About Mandy's Art

Art has always been my means of processing the world around me. As a child, I precociously created an illustrated guide to dog breeds. In my 20’s,  I drew portraits of the children I served at a homeless shelter in San Francisco. As a young mom I needle-felted toys out of wool for my daughters. 

During the pandemic, I began working at Lum Farm on Orcas Island. I was deeply affected by the challenge of agriculture: laboring in relationship with the land, weather, animals, and community. I consider my wool paintings the culmination of the sense of purpose I experienced while farming with my deeply grounded sense of home on Orcas Island. 

With this as my muse, what better medium than wool? Using this renewable resource from animals that I have cared for, wool is versatile and tactile. My wool paintings are created using wet and dry felting methods.  I use the word “painting” for lack of a better term, as I never actually use a brush or pigment, but layer upon layer of dyed wool. 

While it may look like a new or novel craft, felting has been documented from as early as 6000 BCE. Having been used for everything from nomadic yurts to toys for the children of Mesopotamia, I am honored to add to this grand tapestry of fiber art that transcends centuries and borders! 

May my work remind the viewer of the truth and beauty that lies in the simple historical act of working in conjunction with land, animals, and each other. It is my hope that as one is reminded of these connections, we feel it more deeply and are inclined to preserve and protect it.