ARTWORKSOFMAINE - FELTED WOOL WALL HANGINGS

Felted Wool Wall Hangings

A sampling of works by Karen Anne Baldauski

FOX IN BIRCHES, 37" x 72". This felted wool hanging was juried into "Expressions", the 2019 Marin Society of Artists National Open Fine Arts Juried Exhibition in San Rafael, California. The juror was Paul Kratter. This piece excels in well-made wet feltin

THREE SEALS, 44" x 50", was also juried into the MARIN SOCIETY OF ARTISTS 2019 National Open Fine Arts Exhibition. $3,000.

"Foraging", felted wool wall hanging, 38" x 25". Exquisite in its delicacy of effects and palette. The atmosphere by the sea is evoked using highest caliber techniques Karen has developed through experimentation with wool and silk fibers. NFS

"Her work should be hung in the

Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYCity."

--a satisfied customer

In 2010, Karen expanded her creative work to include wet felting wool into wall hangings. That year, two large pieces (seals and a whale) were juried into a show at the University of Maine Atrium Gallery.

Self-taught in the use of fibers and dyes, Karen has mastered dyeing techniques since first exhibiting large cotton batiks at America House in New York City and was the first artist to show batiks the year Peter's Valley School of Craft (originally Peter's Valley Craftsmen) was established with its gallery in Layton, New Jersey near the Delaware Water Gap. Karen was a charter member there. And her parents kept a cabin nearby along the Delaware River where Karen lived for a while after returning from 2.5 years in England before making up her mind to move permanently to Maine in 1978

Felted wall hangings are great for visual impact. And the wool is beautiful to feel. It is a totally renewable resource that has so many uses...in addition to inspiring artworks.

As a practical consideration, any loosely hung felted wall hanging is very easy to transport...just roll it up! The wet felting process includes washing a piece many times in soapy water before hanging it to dry in the wind and sun before being offered for sale/exhibition. Many pieces can be stretched over a frame for a more formal presentation as the piece can be squared up. Well-made felted wall hangings are very sturdy; some pieces with very delicate surface treatments must be framed under glass to protect the textural effects that appear as if they are watercolor paintings.

"Two Loons", a work in progress (at the time of this photo) is stretched to dry in the wind.

This felted wool hanging uses hand-dyed Maine wool for the design. All of Karen's work is hung to dry, blowing in the wind! Most pieces are well made to withstand handling over time and need only light vacuuming to pick up dust or a good shake every so often. Eventually, this piece was stretched over a wood frame and framed in red painted wood. It was sold through Archipelago (the Island Institute store & gallery), Rockland, Maine.

"Birches & Cardinals" utilizes highly skilled WET felting technique. Roughly 70" wide, it can hang loosely against a wall from a rod. For easy transport, like many felted wool wall hangings, it can simply be rolled up for easy transport. $9,000.

"A Summer Day in Maine",

$3500.

Detail, "Waterfall and Pool". This wall hanging can be suspended from a rod and hangs about 6 feet with an uneven edge. A stunning piece using hand-dyed wools (permanent acid dyes) and Maine knitting wools for design details.This piece exhibits exciting suface treatment and color undulations. It would best be served framed under glass. The lower edge is not straight but its "raggedy" effect enhances the idea of water entering a natural pool. $11,000

"Spring"

$4500.

ENTANGLED, ENDANGERED LOON: 96" X 44" X 1/4". The loon in this very large felted wool wall hanging depicts the dire circumstance of entanglement in cast off monofilament fishing line often discovered in lakes.. In the sea, whales too can become entangled in floating rope attached to lobster buoys and mooring balls which puts them at great risk. Our fishermen and federal regulators are also entangled in constant battle with one another in efforts to reach reasonable guidelines for not only preservation of endangered species but also, preservation of the livelihoods of so many people who depend upon harvest from the sea. $18,000.

ENTANGLED WHALE wall hanging is also 96" x 44" x 1/4". This wall hanging is part of a duo concerned with dangers to our wildlife. Karen is a Registered Maine Guide and is very aware of things that can be done to help avoid endangerment. $18,000.

"Luna Moth"

A lovely piece that can be hung loosely from a rod for effective presentation.

$4500.

""Harbor Seals, Shimmering Sea". Some of the best presentations of loosely hung felted wall hangings rely on stainless steel t-pins for precise positioning and ideal suspension. Silk is combined with wool in this piece. $5500.

SOARING GULLS, $450.

RIVER ICE JAM, 7' x 30", $4500.

LAVA FLOW, large, $10,000.

TWO SEALS, BLUE WATERS, a very large wall hanging, $7500.

HERRING GULL, TIDE POOL, stretched over a frame and framed with painted wood, $1200.

MOUNTAIN LAKE, DEER, CARDINAL, stretched over a frame and framed with painted wood, $750

SEALS, GRANITE COVE, $750

SUMMER NIGHT, SUMMER HOME BY THE SEA, stretched and framed, $450.

CARDINAL IN BIRCHES, stretched and framed, $450.

This is just a detail of the WHALE wall hanging which is very large (80+ inches wide), first shown at a University of Maine gallery 2010, one of Karen's first felted wool wall hangings, (with white silk backing, hand stitched). NFS at this time.

DOE, BIRCHES, CROWS, stretched, NFS

BLACK BEAR IN BLUEBERRY BARRENS, stretched, $750.

"Water Woman", may be displayed horizontally or vertically. This piece is very unusual for the dyed background which saturates both back and front surfaces to offer free floating display option so both sides could be seen in all its handmade glory and vi

"Rollicking Sea and the Red Buoy". This wet-felted all wool & silk wall hanging may hang loosely or be stretched and squared-up over a frame before displaying against a wall.