I am C.d. Moland and I make vibrant images by wet felting wool and other fibers. Felt is considered to be the oldest known textile, predating spinning and weaving. The wet felting process harnesses heat, pressure, and water to transform loose sheep's wool (and other animal fibers) into a unified, solid textile. Legend has it that the nomadic people of Asia used wool to line their sandals to prevent blisters and eventually it felted together. Today, felt has evolved into an unique art form - one that creates a sensation of "aliveness" that I find unmatched by any other medium.
A little about me: After attending an innovative high school with a strong art program, I continued my education, attaining a degree in photography. But small-town reality hit hard when my only job prospect involved photographing babies at J.C. Penney. So I did what any person with undiagnosed ADHD would do—I abandoned photography as a career and found work at the local racetrack. For the next twelve years, I cared for and trained racehorses. Yes, I realize this career pivot makes absolutely no sense, but my primary goal was simple: avoid dying of boredom.
The following decades were filled with many adventures, among the most fulfilling was raising my two children and a return to college for a degree in graphic design. But from the time that my grandmother, a tailor, taught me to thread a needle, fiber has been a constant to which I always seem to return again and again, whether it be batik, quilting, sewing, or pattern design. And when I discovered the amazing work of Moy Mackay, I became enraptured with felting and all its stunning possibilities.
Color, texture and form have always served as the anchors I use to still my racing mind. The meticulous and sometimes frustrating process of laying out a multitude of different, delicate fibers to be felted always demands complete presence. The physicality of wet felting—the rubbing, strenuous rolling, rinsing, and drying—keeps my body engaged and my spirit grounded when darkness threatens. And I find great satisfaction in the finishing touches: the precise needle felting, thoughtful machine stitching, and occasional hand embellishments that complete each piece.
For me, the felting process itself becomes more important than any specific subject matter. I see endless possibilities everywhere - all exciting and just waiting to be brought to life in felt. Many of my pieces begin with my own photographs, so that photography degree came in handy after all.
From a distance or on screen, my work often resembles painting. But step closer, and the magic reveals itself : the richness and depth of the texture, luminous quality of the fibers, and almost hidden subtle patterns. Regardless of subject matter, my ultimate goal remains the same—to create pieces so compelling that you feel an irresistible urge to reach out and touch them. And whether the image is a mountain, a beloved pet, or a far off nebula, it will continue give warm and life to your living space.
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