Raised with a deep respect for the natural environment and inspired by the complex beauty of the earth and its resources, Dene Ross captures in her work the divine tapestry of landscape. Her goal is to instill joy and a connection between the viewer and the natural world, bringing the observer to a renewed reverence for our planet.
Paper was the base of her work as a printmaker and photographer in the 1970s. Concern about the longevity of paper led Dene to experiment and to research archival papermaking processes, pigmentation and plant chemistry. Paper made from wood pulp disintegrates because of the acid content. When she was shown plant specimens that were over 100 years old, Dene realized that organic material would not disintegrate quickly. Using the Chinese techniques of embedding flowers and leaves could last indefinitely in a paper base.
While spending a summer with Navajo blanket weavers, Dene learned natural dyeing techniques from them. She began making paper as an art form, using either a white cotton base or an organic pulp made with white cotton and various flowers. It is important to neutralize the acid content. The first papers Dene exhibited were embedded work, with fresh flowers or leaves, hand-spun naturally dyed yarn and threads for line and design.
