Drawing by our grandson, You never know who you influence.
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Each batik starts with a sketch.
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Biography
Echo is a native Montanan and has been interested in art for as long as she can remember. She has never taken a class in batik and has learned through trial and error. That method of instruction has yielded many happy accidents as well as a few disasters. Over the years she has learned how to manipulate the wax and dye to create desired effects, however, it is very unpredictable. Upon removing the wax, she is often surprised. Echo has an intense interest in history which she incorporates in the description of her historical works. Her batiks are in collections across the United States and Canada and include a variety of subject matter. Her work has been accepted into numerous fine art auctions and shows including Night of Artists, Briscoe Museum, San Antonio, TX, C M Russell Art Auction and Show, Great Falls, Mt., Cowgirl Up!, Wickenburg, AZ, Timeless Legacy: Women Artists of Glacier, Hockaday Museum, Kalispell, MT., Phippen Museum Art Show, Prescott, AZ., Double Visions Show (Ron and Echo Ukrainetz) Hockaday Museum, Kalispell, MT., Yellowstone Museum, Billings. MT., Paris Gibson Art Museum, Great Falls, MT., among others. She is represented by numerous galleries throughout the West. Echo Ukrainetz’s work has been featured in Art of the West, Cowboys and Indians, Western Art and Architecture, Big Sky Journal., Western Art Collector, Southwest Art, as well as others. She has a feature story, Today’s Wild West, on PBS which is nominated for a Heartland Award. Her work was used for the cover image of Portfolio Magazine (2020), Montana Miniatures (2020), and Peaks and Plains Magazine.
Artist Statement
I work in fine art batik, a challenging and unpredictable medium. Each piece motivates me to try something new. The colors and shapes created by this unique process are fascinating. each piece is unique and full of surprises. I have a deep respect for my subjects and for the history they represent, I try to tell a small part of their story. My life as an artist is an incredible journey and more exciting than I could have ever imagined.
Awards
3rd Place - Mixed Media - Phippen Art Show, 2014
Chief Koostatda, People’s Choice Award, Hockaday Museum, Summer 2015.
1st Place - Mixed Media - Phippen Art Show, 2015
Demonstrations and Classes
C M Russell Museum, Saddles and Spurs, 2011, 2014, 2018
Hockaday Museum, - 2016
Paris Gibson Square 2016,2019
Art Education for Students and Adults
• Kid Russell Program, Heritage Inn, Great Falls, MT, CM Russell Art Auction and Sale
2006-2009
Young Masters Program, Heritage Inn, Great Falls MT, in March 2010 -present
C M Russell Museum, student class - 2016
C M Russell Adult Class - 2018
Artist Statement And Explanation of Batik
I am a fine art batik artist and am fascinated by the colors and shapes created by this unique process. As a self taught artist my work has been evolving for over 20 years.
Batik is an artistic process of alternating applications of wax resist and colorful dyes on high quality cloth, creating an elaborate piece of art. After the fabric is dyed and the dye is dry, wax is applied to areas to resist the penetration of the next application of dye. This process is repeated until the entire piece is covered with wax. A batik can have well over 30 applications of dye and wax. If you look closely you will see crackle. This is achieved by bending and cracking the wax before the final application of black. The wax is then removed and the final piece is revealed.
I am most inspired by portraits, both contemporary and traditional. I often use historical photographs of the late 1800’s and early 1900’s because they evoke emotion and are an excellent historical record of a changing world. The human face is an interesting combination of planes of color, shadows and highlights that can be effectively rendered in fine art batik. I am especially intrigued by the power of expressive eyes. When creating a portrait, the most exciting moment for me is after a number of dye baths and wax applications, portions of the face begin to appear and the eyes are “looking back” at me.
Landscape and wildlife are also favorite subjects. I am influenced by the farms and ranches of my Grandfather, aunts and uncles. They evoke emotions of my childhood and are perfect to recreate in batik because of the expansive skies and the wonderful play of color combinations. Wildlife, especially birds, are very appealing. My husband, Ron Ukrainetz, is a wildlife artist and we enjoy on collaborating on pieces. Every year we create our christmas cards, he does an intricate drawing and I put it in batik.
Life as an artist is more exciting that I could have ever imagined and is an incredible journey.
I am a fine art batik artist and am fascinated by the colors and shapes created by this unique process. As a self taught artist my work has been evolving for over 20 years.
Batik is an artistic process of alternating applications of wax resist and colorful dyes on high quality cloth, creating an elaborate piece of art. After the fabric is dyed and the dye is dry, wax is applied to areas to resist the penetration of the next application of dye. This process is repeated until the entire piece is covered with wax. A batik can have well over 30 applications of dye and wax. If you look closely you will see crackle. This is achieved by bending and cracking the wax before the final application of black. The wax is then removed and the final piece is revealed.
I am most inspired by portraits, both contemporary and traditional. I often use historical photographs of the late 1800’s and early 1900’s because they evoke emotion and are an excellent historical record of a changing world. The human face is an interesting combination of planes of color, shadows and highlights that can be effectively rendered in fine art batik. I am especially intrigued by the power of expressive eyes. When creating a portrait, the most exciting moment for me is after a number of dye baths and wax applications, portions of the face begin to appear and the eyes are “looking back” at me.
Landscape and wildlife are also favorite subjects. I am influenced by the farms and ranches of my Grandfather, aunts and uncles. They evoke emotions of my childhood and are perfect to recreate in batik because of the expansive skies and the wonderful play of color combinations. Wildlife, especially birds, are very appealing. My husband, Ron Ukrainetz, is a wildlife artist and we enjoy on collaborating on pieces. Every year we create our christmas cards, he does an intricate drawing and I put it in batik.
Life as an artist is more exciting that I could have ever imagined and is an incredible journey.