2025

On Growing Up

Hailey Willey

Senior Project

2025

Roving wool on polystyrene with attached promotional posters

My goal with this project was to dive deeper into felting as a medium and push my knowledge further. I took inspiration from my project earlier in the year, Experimental Forms, and added more intention to the subject. On Growing Up focuses on the elements of form, line, shape, and texture. With influences from abstractionism to fauvism, my work emphasizes the beauty of color and the importance of thought. 

I began On Growing Up with a question, “What do we leave behind once we are gone?” I looked back to dinosaurs. To me, they are the epitome of an incomplete picture; something we all know well, while simultaneously knowing nothing for certain. For this reason I was hesitant to give audiences a full picture– afterall, most dinosaurs recovered are only partial skeletons. I didn’t want to point people in one direction; I want whoever looks at my work to sit with it, take it in, and find their own meaning in it. Additionally, I want everyone to be a part of this work. This is why I allow those who pass by to touch it. Once someone interacts with the piece, they become familiar with it and invest themselves in the meaning behind it. I want my pieces to hold space beyond their physical location and leave a lasting impression on the viewer. While I made this project myself, my intention was always to give it to the community. 

The process of making On Growing Up was intense. Every piece of the sculpture was handmade. I first glued the polystyrene pieces together. Once they were set, I shaped them with a set of small hand files. While this was slow going, it was worth it for the level of detail I could achieve in every piece. After the pieces were shaped, I sanded them for a smooth finish. This step was necessary because anything that wasn’t smooth would show up beneath the felt exterior. When I started to felt into the foam I had no idea what the visual rule I was following. I started the first piece with the idea of topographical maps, as they fit well with my color scheme. But, after I finished it, I realized it wasn’t appealing to the eye or possible with my time frame. So, I put my own spin on it and stylized every piece after. I relied on my gut to tell me what colors worked and where to place them. Through this project I learned to trust my instinct as an artist.

To anyone who would like to make a senior project: be very careful with what you choose. Eight weeks was a very tight timeline for me. There were times where I thought I wouldn’t be able to complete my project. Although the process was difficult, the lessons I learned along the way made my struggles worthwhile. I believe everyone should follow their passions however ambitious they may seem at first. My senior project strengthened me as an artist. 

"Wind Up Bugs in the Ring/Wind Up Bugs" (3D printed shells over wind-up toys, attached felt)