BIO

Robin Wiltse was born on Vancouver Island BC and grew up on a rural farm in Black Creek. It was while attending The Kootenay School of the Arts in Nelson BC that she learned and was enchanted by the art of felting. Robin brings her love of drawing and illustration into her felt pieces through the combined methods of needle and wet felting.

This artist’s fibre work has been show in many group and juried exhibits around BC. Recently a felting of Robin’s was included in the latest book of the series 500 Felt Objects, representing fibre artists from all over the world. The recipient of many Art Starts Grants, Robin shares her love of art through teaching and has worked with many BC children.

ARTIST STATEMENT

Robin Wiltse is a Canadian fibre artist working in wool.  With a love of colour and texture, and drawing from a background of painting and illustration, she uses a single needle to manipulate the fibres into rich and detailed images. 

The techniques Robin uses to make these felted works involve a lengthly time consuming process. It can take many months to complete a single one. Using the power of repetition, there are parallels to the patterns of time, in nature and the human experience. The endless stars, the ongoing cycles, the phases, the rhythms and the many common threads that tie us all together. 

Robin’s current work is often inspired by botanical folklore. Looking into the ways that historical botany, myth and legend have tried to explain the mysteries of life and death through healing, ritual and magic, Robin looks for symbology and patterns in the narratives of her own life. Experiences of wonder, loss, grief and the questions that arise have helped develop a unique and intriguing storytelling style.

My Curriculum Vitae

PROCESS

Felting is thousands of years old and is thought to be one of the earliest known materials made by man. It has been used for garments, footwear, rugs, dwellings ( yurts), and even body armour.

I am drawn to felting because of the wool texture and the way each fibre holds colour. The transformation of raw fleece into felt is a process that never ceases to amaze me.
I have been experimenting with combining the ancient art of wet felting with the relatively new technique of using needles.

I start by laying down a base of wool, and then I build up my image with layers of dyed fleece. I use a felting needle to lock the design into place.
The little barbs on the needle entangle the fibres, allowing me to blend colours and achieve detail, much like painting.

Once I feel that the image is complete I felt the entire piece using the wet felting method.
This involves boiling water, soap and friction to further intertwine the fibres. There is some shrinkage throughout these processes but very little distortion.

Through the tactile experience of felting, I feel connected to my creativity, and I feel I am just starting to explore its possibilities as an illustrative medium.