Ann Ragland Bowns

Ann Ragland

The work of Ann Ragland (Bowns), a member of the Sacramento art community since 1959, has encompassed a variety of media, including oil, watercolor and acrylic paintings, printmaking, and batik (wax resist and dye on fabric).

She has had a number of commissions for large-scale batiks, including ten-foot renditions of four Bible stories for the McClellan Air Force Base chapel. The Sacramento Art in Public Places program commissioned a piece for the Ethel McLeod Hart Senior Center in 199l. A related piece was purchased by the University of Davis Medical Center for their meditation room. Ann’s work has received numerous awards in juried shows, and was part of the Art in Action display at Cal-Expo for many years. Her work is included in the book The Best of Silk Painting by North Light Books.

The marvelous color and luxurious feel of dye on silk encouraged Ann to explore the depths of this medium. Her love of Yosemite was the original stimulus for creating landscapes on silk and this stimulated a whole new artistic venue for her in 1993.

In 1994, Ann created Dove Designs, making her art accessible to a wider audience through reproductions of her work in miniature for blank postcards and posters. Many local galleries and other fine shops in the Sacramento area carry beautiful reproductions of her work.

Ann began teaching silk painting in 1986 and in 1996 enjoyed a very successful and popular week of daily sessions in Yosemite Park where she taught visiting families. She also taught in the adult education program in San Juan School District, and at both Sacramento City College and American River College.

Classes

Ann Ragland's silk painting classes will cover how to create beautiful pieces like this one.

Classes at High Hand will be what I call a “silk painting sampler.” Two-hour workshops will cover the techniques necessary to create larger pieces or even clothing or household items. We will cover dyes, resists, types of silk, access to supplies and what designs work best given the parameters of the medium. Classes will be limited to seven with a minimum of four. The cost is $40 for a two-hour session, which includes all materials, including silk. The hours for the class will be 2:00 to 4:00.

Next class is April 17.

Or you can contact the gallery at (916) 259-4298.