Volume 15 Issue 2 A Journal Dedicated to Natural Dyes Spring 2010
Home Cohn Gallery
Nature's Gallery
 
Judilee Fitzhugh and Laura Mellick
     
 
Judilee Fitzhugh

  
 
 
  As a textile artist, I have a special affinity for vintage fabrics and garments. I appreciate the history associated with individual textiles and hope to add to that history by reusing the fabric in innovative ways. These fabrics are embellished and incorporated into new textile works, elevating them to a newer level of appreciation. When I dye my own fabrics, I work exclusively with natural fibers and a natural plant dye process. I produce a line of one-of-a-kind wearables and accessories using hand stitching and couture construction techniques. It's the details inherent in the artistic endeavor that are most interesting to me.  
 
 
Indigo Rust Snowflake, 2005
Fold and clamp shibori with enclosed metal washers,
indigo dye on silk organza
Indigo Rust Snowflake
Photograph Copyright by Judilee Fitzhugh
 
 
Leaf Shibori, 2009
Fold and clamp shibori with enclosed Dogwood leaves,
copper mordant, silk organza
Leaf Shibori
Photograph Copyright by Judilee Fitzhugh
 
 
Spa Noren, 2004
Indigo and Logwood on Handwoven cotton/linen panels.
Logo handpainted with indigo, logwood,
osage orange on soy milk base.
Spa Noren
Photograph Copyright by Judilee Fitzhugh
 
 
Red Shibori Jacket, 2007
Logwood and Brazilwood dyes on silk organza,
vintage shibori kimono lining, logwood and
brazilwood dyed silk embroidery thread.
Red Shibori Jacket
Photograph Copyright by Judilee Fitzhugh
 
 
Square Jacket 1, 2008
Cutch, Madrone, Manzanita, Weld
on Shantung Silk Organza and
a variety of silk/linen fabrics.		   Square Jacket 2, 2008
Logwood and Indigo on
Shantung Silk Organza and silk/rayon. Hand devoré.
Square Jacket 1
Photograph Copyright by Judilee Fitzhugh 		  Square Jacket 2
Photograph Copyright by Judilee Fitzhugh
 
 
Our House Jacket, 2009
Logwood with iron mordant on
Shantung Silk Organza, vintage kimono,
hand-printed silk damask.
Our House Jacket
Photograph Copyright by Judilee Fitzhugh
 
 
  After 22 years of active duty as an Electronics Technician in the U.S. Navy, Judilee retired to spend time with her husband and daughter in Portland, OR. She's been involved in textiles—sewing, weaving, quilting—since she was very young. She even carried my sewing machine and a lap-sized loom with her when she was at sea for long periods of time in the Navy. A tour of duty in Yokosuka, Japan led her to a lifelong interest in vintage kimono and other textiles, which she incorporates into my work. Judilee is currently an adjunct professor and part-time studio manager in the Fibers Department at Oregon College of Art & Craft.  
 
 
 
 
 
Laura Mellick

  
8-Gore Skirt, 2008
Variety of silk fabrics; Alum, Copper and Iron mordants with Alder
8-Gore Skirt
Photograph Copyright by Judilee Fitzhugh
 
 
Screen Printing, 2010.1
Hemp/cotton. Oxidized metal, logwood dye;
Surface design (screen printing with indigo and logwood), bound with walnut dyed organza.		   Screen Printing, 2010.2
Hemp/cotton. Screen print with indigo and logwood on soy milk binder.
Screen Printing, 2010.1
Photograph Copyright by Judilee Fitzhugh 		  Screen Printing, 2010.2
Photograph Copyright by Judilee Fitzhugh
 
 
Screen Printing, 2010.1 (Detail)
Hemp/cotton. Oxidized metal, logwood dye;
Surface design (screen printing with indigo and logwood), bound with walnut dyed organza.
Screen Printing, 2010.1 (Detail)
Photograph Copyright by Judilee Fitzhugh
 
 
Screen Printing, 2010.3
Hemp/cotton. Oxidized metal, logwood dye;
Screen print on cotton/hemp muslin using soy, logwood, brazilwood, potato dextrin,
with machine embroidery. 20" x 72".
Screen Printing, 2010.3
Photograph Copyright by Judilee Fitzhugh
 
 
Screen Printing, 2010.3 (Detail)
Hemp/cotton. Oxidized metal, logwood dye;
Screen print on cotton/hemp muslin using soy, logwood, brazilwood, potato dextrin,
with machine embroidery.
Screen Printing, 2010.3 (Detail)
Photograph Copyright by Judilee Fitzhugh
 
 
  Dr. Laura Mellick is an emergency room physician by night and a Post-Bac student of Judilee Fitzhugh by day. She's a New York native who has lived in Portland for 17 years and has been participating in the Extension Program classes at OCAC for 16 of those years! She has always had an interest in fiber-related techniques and took mostly quilting design and surface design classes. She became a devotee of natural dyes about 4 years ago. A process-oriented individual, she loves the variety of techniques available to individualize her textiles.