Meet Bea

Bea Lawnsby

Art is my joy, wool is my medium, photography is my hobby and creating felted landscapes pulls it all together into one unique piece of art.

I have always said that I was born with a camera in my hand, and I have always loved to create art. I have done various textile art forms, but none that I have loved until I found felting.

I began my felting adventure in 2010 when I first saw beautiful felted articles made at the League of New Hampshire Craftsmen fair. Seeing the amazing articles of clothing intrigued me and I was hooked. I began to take lessons, and make items on my own. But life got in the way until I met my husband. He supported me and believed in me and once again I began to felt. I retired, sold my house and in the process of packing I found a landscape piece that I had long forgotten and had attempted to make for a friend, it was horrible. But with persistence, determination and a lot of tearing out, and doing again, not to mention a few more classes my skills improved and I completed the piece. I had then caught the bug of felting landscapes. 

I now live on a sailboat and no longer have the space to make large pieces such as vests, jackets or scarves. Since we travel the eastern seaboard seasonally I have the opportunity to take many pictures. We have sailed as far north as Newfoundland and as far south as the Bahamas. The pictures that I felt are taken during my travels of inspiring scenes and majestic sunsets. I do the felting right on the boat while dancing on the waves or anchored snugly in port. The challenge is storing the hundreds or so different shades of colored wool in the small space of a 34’ boat, not to mention the felting tools.

I find creating a piece to be meditative and challenging at the same time. The skills that this unusual medium requires has been a journey that will never quite end as each landscape seems to have its own challenge of color, shapes, fine detail, and broad areas with variegated patterns. To finish a typical 8×10 piece it can take upwards of 30-50 hours depending on the amount of detail in the picture being duplicated in wool and other fibers.

I also create art to wear from head to toe. I have made hats, scarves, neck warmers, vests, jackets and boots. 

Peruse my virtual gallery, I accept commissions which include larger pieces although I need to approve the picture. Price is dependent on the size and complexity of the picture. I reserve the right to use artist discretion in completing the piece.