Designing with Rust

This is a sample of one of the experiments done by textile artist Jean M. Judd, in November of 2009 using the rust dyeing (pigment application) technique. The finished artwork, Flaming Grapes was completed in April of 2011 and can be seen below.                                                                    To To see other experiments in rust application, please go to the Hand Dyed Fabrics page and see the subpage, Rust Dyeing.

I am currently creating work for this section. In November of 2009 I started experimenting with using rust as a dye medium in making some of my hand dyed fabric. This technique has been referred to as "rust dyeing" but is really the application of pigment to the fabric with rust being the catalyst to this process. These pieces of fabric will be made into textile artwork emphasizing the fabric design created by the rust pigment. These pieces will be heavily hand quilted to add texture to the fabric. 

Some of the things I've been using in the process include architectural ironwork, rusted car parts including a radiator shell from a 1920-1930s vehicle, a clutch plate from a tractor, and other found items that had rust already forming.

The first piece in my Rust Pigmentation series is a diminutive piece measuring just 10.25” by 12.25”. The grape bunch motif is applied on a piece of dyeing canvas. My own hand dyed fabrics are used for the surrounding frame of the piece as well as the binding. The piece is heavily hand quilted in an echo motif around the grapes, branch, and leaves. See Detail. A diamond grid is hand stitched in outer frame representing the wire framework grape vines are trained on in a vineyard.

This piece is designed to be displayed in any orientation. The Back image shows the hanging design. The main image left is the orientation I selected for a typical exhibition. See Orientation 2 and Orientation 4 for examples of the piece hung vertically. Orientation 3 shows the piece 180 degrees from the primary image. Purchase

 Rusted Grapes Art Quilt - (c) 2009-2010 - 10.25" x 12.25" (25.5 x 30.5cm) - $800

This series of textile artworks continues the exploration of rust pigmentation. Using the paper cutting technique for snowflakes from my youth, I devised a way to transfer the paper design onto my hand dyed fabric using iron filings. The tactile quality of the medium is maintained with this process. Further design elements are created by the intricate and dense hand stitching. The 3-D dimensionality is markedly evident when seen in person; even more so when displayed on a neutral wall. The nuances of the many colors in the base fabric can only be appreciated up close, which tends to lead to the involuntary desire to feel the texture of the artwork. To see detail images of the art quilt, click on Detail 1 and Detail 2. Click below for an interesting look at the back of the textile artwork where the design is also very evident.      Purchase

         Rusted Lace #1 - (c) 2010 - 19.5" x 19.5" (49cm x 49cm) - $3,700

This is a new piece utilizing rust pigmentation and architectural ironwork to create textile artworks. A single piece of ironwork was used three times to create the center panel. Rusted Grapes (shown above) was created using a section of the same piece of architectural ironwork.
 
It is densely hand stitched around the rust pigmentation to give the piece 3-D relief emphasizing the grapes, vines, and leaves reproduced from the architectural ironwork. Detail of the stitching can be seen here.The area of flames is hand quilted in a random linear pattern to give the flames visual texture as well (detail shown here).

The artwork can be easily displayed in any orientation (back view) which gives the piece a fresh perspective each time it is rotated and reinstalled. Orientation 2 and Orientation 4 have the vines flowing in a horizontal arrangement. In Orientation 3 and the main image, the vines flow in a vertical format.     Purchase

            Flaming Grapes - (c) 2009-2011 - 27.5" x 26.5" (69x66cm)

If you want to inquire more about this technique, please contact me by going to the Contact Artist link on the side menu bar or email me at jean@jeanjudd.com

If you have a specific space you are interested in filling with contemporary textile art, please send me via email jean@jeanjudd.com , a high resolution image of your space. Include the title of the artworks you are interested in and I can easily email you back various images showing how the artwork will look in that space. Many of my pieces can be displayed in both vertical and horizontal orientations so this will really give a great vision of how wonderful the work will look in your space.