Felti by Sarah Leigh
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Spiral Sculptural Pod Light
Conical Wrap Strung Lights
Suspended SeaPod
Biography
Through the medium of felt making I explore the relationship between wool and illumination - creating sculptural lighting that exploits form and texture to reveal nuances of light and shade. Utilising a variety of wool fibres allows me to manipulate and play with their unique properties; creating a tactile surface that invites touch and interaction. This can manifest in suspended over-sized seedpod forms, towering columns of bark or simply chains of paper edged wraps.
inspiration
Nature is a constant and abundant source of inspiration - from the simplistic form of a seedpod to the deeply fissured textures of tree bark, or the sweeping twist of a leaf to the spiralling curves of a shell ... rarely does a walk through woodland or along the shore fail to provide new inspiration.
medium
All of my pieces begin life as layers of carded wool fibre. Hot soapy water is applied to swell these fibres and encourage them to tangle as I apply pressure through rubbing and rolling. As the fibres bond and unite I can manipulate this newly formed fabric to create textural forms. In addition, much of my work employs fine layers of a resistant material to strategically prevent the felting process, creating layers and areas of negative space. Always paramount is the effect of illumination on the felted form.