Kathleen Dodge-DeHaven, Whidbey Weavers Guild
Materials & Technique: Nuno- and wet-felted background, needle-felted face and hair: wool, silk, and viscose.
Description: “La Gioconda,” a felted portrait, draws its name from Leonardo da Vinci’s iconic masterpiece, known for its enigmatic smile. This needle-felted piece is set against a Nuno-felted background featuring misty florals. Although it began as a self-portrait, I now feel it represents my inner self more accurately.
While searching for a title, my friend and fellow fiber artist, Fine Gelfand, suggested “La Gioconda,” the Italian name for the Mona Lisa. This felt especially fitting, as I have been captivated by Leonardo da Vinci since childhood.
I started learning needle-felting in 2013, initially creating tiny figures and flowers, then progressing to doll-like figures. In 2015, thanks to some fortunate connections with fiber artists on Whidbey Island, I began to learn wet-felting and Nuno-felting. I started with hollow-form vessels and hats, soon developing an interest in creating felted pictures, beginning with landscapes and later branching into abstract art.
Further exploration led me to study drawing, which added another layer of skill to my felting work. Over the past year, I have developed a keen interest in portraiture, culminating in the creation of my first portrait, “La Gioconda.”
