Painting with Wool: Meet the Artists Behind Molly Ru Designs
What happens when fluffy pieces of wool meet a very sharp needle, lots of patience, and two creative minds? In the hands of Linda and Nick Franco, they become colorful, detailed works of art.
The husband-and-wife team behind Molly Ru Designs creates needle-felted paintings using natural wool instead of traditional paint. Their business is named in honor of two very special members of their family—their beloved dogs, Molly and Rufus.
From Fluffy Wool to Fabulous Art While Painting with Wool
Each piece begins with a blank piece of felt, which acts as the canvas. Linda and Nick select or draw an image and then layer loose wool onto the felt. Using a special needle, they repeatedly push—or “stab,” as they jokingly call it, the fibers until the wool becomes attached to the felt underneath.
"There is a lot of stabbing involved, Linda says. "It is surprisingly pleasurable, and perhaps a good way to work out a little frustration!"
The finished pieces have the look of paintings but with added dimension and texture. Some areas appear almost three-dimensional, making you want to get a closer look at every tiny detail.
“Instead of using acrylic paint, we are using wool,” Linda explained.
A Christmas Day Discovery
Needle Felt Feels Good Needle felt bear You can't make this up
Linda discovered needle felting about five years ago while watching YouTube on Christmas Day. She had always wanted to paint, but never felt comfortable using a paintbrush. When she came across a video of someone painting with wool, something clicked. She ordered a kit, it arrived two days later, and she has been needle felting ever since.
Linda began creating everything from miniature versions of famous museum masterpieces, including Van Gogh-inspired pieces and the Mona Lisa, to colorful artwork filled with personality and a little snark. Some of her pieces include sayings such as “I Speak Fluent Sarcasm,” proving that fine art does not always have to take itself too seriously.
She also creates one-of-a-kind greeting cards featuring miniature needle-felted artwork that can be removed and used as a magnet.
Hubby Joins the Fun
Nick’s introduction to needle felting came about for a very sweet reason. "I missed my wife," he said. Linda was spending so much time upstairs in her craft room that Nick decided he needed to join her. He wanted to create something completely different from her work, so he began experimenting with quirky needle-felted faces and characters.
Nick attended art school and has a background in commercial art, advertising, and marketing, but it had been years since he had created this type of artwork. His unusual characters began without a plan and slowly developed their own personalities. After creating several of the faces for an art show, the response was immediate. People kept returning to see them, laughing at their expressions and eventually taking them home.
The characters now have names, personalities, and their own entertaining backstories. Linda and Nick often study a finished face and imagine who the character might be, filling in the details together.
Art, Wine & Time Together
Some couples play golf or pickleball together. Linda and Nick make art.
Their routine often includes a little wine, plenty of wool, and time spent creating side by side. Although they share the same medium, each has developed a distinct artistic style. Linda’s work ranges from museum-inspired miniatures and pet portraits to colorful pieces with a sarcastic streak. Nick’s whimsical faces are filled with humor, expression, and plenty of character. Their artwork may begin with the same simple materials, but no two finished pieces are alike.
Custom Pet Portraits Made with Wool
As an animal lover, Linda was naturally drawn to creating pet portraits. Working from a photograph, she uses different colors and tiny pieces of wool to capture an animal’s markings, expression, and personality. The amount of detail she can create is remarkable, especially when you remember that it all began as a handful of fluffy wool.
Whether it is a beloved pet, a miniature masterpiece, or one of Nick’s delightfully strange characters, the work of Molly Ru Designs shows just how much personality can be created with wool, a needle, and a wonderfully creative imagination.
Check them out on an episode of Bazaar Shopping Network.
See their work at The Bazaar on Apricot & Lime in the Serendipty Where Art Finds You space. Open Thursday - Saturday 10 am - 3 pm at 821 Apricot Ave in Sarasota.
