Painting & Collage

Ancestra series

The materials used to create these works were locally sourced. I sought nature’s gifts to make my own paint sustainably harvesting the mineral, plant, or fungus matter to process into pigments, then watercolors and cold wax medium. The wood used to make the panels and frames were salvaged from construction projects or sourced in family attics and garages. The canvas covering the panels is old drop cloth. Staying dedicated to this ‘found or foraged’ process was more difficult than simply buying what I needed, yet exponentially more rewarding. It informs my work and adds to the story, energy and feel of each piece.

The motifs and imagery of my work are shaped by my heritage, environment and humanness. Weaving together these elements brings forth what you see in my art. The ancestors, land and my internal voice call out, eager to be acknowledged and experienced.

Ancestra North

Handmade minreral pigment watercolor paint gathered from Rock Creek, Skamania County, WA, in celadonite green and olive; siltstone in red, gray, brown, orange and cream
Handmade cold wax medium topcoat (turpentine and local beeswax)
19.5″ x 50″ w/ redwood frame

-SOLD-

Ancestra East

Locally gathered handmade ink and organic or mineral pigment watercolor paint: Italian plum, elderberry, rose gall, Lobaria pulmonaria lichen, Oregon grape root; Rock Creek celadonite green and olive, siltstone purple, and gray w/ soot; Elderberry ink
Handmade cold wax medium topcoat (turpentine and local beeswax)
19.5″x50″ w/ redwood frame

-SOLD-

Ancestra South

Locally gathered handmade ink and organic or mineral pigment watercolor paint: onion skin, calendula, lobster mushroon, Lobaria pulmonaria lichen, cord lichen, Oregon grape root; Rock Creek siltstone red, cream, orange, celadonite green; Swell City siltstone red; Elderberry Ink
Handmade cold wax medium topcoat (turpentine and local beeswax)
19.5″x50″ w/ redwood frame

-SOLD-

Ancestra West

Locally gathered handmade ink and organic or mineral pigment watercolor paint: rose gall, oak gall, Lobaria pulmonaria lichen, cord lichen, lobster mushroom, Oregon grape, wine; Rock Creek celadonite green, silstone brown and purple; Swell City siltstone red; elderberry ink, black walnut ink
Handmade cold wax medium topcoat (turpentine and local beeswax)
19.5″x50″ w/ redwood frame

$3,000

earth incantations

This series is a playful exploration of line, form and color using my handmade natural watercolor paints.

Earth Incantation I by Ana Rugani natural pigment painting on paper with wood frame

Earth Incantation I
Locally gathered handmade ink and mineral or organic watercolor paint: Rock Creek celadonite green (frame), soot, wine, Italian plum, oak gall, cord lichen, Lobaria pulmonaria lichen, black walnut ink
Watercolor paper on wood frame
8″x10″
$160

Earth Incantation II by Ana Rugani natural pigment painting on paper with wood frame

Earth Incantation II
Locally gathered handmade ink and mineral or organic watercolor paint: Black walnut ink (frame), soot, wine, Italian plum, Rock Creek siltstone orange, Lobaria pulmonaria lichen, lobster mushroom, elderberry ink
Watercolor paper on wood frame
8″x10″
-SOLD-

Earth Incantation III by Ana Rugani natural pigment painting on paper with wood frame

Earth Incantation III
Locally gathered handmade ink and mineral or organic watercolor paint: Calendula (frame), soot, lobster mushroom, cord lichen, Lobaria pulmonaria lichen, wine, Rock Creek silstone brown, celadonite green, celadonite olive
Watercolor paper on wood frame
8″x10″
-SOLD-

Earth Incantation IV by Ana Rugani natural pigment painting on paper with wood frame

Earth Incantation IV
Locally gathered handmade ink and mineral or organic watercolor paint: Cord lichen (frame), soot, onion skin, calendula, cord lichen, Lobaria pulmonaria lichen, oak gall, Oregon grape root, Rock Creek siltstone orange and red
Watercolor paper on wood frame
8″x10″
$160

Earth Incantation V by Ana Rugani natural pigment painting on paper with wood frame

Earth Incantation V
Locally gathered handmade ink and mineral or organic watercolor paint: Elderberry ink (frame), soot, cord lichen, lobster mushroom, calendula
Watercolor paper on wood frame
8″x10″
-SOLD-

Earth Incantation VI by Ana Rugani natural pigment painting on paper with wood frame

Earth Incantation VI
Locally gathered handmade ink and mineral or organic watercolor paint: Wine (frame), soot, lobster mushroom, Lobaria pulmonaria lichen, cord lichen, Oregon grape root, calendula, Rock Creek siltstone brown, celadonite green and olive
Watercolor paper on wood frame
8″x10″
-SOLD-

past works

This collection of selected works demonstrates my love of experimenting with material, color, and composition. Acrylic paint, fabric markers, Sharpies, paper, magazine clippings, sand, cheese cloth, hot glue, string, and India ink are some of the materials played with to create these dynamic mixed media paintings and collages.