The forest is home to many creatures. Depending on the forest, small mammals can include anything from rabbits and raccoons to foxes and chipmunks, while larger mammals include dear and moose. But down below, on the forest floor, amidst the bark and moss, you’ll find a whole entire kingdom – that of insects. The benefits of insects to the forest ecosystem have long been studied, and include renewing the forest by removing old trees, recycling nutrients, and providing new habitat and food for wildlife.
Emily Yeadon’s textile art is an homage to the tiny creatures that make or break a forest. “Woodlands and forests are a huge inspiration for me,” she admitted in an interview with Enchanted Living Magazine. “I regard them as being my ‘magical place,’ a place deep in nature that awakens my imagination.”
Recreating moths, butterflies, and bees (placed amongst mossy grounds and mushrooms), her artwork might remind of traditional taxidermy but is anything but. In fact, her insects are made entirely using fabric, thread, and paint. “When starting on anything new, I almost always begin by researching three things: the creature, its colorings, patterns, and structure; the techniques I’ll need to use; and the materials I’ll require,” explains Yeadon.
According to Yeadon, her love of the natural world is quite natural to her, having grown up in rural hamlet, deep in the North of England. “At a young age I became pretty good at identifying birds and insects, and that connection has remained with me,” she says.
Even if you’re no fan of insects, it’s hard not to be mesmerized by the level of craftsmanship Yeadon shows throughout her work.
