Tag: art

Ochre Dreams

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Opening Reception: July 5, 2025, Piper J Gallery 4-7 pm

A Celebration of “Ochre Dreams” brings me once again to the Piper J Gallery in Truckee, CA. I am preparing for an exhibition with an Opening reception on July 5, from 4 pm – 7pm. This is also the time for the new Truckee Summer Art Walk. I will be demonstrating the mixing of natural minerals into paints at 3:30 pm and painting on site followed by an Art Talk at 5 pm inside the gallery. The evenings are pleasant here and a relief from the heat in the valley and Sacramento. It is a nice stroll down Donner Pass Rd. with lovely places to eat or have a cool drink in outdoor and indoor settings. Have an enjoyable evening.

If you are planning to head to the State Fair this July, Cal Expo 2025, be sure to take time to see the Art Exhibition in Building 7.  “Imagination’s Light,” a 60 x 48″ painting of three ancient reindeer “beside waters” is on display in mixed media. Yes, of course, the paints and materials used in this beauty are all eco-friendly.

On another note, the gentle sleeping deer sculpture “Ochre Rest” won a people’s choice award at the prestigious “Feats of Clay” exhibition in Lincoln, CA, a show that ran through May and June at the Art League of Lincoln.

Coming up:  Open Studios Art Tour 2025, Nevada County West, in Grass Valley/Nevada City will be taking place in October. Tour Exhibition runs September 26 – October 19 at the Center for the Arts, Grass Valley on Main Street. Tour dates for Open Studios are October 11, 12, 18 & 19, 11 am – 5 pm. I will be demonstrating the processes I use to make and use natural mineral paints. Hope to see you at our gallery space, 12811 Spring Rd. Nevada City, #39 on the studio tour. I will have guide books available and these are also available at the Center for the Arts.

Enjoy, Jennifer

Spirit of Ochre

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June 7 marks the date of a solo Art Exhibition featuring my Art at the Piper J Gallery in Truckee, CA.

The reception opens at the first Art Walk of the Summer for the Truckee Businesses. I will be giving a short talk about my work and processes at the gallery beginning at 5 pm. All Art work featured in this exhibition is new and alive with new ways of incorporating brighter colors and different animals. Yes, the popular bears and Reindeer will also be there. Come join us for a pleasant cool evening, wine, treats and a walk about town.

It is the “Spirit of Ochre” that brings color and meaning to Art; it breathes in the life and mystery of the ancient past exhaling the curiosity and wonder of it today.

Enjoy! Jennifer

We are just entering the half way mark of the year and ready to embrace another half year still ahead. For all of us time passes differently, yet there are new beginnings, ideas and opportunities rising. I had hoped to set dates for workshops but have found that this was too much to plan while the Piper J Gallery in Truckee set sights on opening a second gallery in Truckee, Ridgeline Gallery, in the center of town. Lots of energy and preparations are still in progress with the hope of opening this wonderful space by the end of June. Here more Art and artists along with photography will be on display.

Anyone interested in taking a workshop in July and/or August, please don’t hesitate to let me know. Please email me with your interest.

Enjoy the summer days!

New Work, New Ideas, New Beginnings

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The past year had its challenges, but we worked hard to see through them, to keep moving forward.  Now we turn our gaze to higher goals and ideas that bring inspiration, hope and joy.  I enjoy seeing the “new beginnings” as I play with familiar shapes and figures across my canvases using different colors, textures and themes that bring delight; inscribing and embedding new pictographic messages to uplift and challenge ways of old thinking into new ways and ideas, therefore, creating new beginnings.

This year I am offering two pigment paint workshops. In these workshops I teach the processes I use from collecting minerals to using them to paint on a canvas or a clay surface.  One is possible at the end of March and the other in June. Both are to be held at the Piper J Gallery in Truckee.  I hope to finalize the dates soon.  Also, please contact me with questions or considerations of possible private group workshops or pigment collecting hikes here in Nevada City or other places nearby.

On another note, the Wild and Scenic Film Festival begins next week, Thursday February 13, at Center for the Arts in Grass Valley, CA to kick off the festival with its annual Art Exhibition and Reception, “Wild at Heart” 4:30 – 6:30.  Come join us! You are very welcome! The Festival runs Feb 13 – 23.

I have one large painting in the show, “In A Purple Universe” and three sculpture pieces from an installation, “Echoes of Wonder: A Reindeer Garden,” showcased at the Piper J Gallery, Truckee CA, in September 2024 and in the Open Studios Tour here in Nevada County West, October 2024

Ochre Rest: 12.5×9.5×5″
Taking Flight: “Dragonfly Dreams”24x10x7”

Lastly, included in this blog is a link to a video, a short trailer to a longer film, made this past year.  It is introduced by my daughter, Ashley, and shows a glimpse of how we work together to hike, collect minerals and process them.  The film, “Nature to Art” was produced by Jayanti Sakar, Graduate student at UNR.

Keep In Touch! Enjoy and Kind regards,

Jennifer

More Workshops! More Art!

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I LOVE to share my processes and I ENJOY seeing how others make them their own!

Mark your calendars! 

New workshop at Piper J Gallery, Sunday April 28, 11 am until 3:30 pm. 

I’ll take you through step-by-step to create a painting of your own. You will engage in learning to collect and process minerals into paints using different binders.  You will design a composition onto a wood surface covered with handmade papers. All materials are supplied, but you are welcome to bring any special brushes you would like to use, small jars for paints, and any up-cycled papers you may want to try. Bring a lunch and drinks.

Martis Camp in Truckee is hosting a Mineral Paints workshop in July so the residents can gain knowledge of painting with natural minerals and creating an eco-friendly Art studio space. I look forward to these events and hope to be able to do more. July 15, 2024 10 am -all day.

September brings new Art to Piper J Gallery! They are hosting a Sculpture exhibition with my clay sculptures. This will be a display inspired by nature and the ancient cave dwellers with a contemporary twist. Pictographs and signs of the ancients are also integrated into these works.

Come enter the domain of the Deer People. Opening Reception September 7, 2024 5-7 pm at the Piper J Gallery: 10250 Donnor Pass Rd. Truckee, CA.

(Piece in process of resting reindeer)

Enjoy Natural Art! Be inspired by the Nature that surrounds you.

Jennifer

YAy!!! Jumping into a New Year

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Already a fun busy time! The year opened with two shows, one at the Truckee Airport and one at Martis Camp in Truckee along with dates set for WORKSHOPS and a Mineral Hunting date! (below)

“Wild Women” Art Exhibition features 6 women artists from the region sponsored by the Nevada County Cultural District, the Truckee Alliance, the Nevada County Art Council and displayed by the Piper J Gallery. A new and featured piece is “Mountain Home” at this exhibition up until April 2024.

“Mountain Home” 40×50″ with white gold leaf, natural mineral paints and charcoal on handmade papers over 3-d reliefs and wood panel.

Martis Camp houses a relaxing atmosphere, a game room and an art workshop for residents. Featured works were spread out through the area, halls, stairwell and Art room.

Ancient Cave Bears: The Time Travelers 9×12″

Sacred Spirit of the Reindeer 9×12″

Workshops!

Natural Mineral Paints: Become an Earth Artist!

Welcome to participants of all levels and abilities! Mix and apply natural earth minerals into paints onto wood.  Learn how to use non-toxic and earth friendly processes to create a safe studio environment and artworks.  Visit ancestral roots that link Art to the Earth in this one day workshop.

Skill levels: All participants are able to create at their own comfort level of expertise.

Program description: Participants are introduced to earth paints, making pigments from natural minerals and mixing paints with different binders. Prepare wood canvas surfaces with the addition of handmade and up-cycled papers.  Design a composition using charcoal and/or pencil.  Patterns and templates are available to use for drawing and designing.  Participants will engage in processes that show how to integrate and use natural products to create earth-friendly Art, to explore ancient methods (to include early Italian processes to Paleolithic cave dwellers) and to transpose a studio space into an earth friendly environment.

1. March 16, Saturday 11 am-3:30 pm at Piper J Gallery, 10250 Donner Pass Rd. Truckee CA 96161  (775)220-0325 piperjgallery.com Price: $125, all supplies included

2. March 30, Saturday 11 am – 4 pm Blue Line Arts in Roseville, CA

Raw Mineral Paint Workshop with Jennifer Rugge
All supplies included: Members – $125; Non-members – $144

3. Small groups or private Workshops: contact Jennifer, email ruggej@aol.com to book a date on Thursdays, Fridays or Saturdays, 11 am – 3:30 pm for April and May. $125 per adult

4. Mineral Hunting: Friday, August 30, 2024, $50 per adult 11 – 2:30 pm.

Pack a lunch, water and a pack to carry collecting materials. We will meet here at my home and caravan to Scotts Flat Lake. The hike is light to moderate. Mud shoes and walking sticks are helpful when crossing over water and one steep, but short, incline. We will take time to learn about different ochres and clays, harvesting them and leaving a small or no footprint behind. Processing minerals with a brief demonstration along with a handout will be given.

Enjoy Art. Enjoy being inspired. Enjoy seeking alternatives for a health-conscious life. Jennifer

Save The Date! Open Studios 2021

Studio Visit

Open Studio Tour 2021 is HERE!


Wow! It is wonderful to have the opportunity to share my Art space once again. I have been able to exhibit my work and interact with people with the Covid mandates in place through Galleries, exhibitions and group shows. This year Art will be displayed outside in our garden and among our trees of the forest. The Pit Fire is quiet for now as we are still in “fire season”, but is open to viewing along with demonstrations in painting with natural pigments, the processes I use, and the exciting advances made with my sculptures. You are welcome to tour the Art, ask questions, and enjoy the atmosphere.

New works stem from the theme “Unmasked: Becoming Visible.” The process of my art is one of being unmasked and becoming visible. I Am an Earth Artist and so I collect, study and prepare minerals from the earth to make paints for my artwork. These ochres are ground, mixed with walnut oil and softened beeswax, and the true colors become visible. Charcoal graces the panel as figures of ancient animals emerge along with signs and symbols of early languages. The ochres refine and define the whispers from the Ancestral winds that the earth has experienced before, a past that belongs to us.

Unmasked are the deeper meanings and mysteries of the Ancients which appear in the images that become visible. As a lifelong artist and my relentless interest in historical roots, digging into the ancient past has led me on an intriguing journey to uncover forgotten times, stories and paths. These mysteries reveal clear intelligence and spiritual practices through their art and signs; these become visible through inspirations that emerge from and into my Art. The signs of the past become the visible signs of now.

Please join me for the the 2nd and 3rd weekends in October
for Nevada County’s Open Studio Tour.


See you in the garden!

Resilience with our Ancient Ancestors

Reflections

Resilience with our Ancient Ancestors from JENNIFER RUGGE on Vimeo.

 Resilience is the ability to recover.  We travel through life seemingly alone, but we are like others, thinking we know the self we are.  Our ancient ancestors experienced this same road. The appearances of difficult times speak loudly to gain our attentions and intentions as throughout history as we continue to uncover its depth, truth and reality.  

So I asked myself, “What do these times tell me about the self I believe to be?  What can I do or change within myself first to find resilience and a future?”  

Beginning with my individual self is the first step to any needed change.  For me it is an awareness of love, a deeper love for my sense of self asking to feel comfort and protection.  To share this with others comes through my art; it influences and directs the internal desire.  I hold this as the basis of resilience for my attentions and intentions and hope that others may find it, see it and connect in some way.  This is where our ability to recover grows.  Tracing the resilience of our ancient ancestors has enabled all of us to be here today, to move forward together.  

This path as an artist has shown me alternative ways to understanding our original roots through my own ancestral DNA trail, the study of Cave Art and artifacts, and the early knowledge of language expressed in signs and pictographs.  Because of my deep interest in historical roots, my digging into the ancient past has led me on an intriguing journey.  It began with the early Italian fresco painters.  The preparations of minerals into paints, writing in the illuminated style, and gold leaf applications that were used to capture the customs, symbols, and stories of the time.  This, then opened my sense of self to another dimension of spiritual perspectives in life as well as the curiosity of our ancestral cave dwellers and sojourners.  Together, these speak through my art along with creating an eco-friendly studio, using natural mineral paints and earth friendly products. 

From my Studio

Studio Visit

Another update is underway during these stay-at-home orders —

The Art council here in Nevada County has asked for photos, videos, or poetry/stories of where you spend most of your time during this “stay at home” policy in California. In my studio, at home is where I spend most of my time…preparing, thinking, creating inspirationally… in paintings, writing and sculpting. Enjoy the journey life sets before you. Enjoy!

Chalkin’ It Up: Street Art Challenge Response

Features & Fanfare, New Works

I put the challenge out there and YOU have answered! From Coast-to-Coast, street art has been flowing-in as folks all over are taking on the Street-Art-Challenge I put out last month. It’s been such a joy watching all the clips, photos, and videos of your artwork come in over the last month from YOUR STREET to MY STREET, offering such meaningful connection during this strange time. BIG Thank you to all who participated…here’s a compilation of a bit of what I received:

In more news…

Here is a video showing how I begin the process of a painting with mineral paints and gold leaf.

  1. I mix natural minerals from the earth with walnut oil along with softened natural beeswax.
  2. It is applied by using different tools: paintbrush, eco-friendly thinner, palette knife, or rib.
  3. In this painting, handmade and recycled papers are applied with a hand mixed plant based glue and left to dry thoroughly.
  4. The charcoal pencil is used to create a basic sketch of images on the surface.
  5. From here the background and foreground areas are worked with paints to create varying thicknesses of richness in color.

Finished Work is up at this online gallery:

Home Project, Osborn Woods Gallery, Nevada City, Ca. 

Home is Within: Home are the Stories from Within;
who I think and believe I am. 

RuggeJ_StoriesfromHome

From My Street to Yours

New Works


I hope all are well and able to deal with the need for distancing, staying at home, and isolating during this unusual time. From deep cleaning and reorganizing tasks to getting out, but staying close to home, we are all learning a different and much needed grounding to just be — be with your own self and close family members.

Recently I took to the streets! Well, I took my chalks to the road outside our home. I drew a large Ancestral reindeer and a cave bear. Then I laid on the road next to these creations while my husband stood on a ladder and took photos. It was a delight to be in the drawing with the Ancestral animals that inspire my work, and actually become a part of the artwork I’m so used to drawing up from my imagination.

Then, neighbors came by…and they took turns taking photos of the artwork and in some cases, adding their children into the art as if they too were riding an ancient reindeer and a cave bear. What a wonderful change of pace! And a way to share with our neighbors…at a distance of course! So with this new inspiration in mind, I’ve got an invitation for you…

Challenge: From my street to yours — create art with giant chalk drawing and place yourself or family member as part of the scene! Share your photos! I’d love to see what captures the imagination!

Be sure to tag me so I can see: @jenniferruggefineartms-instagram-shutterstock-275052920 #somegoodnews #frommyhometoyours #streetart