EDITORIAL USE ONLY. MATERIALS ONLY TO BE USED IN CONJUNCTION WITH EDITORIAL STORY. THE USE OF THESE MATERIALS FOR ADVERTISING, MARKETING OR ANY OTHER COMMERCIAL PURPOSE IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED. MATERIAL COPYRIGHT REMAINS WITH STATED PHOTOGRAPHER AND/OR SUP
Japanese artist Terumi Ohta spends hundreds of hours creating incredibly life-like dogs from ‘needle felted’ wool.
She took up ‘needle felting’ - sculpting shapes and figures using wool and special felting needles - 15 years ago after she was inspired by similar animals she saw on TV.
Ota explained: “My goal is to make the most life-like creations to delight my clients, meticulous to the smallest detail.”
From beloved pet doppelgängers to quirky company mascots, Ota's felted creations have no bounds.
Her creations include a tribute to her sister's four-legged friend, which kick-started her career after it went viral.
One commission she created was a Miniature Pinscher replica that took more than 500 hours to complete.
“Since the body lines are not hidden by hair, all areas, including the face, must be precisely sculpted ... The hair transplantation process is many times longer than for long-haired breeds,” said Ota.
Transforming wool into wonders, Ota makes her creations using several types of wool, painstakingly planted strands to create a life-like look.
“We don’t just plant them densely, we also take time to condition the coat to give it a glossy, smooth look and feel,” Ota said.
Dogs aren’t her only muse – Ota also created a realistic white elephant sculpture measuring 180 cm tall, complete with wrinkly skin.
Her works can be seen across her social media and website using the name ‘True Style Lab’.
When: 01 Mar 2024
Credit: Terumi Ohta/TrueStyleLab/Cover Images
**EDITORIAL USE ONLY. MATERIALS ONLY TO BE USED IN CONJUNCTION WITH EDITORIAL STORY. THE USE OF THESE MATERIALS FOR ADVERTISING, MARKETING OR ANY OTHER COMMERCIAL PURPOSE IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED. MATERIAL COPYRIGHT REMAINS WITH STATED PHOTOGRAPHER AND/OR SUPPLIER.**