Marianna Hamilton Ross

Inspired by both irregular forms in nature and the human figure, Marianna Hamilton Ross has been painting in watercolor since earning her MFA in Painting at the University of Arizona in 1968. She was introduced to the batik process in 1970, reinforced by a trip to Indonesia batik factories in 1976. Her painted silks fuse her watercolor painting approaches with the batik process.

 

The silk painting is produced by a variation of the traditional batik process; of surface design on fabric, defining areas of the fabric with a water-based resist. Special permanent fibre-reactive dyes are brushed on to the silk, using watercolor painting techniques. The fabric is then steam-set to provide maximum color brilliancy and permanency.

 

Since moving to Florida in 1984, Marianna has been interpreting Florida's rich diversity of both tropical foliage and native forest habitat using a variety of transparent painting methods and materials. The silk painting process used here is particularly responsive to the rich color luminosity found in nature.

 

In recent years a new element has reappeared in these plant images, that of the human figure. Based on both early training at the San Francisco Art Institute using the figure-in-environment theme, and current weekly sessions with a model, forest figures and garden spirits are emerging from the plant world. This efflorescence depicts man's need to respect and invigorate the natural system.

 

Marianna's goal of this body of work is to share the visual beauty found in nature, and its healing/centering, yet energetic effect on the human spirit, thus integrating the human element with our natural environment.

 

Marianna is presently a Professor of Art at Seminole Community College. Most recently she was featured as Artist of the Month at the Orlando Museum of Art. Marianna will be exhibiting her work in a One Person Retrospective at SCC in 2006. Currently her paintings can be viewed in several private and public collections, exhibitions, and publications.

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