Artist Spotlight: Orange Émile. Bringing painting to life through tufting 🎨🧵
At Tuftingshop, we love seeing how tufting inspires artists and DIY makers around the world. Today, we’re shining the spotlight on Émile Orange, a French artist who blends painting, storytelling, and tufting to create unique and colorful textile art. His work shows just how creative you can get with a tufting gun, yarn, and a little imagination.
From painting to textile art
Émile was born in Normandy, surrounded by landscapes where the light constantly shifted between countryside and ocean. After studying fine arts and working in Paris, Prague, and Quebec, he returned to Normandy, where his work as both a painter and cultural mediator shaped his artistic path.
While painting is still at the heart of his practice, in 2021 he discovered the possibilities of tufting and textile art. This opened up a whole new world of creativity, combining his love for color with the tactile, hands-on process that rug makers know so well.
Tufting projects that tell a story
One of his first big tufting projects was created during an artist residency in 2022: Isabelle et le magicien Orange. For this, Émile transformed children’s paintings, handprints, and drawings into a giant interactive tufted rug measuring 2x4 meters. The kids could see their own creative gestures brought to life in wool, a playful and colorful rug they could sit on, jump on, or simply dream on.
For tufting enthusiasts, this shows just how flexible the craft can be. A tufting gun doesn’t just make rugs, it can turn drawings, stories, and collective ideas into lasting textile pieces.
Keeping creativity alive through tufting
Through his work, Émile hopes both kids and adults can experience the joy of creativity. He believes tufting is not just about making rugs, but about building shared spaces where imagination comes first. “Adults often relearn how to let go by watching children create without hesitation,” he explains.
And for those of us tufting at home, that’s a reminder that DIY projects don’t have to be “perfect.” Sometimes the most beautiful rugs come from embracing happy accidents and free expression.
Choosing colors and materials
As a painter, Émile always starts with color. He matches his tufted rugs as closely as possible to the original drawings, keeping the energy alive. For durability, especially in rugs made for children, he always works with 100% wool yarn, a tip DIY rug makers can take to heart when planning their own tufting projects. Wool gives rugs density, softness, and long-lasting quality.
Inspiring the next generation
Beyond the craft itself, Émile works closely with schools, families, and childhood specialists to use tufting and painting as tools for early learning. His projects show how handmade rugs and textile art can encourage creativity from a young age.
Where to find Émile Orange
You can explore more of his work on his website www.emileorange.com or follow him on Instagram at @emile_orange. His Linktree also brings everything together in one place.
Looking ahead
Émile hopes to continue combining painting and tufting, building projects that inspire creativity for both kids and adults. His dream is to keep creating rugs and textile art that connect people and encourage imagination.
Whether you’re an experienced rug maker or just getting started with your first DIY tufting kit, Émile Orange’s story is a reminder that tufting is more than just a craft, it’s a way to tell stories, share creativity, and make art that lasts.