Ann Ranlett – Artist Spotlight

Tell us about your artwork.
I’m Ann Ranlett. I create highly detailed drawings in scratchboard. I explain the scratchboard technique as “drawing white with a knife”. I use a commercially prepared board (Ampersand brand) that has a sturdy archival base, a white clay layer and a black top layer. I scratch through the black with an X-acto knife to reveal the white, using a variety of stroke widths and lengths to create textures and values. After I complete the scratching, I can add color or shades of grey with watercolor and/or ink.

Describe how art is important to society.
Art gives people a break. When someone looks at a piece of art, for that time, whatever may be on their mind is secondary. They can be transported to another place, they can personally relate to the subject, they can wonder what the artist was thinking. As an artist, it gives me a break too – when I’m creating, I’m focused on the process and my knowledge of the subject, nothing else.

How would you describe yourself as an artist?
I’m very technical. I may have an emotional connection to the subject, but the process is entirely about creating an image with my technical skills.

Has your style changed over time?
Yes, my scratchboard work is more detailed than when I first began focusing on it as my primary medium. I’ve been using color on my scratchboards for a while now, but I didn’t in the earlier days.

Describe your dream project.
To create a series of African animal drawings based on my own photos taken on safari. I have yet to travel to Africa, so that’s a pretty tall order (giraffe reference: intentional).

What superpower would you have and why?
I’d like the power of invisibility. It would be fascinating to go out and about and see things without the influence of my presence.

___________

Read Ann’s previous interview here.
___________