About
Biography
Ana dos Santos is a Portuguese visual artist, who resides on the North Shore of Massachusetts. She graduated with a BFA in Fine arts and Illustration from the Art Institute of Boston and later received an MA in Mental Health Counseling and Art Therapy from Lesley University.
After 20 plus years in the mental health field, she is fully embracing her art practice.
Ana is a member of the Ipswich Art Association and has participated in Mass MoCA's Assets for Artists (A4A) Program and art residency.
She is also a jewelry artist and gardener.
b. Tours, France, 1970
Artist Statement
I used to say that I was the only artist in the family, but I realize that is not true. My grandfather and uncle were stove makers, my grandmother a grain miller, clothes maker and crocheter of beautiful, intricate linens; my dad, a “MacGyver” of sorts and maker of miniature copper stoves and ornate ironwork. And everyone was a horticulturist. I was born into a family of craft artists and gardeners. Although I am the only one who draws and paints, I spend much time in my own garden.
I find joy in the process of discovery, where each exploration leads me down new avenues of expression. In my process and curiosity-driven practice, I work with a diverse range of mediums such as paint, pencil, ink, cut paper, photography and cyanotype. Contemporary artists that inspire my work include Robert Kushner, Bobbie Burgers, Zachari Logan, Claire Basler, Michael Harnish, Lisa Hunt and Olivia Parker among others.
Central to my work are floral and botanical elements, which I depict in a semi-abstract, lyrical and gestural manner that are based on personal memories and experiences. These elements explore the cycles of nature; an awareness of growth, death and renewal, and serve as markers and preserves of Place and time.
For the last few years, I’ve been fascinated by cyanotypes, using my backyard as a studio and collaborating with the forces of nature. Much like a film camera, you don’t know what you’ve captured until it’s processed. I love the movement, blurriness, and sometimes abstract quality in the finished pieces. Recently, I’ve been exploring the potential beyond traditional cyanotype by incorporating painting to create more integrated works.
Whether through painting, drawing, mixed media, or cyanotype, my art seeks to evoke a sense of wonder and introspection, inviting viewers to contemplate their own relationship with the natural world and their sense of home and belonging.