Jonathan Lee Rutledge
Jonathan Lee Rutledge is an emerging goldsmith and jewelry designer. Although always interested in art, he did not begin a formal art education until later in his college career. Jonathan was a political science major, but a metals and jewelry design class caught his eye in his junior year course catalog. This class was for fine arts majors--but he didn't take "no" for an answer, after Jonathan talked his way in, his passion for design and working with metals was born.
Jonathan's first experience in working with metals was in the military. After high school graduation, he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force. He repaired F-16 jets at Ramstein Air Force Base in Germany. Jonathan remembers, "we basically patched and painted all day." When he was honorably discharged, Jonathan received the Air Force Achievement Award for his work in sheet metal.
When Jonathan returned home, he enrolled at Illinois State University. His talent for jewelry design was apparent after that first class later in his junior year, and Jon eventually took four metals courses as an undergraduate. Upon graduation, Jonathan's jewelry professor was so impressed with his work that he invited Jonathan to enroll as a jewelry design major in the MFA program. Jonathan attended the program and worked under the watchful eye of his mentor and professor, Dennis French.
Jonathan works primary in high karat gold for its deep, rich, yellow color, the warmth of the metal, and the visual contrast between the gold and the other materials that he incorporates into his jewelry. He draws upon his love of art and history as he brings his designs to life. In doing so he uses gemstones as well as the ancient technique of granulation, a 4500 year old process in which tiny gold granules are fused on the other gold forms. His jewelry is is classical in both style and technique, yet with a contemporary flair.
Jonathan lives and works in his studio in Evanston, IL and can contacted at:
P.O. Box 5043
Evanston, IL, 60204-504
Ph: (847) 738-4418
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