Ronna Katz

Ronna's 2025 series of double drop monotypes and mixed media paintings depicts idea generation. Her printmaking process layers oil-based etching ink first painted on multiple plates and then hand-pulled to the same piece of paper. Her painting technique is to layer oil paint over a prepared ground … often a collaged surface. Finally pencils are drawn into the final layer where the marking represents a subtle and illegible language. The 'chaos spiral' represents an idea formulating.

Ronna's printmaking technique involves building up areas of color through the application of layers of oil-based ink applied directly on a plate. Monotypes she creates by freehand painting on a completely blank plate. Monoprints she creates by combining an inscribed image carved onto the surface of a plate using a drypoint tool and the freehand application of ink using brushes and brayers. Either way, her plates temporarily hold layers of ink. Dampened paper is then placed on top, and this Ronna hand-cranks through an etching press. A lot depends on how the ink is applied, removed, layered and pressed onto the paper. Sometimes Ronna will collage or incorporate a piece of handmade paper (i.e; mango or rice paper) into the printing process to make a chine colle' print. Once dried Ronna further works her prints with ink washes or pencil. Each print is an ‘edition of one' and is presented with acid free materials.

At the age of five, Ronna Katz began painting (on the walls) and has never really stopped. She's a 2nd-generation art fair artist exposed to art as a child while helping her parents at art and craft events throughout the East Coast. There were long pauses (such as studying nutrition biochemistry, obtaining an MBA and working corporate jobs) but since 2001 Ronna has been a full-time artist. Based in Albuquerque, New Mexico and Marquette, Michigan, Ronna draws her inspiration and palette from the subtle colors of the southwest landscape and elements of nature in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Her painting technique is to layer oil paint, or oil-based ink, using brushes and brayers over a prepared ground. Pencil is often drawn into the final layer of her paintings; this pencil mark-making represents a subtle language.