is simply the teaching arm of the business.
Heather is a graduate of Goldsmiths College, University of London. She is an experienced felt maker who for over two decades has worked in educational and community settings. Heather holds an enhanced DBS certificate for children and vulnerable adults.
Heather has been making felt with people of all ages with many differing abilities for many years now. It’s a simple process (once you know how) but elements of felt making are quite vigorous and very hands on. If you have arthritis or a similar condition in your hands you may find parts of the process challenging. That being said it’s not stopped anybody before and Heather is very happy to help you with vigorous parts of the process.
I recommend loose layered clothing. Working the fibres into felt takes a bit of elbow grease so you may find you want to take your top layer off!
An apron is not necessary but if you prefer to wear one when making then please do bring it along.
There is no parking on Stories Mews itself.
However parking is free on the surrounding roads (eg Grove Lane, Grove Park and Camberwell Grove) after 6.30pm during the week and all day at the weekend.
If you’re cycling let me know the Friday before the workshop so I can make room for your bike in the garage.
