Paints Workshop

Needle Felted Fungi

with Elise Campbell

Grade levels: , ,
Teaching Methods:
Artist Location: Halifax, Halifax Metro
Max # of students: 30
Timeframe: 4 hours

This workshop uses wool fibre and a sharp felting needle to sculpt a 3D shape. Needle felting is intuitive, fun, and forgiving; where you poke is where the wool will mat together and condense. Students will learn how to create shapes (tube, oval, semi-circle, flat circle, etc.) and connect shapes together. This class covers colour blending with wool, shading, creating depth, discussion of materials, and more!

During the first part of the lesson students will create a 3D wool mushroom out of core wool; they will then “paint” the colours on during the second half of the lesson. Completed mushrooms can be strung up to hang (like an ornament), glued to a base, or stuck with a toothpick and mounted to a form – there is lots of flexibility for finishing which can be discussed via email and during the first part of the workshop.

Felting needles are very sharp and sometimes a student will accidentally poke themselves, so this workshop is best suited for grades 4 and up.

*If you are interested in a needle workshop but want to make a different project (not a mushroom), please reach out to Elise for discussion.

About the artist - Elise Campbell

Elise Campbell is a textile artist and educator based in Stillwater Lake, near Kjipuktuk/Halifax, Nova Scotia. Working primarily with wool, silk, and other natural fibers, Elise creates sculptural pieces that transcend traditional craft boundaries. Her artistic journey is deeply rooted in pushing the limits of wool as a medium, and exploring contemporary connections through texture, surface design, and form.

Elise’s dedication to elevating wool fibre to fine craft is evident in her commitment to innovation and collaboration. Her work has garnered recognition and support from prestigious institutions such as the Canada Council for the Arts, The Robert Pope Foundation, and the Denis Diderot Grant, and has been showcased in galleries across Nova Scotia, British Columbia, and Ontario. Through her creative endeavours, residencies, and an international felting study, Elise strives to both inspire and embrace innovation and collaboration, fostering a collective responsibility to protect and cherish our natural home, Earth.

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