Seeing Beauty in the Circle
easter eggs, tondi, & framing wool
Easter Eggs as Art Objects
I get a lot of joy out of coloring Easter eggs. I love the ephemeral nature of this seasonal art form. I've spent more time working in sculpture and relief than flat drawings & paintings, so the chance to “paint” on a three-dimensional oval surface is my favorite kind of challenge.
Working with tiny dye baths and having to plan the order of operations to achieve complex designs tickles my brain. I layer colors from lightest to darkest, use resist techniques with tape or wax that mimic batik, and combine them all to create tiny landscapes 🤓
The process is playful but precise—and it got me thinking about tondos.
Designing in the Round: Tondos
Easter eggs 🥚 are kind of like sculptural tondos. A tondo is a circular or oval-shaped piece of art—traditionally a painting or relief sculpture. The round format gives the artist a unique challenge & composition.
A tondo (pl.: tondi or tondos) is a Renaissance term for a circular work of art, either a painting or a sculpture. The word derives from the Italian rotondo, "round"
These were super popular during the Renaissance, where they depicted religious scenes or portraits, and saw a second wave in the 1960s when they were almost exclusively abstract. They seem to be making a comeback again—I see so many artists getting creative with this alternative to the rectangle.
Framing My Wool Paintings
For every wool painting I make (and every student I teach), I hand make a frame out of salvaged wood. The iconic shape of these frames is a circle inside a rectangle.
The round frame is like peeking through a hole in a fence, a keyhole, or a ship’s porthole. The wool paintings are nice on their own—but with a frame, especially a circular one, this tiny wool world becomes infinite. Your imagination fills in the rest.
The Viewfinder Effect
When I teach wool painting, we use the frame as a viewfinder.
In art, a viewfinder is a tool, often made of cardboard, used to help artists compose their artwork. It allows them to see the scene through a defined shape, helping to isolate the subject.
This simple tool helps define the composition—letting you choose what feels best. It reveals the details you need while softening the distractions around them. By framing a tiny slice of the world, we block out the noise and begin to discover the unseen.
Create Your Own Beauty
Want to try your hand at making a wool painted landscape of your own? I’d love for you to join me this May for a special series of spring workshops here in Western North Carolina—intentionally timed with ✨ Mother’s Day ✨
Whether you're a mom, want to spend time creating something meaningful with your mom, or simply want to make a beautiful gift - these workshops are designed for you.
Workshops in May!
🌸 Wool Painted Landscapes May 3rd @ Ten Mile Farm
Make a handmade gift for Mother’s Day - or treat yourself to this cozy, creative class. Great for new & returning students. Go home with a ready-to-hang piece of fiber art.
🌸 NEW! The Living Sculpture – May 10th @ Ten Mile Farm
This brand-new workshop takes place the day before Mother’s Day - perfect to gift or receive. We’ll wander the fields, gather botanicals, and build stunning still lifes.
🌸 Chimes & Mobiles – May 16th @ ArtPlay
Design your own mobile or hanging chime using found objects & natural materials. Explore balance, storytelling, and the art of arranging beauty.
🐚 June Workshops in California are popping up at MYSTIC, Fiber Circle Studio, & WERKSTATT check out my website for the full list of workshops
to claim your spot for any of my 2025 North Carolina workshops
follow me on Instagram to see the tiny treasures I discover each day
👉 Interested in hosting a workshop at your home or business? Reach out!
Protect the Delicate | Discover the unseen | Value the overlooked