Ann Ranlett, MSA

Ann’s primary medium is scratchboard. A graduate of CSU, Sacramento, with a bachelor’s degree in biology, Ann is a Master Member (MSA) of the International Society of Scratchboard Artists (ISSA), a Signature member of the Society of Animal Artists, and an Associate Member with Distinction of American Women Artists. She is also an Ampersand Artist Ambassador.

Ann’s art has won awards, and is recognized, at national and international levels, including a “Gold Award” (best in show) in the ISSA Master division. She loves sharing her process and frequently gives demonstrations for local art organizations and at annual open studios tours. She also teaches scratchboard workshops and has been a featured presenter at many of the ISSA annual seminars.

Ann and her husband (also a biologist), live in rural Newcastle, California, where they’ve landscaped with an emphasis on native plants and wildlife habitat. They share their lives with Arrow the Chihuahua mix and Clark the Border Collie.

Ann says, “My lifelong interests in nature and drawing and my biological/scientific background have given me an attention to detail that is perfect for, realistically rendered pieces on scratchboard. I’m fascinated by the textures and patterns found in nature. I also have experience as a graphic designer, so I look for interesting compositions and cropping to use in my drawings. While many people consider the scratchboard process tedious, I truly enjoy the “Zen” nature of it and the challenge of capturing my subject with strokes of a knife.”

See’s Ann’s work locally at Auburn Old Town Gallery (Auburn) and High-Hand Gallery (Loomis).