Rhonda Nass

Probably all of us can pinpoint moments in our lives which caused an abrupt change of direction, leading us on a distinct future course. My first high school art class was such a moment. From the minute I began to draw my first pencil profile of a classmate, I was hooked on the limitless possibilities of communicating through art. It was also in that class that I was told I could never be a professional artist. Well, being the stubborn German I am, I immediately defied my teacher’s proclamation and determined to pursue what led to an art education degree from The University of Wisconsin-Madison. Shortly thereafter, in 1976, my husband, Rick, and I opened our illustration studio, Ampersand, and began our lives as professional artists. We continue to operate Ampersand from the log home/studio we built in the woods 15 miles from Madison.

Artists most influential in developing my “style” are Caravaggio, Peter Paul Rubens, Wayne Thiebaud, Robert Bateman and Rick Nass. I regard contrasts (light, texture, color, space, temperature, etc.) as one of the most effective visual communication tools, so one can usually recognize my work by the distinctive treatment between foreground/background, light/dark, or juxtaposed complementary colors.

I’ll always be amazed that one can make a living doing what one loves, and can, in the process, keep stretching and passing discoveries on to others. It’s a gift for which I’ll continuously thank God. I hope you will enjoy my art as much as I enjoy creating it. Thank you for being a supporter of the arts.

Education:

Continuous through publications, personal contact with other artists, classes,
experimentation and exposure to new interest

Robert Bateman Class, Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum, Wausau, WI

Illustrators Workshop, Tarrytown, NY

B.S. Art Education, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI

Bibliography:

Biology of Plants, Worth Publishers, Inc., New York, NY, 1992, 1999;
W.H. Freeman & Co., New York, NY, 2005.
Communication Arts, Coyne & Blanchard, Inc., Palo Alto, CA, 1993.
Gifts from the Earth, Wild Willow/Ampersand, Cross Plains, WI, 1988.
International Exhibition, Hunt Institute/Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, 1992.
Society of Illustrators, Madison Square Press, New York, NY, 1985, 1996.

Partial Exhibition / Client List:

Atlantic Monthly Boston, MA Beverly Morgan Art Center Chicago, IL Colorado Springs Fine Art Center Colorado Springs, CO CPSA International Exhibitions: Birmingham, MI Memphis, TN Chicago, IL	Hult Center for the Performing Arts Eugene, OR Hunt Institute for Botanical Documentation Carnegie Mellon University Pittsburgh, PA Lands’ End Dodgeville, WI Madison Art Center Madison, WI	Nature Conservancy Milwaukee, WI New York Botanical Gardens Bronx, NY Paine Art Center Oshkosh, WI RSVP “Shadows” New York, NY Society of Illustrators New York, NY

Davis Arboretum Davis, CA Denver Botanic Gardens Denver, CO	Marquette University Milwaukee, WI Masters’ Show Ligonier, PA	TravelSmith Novato, CA Warner Books New York, NY

Duluth Trading Co. Belleville, WI Gardener’s Supply Burlington, VT	Morton Arboretum Lisle, IL National Wildlife Gallery Vienna, VA	Weisman Art Center Minneapolis, MN W. H. Freeman Publishers New York, NY

Return to our Welcome Page