Reef of creatures

de Kami Goertz @kamigoertz

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Introduction

Coral reef inspired soft sculptural pieces made with various fabrics and different shapes. I used textures and colours of different textiles combined to give the effect of a busy reef, including some creatures and faces to make the piece really come to life.

Supplies

Supplies I used to create this piece are various fabrics and textiles. I used hand and machine sewing techniques to form the shapes and hand-stitching to attach all the various shapes to a stuffed base.

Step 1: Imagining an environment

My process begins with imagining a natural shape or environmental element that I would like to represent in fabrics. In this case a reef inspired by coral reefs in the ocean. I begin with looking at images of the actual reef and forms that I want to represent and then I find textiles and fabrics in my collection that have colours and textures that I think would mimic those natural elements. I think about the shapes that I see in nature, and find ways to represent those shapes in the fabric forms that I am sculpting. For example I notice tube like shapes in a real reef, so I create exaggerated tube shapes in fabric to mimic these natural forms. I continue observing shapes and textures and adding on to the piece until it comes to life!

Step 2: Create a base shape

I use a neutral or stone coloured fabric for the base of my reef sculpture. This base is then stuffed with scrap fabric to give it weight and will be used as the base for all other elements to be attached. The form of this base can be round, long, flat or oval, any shape you want to imagine, or that looks like a stone.

Step 3: Adding characters

No reef is complete without some characters. I add some character faces to some of the elements I am attaching to the rock. I also add loose characters such as this sea star, that can be positioned in different places on the piece. The clams are sewn into the rock base as well. I can continue to add different sea characters as I wish. Some may be attached and some loose. This adds a fun dynamic to the sculpture.

Step 4: Textures

I continue to add textures and various fabrics to the piece until it looks full and complete. In this piece, I added a sea horse character on top that can be positioned in various places on the reef. I used some sheer fabric pieces to give the piece a watery look and pompoms to create texture on one of the forms.