Transforming Art into Craft: Creating a Handmade Area Rug from wall art

In collaboration with Jonathon’s Studio and Sarah Sack Art

Art has a magical way of capturing our emotions, thoughts, and imagination. It speaks to us in ways that words often cannot. But what if we could take that captivating piece of art off the wall and infuse it into our living spaces in a whole new way? That's exactly what we did when one of our customers came to us, asking us to create a custom handmade area rug out of one of her mesmerizing pieces of art.

Step 1: Finding the Perfect Artwork

Our customer came to us with a piece of art in mind. She had selected a beautiful piece by artist Sarah Sack. We knew that the piece she selected would translate well into a rug, because of its vibrant colors, distinct shapes, and stunning overall pattern. The most important part for us would be making sure we did the art justice.

Step 2: Selecting Colorways

With the artwork in hand, we began by trying to match the exact color palette within the art piece, with our sample wool colorways. We wanted to get these colors exact as we knew this would be one of the most important elements of bringing the art to life. Collaborating with both our customer and the artist was crucial to ensure that the essence of the art would be preserved in the rug. Upon speaking closely with our customer, we came to learn that the artist was excited about the idea and provided additional insights into the meaning behind the artwork, the color palette, and the emotions it evoked. This collaboration allowed us to truly understand the story behind the art and how we could translate it into a different medium.

Step 3: Designing the Rug

Transforming a two-dimensional painting into a three-dimensional rug required careful consideration and design expertise. Luckily, our skilled rug designers and artisans are very experienced in translating visual art into textile form. Through a series of sketches, CADs (computer animated designs), and color matching, the design of the rug began to take shape.

Step 4: Selecting Materials and Techniques

The choice of materials and weaving techniques is always crucial in ensuring that a rug will do justice to the original artwork. That being said, we always believe handmade rugs are the best rugs, and we knew a handmade rug would allow us to do the art piece justice, while also making for a durable, easy-to-clean final piece. Thus, we decided on our favorite combination of a hand-knotted rug, and our famous high-quality wool.

Step 5: The Strike Off

As with every custom rug we make, we created what is called a strike off. A strike off is small sample piece created to give the customer a better feel of what the full size rug will look like. It allows the customer—and our team—to confirm that all of the selected colors are correct, and that the overall design looks good as well. If any changes need to be made, this is the time to make them. This is an important step, because all of our wool is hand-dyed. So if the color is even slightly off, we want to make the changes now before completing the entire piece.

Step 6: Bringing Art to Life

Once the strike off was approved, we then began working on the final rug. As the rug started to take shape, it was as if the art was coming to life in a new form. The vibrant colors danced under the light, and the texture created a tactile experience that invited touch and exploration. The rug was not just a decorative piece; it was a testament to the seamless fusion of art and craft.

Step 7: Showcasing the Masterpiece

Finally, the handmade area rug was complete. A custom, handmade 9’ x 12’ beauty.

We delivered the rug to our customer’s home and placed it in her living space. The rug seamlessly fits—it’s like it always belonged there. This rug really is more than just a rug. It is a conversation starter, an ode to the artist Sarah Sack’s work, and is a functional piece of art that can be admired for generations to come.

In turning a piece of art into a handmade area rug, we blended artistic expression with craftsmanship. It was a journey of collaboration, design, and meticulous work that resulted in a stunning creation that bridged the gap between two different forms of artistic expression. We are so pleased with the results.

In collaboration with Jonathon’s Studio and Sarah Sack Art

While we offer dozens of our original collections, we also understand that sometimes you have a precise vision in your head. We are here to make that vision a reality. We can custom-make any design, style or size area rug! Our design team will capture your vision, and our manufacturing team will bring your vision to life. To get started on your custom area rug, please contact us or visit our Orange County showroom.