On the first Friday in December at Hastings-Cone Gallery, Vashon artist Monica Gripman will introduce the island to a few of her friends. Some will be wearing alpaca, others sheep’s wool or even dog hair underneath finely sewn outfits Gripman designed.

All of her pals have names, though none has a voice. Then again, words are not necessary for these furry beings as each exudes a presence that speaks volumes.

Gripman creates her animals mostly out of locally-sourced material — hence the alpaca, wool and dog hair — though the eyes hail from Germany. She calls her tribe not dolls or toys but felted sculptures, a minimalistic description of creatures that mysteriously project an animate nature.

“I found that adults were talking with them. That’s what kept me going,” Gripman said. “Somebody had one, and they said it felt like a presence; they would talk with them. They each have their own personality.”

Gripman, who said she’s always been an artist and always made things, began felting using a kit she bought at the Vashon Pharmacy to make a bunny for her young daughter.

“I made the bunny, but realized I could really do something with this,” Gripman said, “so I made a giraffe using horse hair, wool and fur from our dog.”

The artist grew up in Virginia, moving to Seattle when she was 13. She attended Parsons School of Design for illustration and ceramics in New York City. Returning to Seattle in 1987, Gripman bought a house on Vashon. She lived here for five years, then came back to stay seven years ago because of what the community offered.

“I wanted economic diversity and arts focused in one place. This is where I wanted to be, and I love it,” she said.

Gripman has garnered a good deal of support on the island, crediting Rebecca Whitman, among others, for encouraging her to show her sculptures.

“Rebecca has been my cheerleader. She and Joy Mann have pushed me out the door,” she said. “I showed (the sculptures) at Fox’s Gem Shop in Seattle, Joy’s store. Carrie Sikorski has been another big helper, helping me get a small grant to fund my website.”

Island musician John Browne will play at the opening on Friday, Dec. 4, and will compose a song for Gripman’s first puppet show, sponsored by Vashon Allied Arts and slated to open in October 2016.

Puppets are new for Gripman, but she envisions a rod puppet walking around during her fall event. She hopes the puppet show will raise money for her company called Fable.

“I would like it to be a fundraiser for Fable, along with poetry books and stories about specific animals,” Gripman said.

To accomplish her goal, she enlisted islander Myrna Hecht to write the poetry. Hecht writes poems based on her experience of living with a different animal every month. The duo plans to publish the book for the fall show.

Gripman said she never starts a piece with an intention in mind; rather she looks at each shape and works with a feeling that comes from a nonconceptual place.

“It brings out some childlike quality when I make them,” Gripman said. “It’s the same magical childlike quality that comes out in people who see them. That is what I enjoy the most.”