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. Her favorite classes throughout school involved drawing and design. 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 ironing out 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, exhibitions, shows and galleries.
Shows and Exhibitions
Women on the Beartooth September, 2021
Art on the Beartooth August 2-29, 2021
The Russell, Great Falls, MT - 2008--2021
Timeless Legacy: Women Artists of Glacier, Hockaday Museum, Kalispell, MT - 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020
Night of Artists, Briscoe Museum, San Antonio, TX - 2018, 2020, 2021
Out West Art Show, Great Falls, MT - 2014-2021
Western Masters Art Show and Sale, Great Falls, MT - 2011-2013
C M Russell Art Auction and Show, Great Falls, Mt - 2009-2010
Double Visions Show (Ron and Echo Ukrainetz) Hockaday Museum, Kalispell, MT - 2016
Phippen Museum Art Show, Prescott, AZ - 2014, 2015
Colors of Fall, kGreat Falls, MT - 2015
Hockaday Members Salon, Hockaday Museum, Kalispell, MT - 2013-2015
Holiday Art Show, Holiday Inn, Great Falls, MT - 2012, 2013
Gallery Shows
Frame of Reference September 2021
Frame of Reference Gallery Whitefish, MT 2017-2019
Terakadis Gallery, Billings MT, 2019
Beartooth Gallery, Red Lodge, MT - 2017, 2018
Icons of the West - Dana Gallery Missoula, MT - 2013, 2014, 2016
Winston Publishing, Great Falls, MT - 2015, 2016, 2017
• Lodestone Gallery, Great Falls, MT - 2010-2012
• Brighten Up Shop, Great Falls, MT - 2012-2014
• Wrangler Gallery, Great Falls, MT - 2013, 2014
Auctions
AuctionArt in Action, The Russell 2018, 2021
• The Russell, CM Russell Museum, Great Falls, MT - 2010-2021
Briscoe Museum, Night of Artists, San Antonio, TX 2018-2021
• Paris Gibson Square Museum of Art Auction, Great Falls, MT, - 2009 -2010
Out West Art Show Auction, Great Falls, MT - 2018, 2021
• Western Masters Art Auction, Western Masters Art Show, Great Falls, MT - 2011-2013
• Holter Museum of Art 2011, 2012,
• Yellowstone Art Museum, Billings, MT - 2011, 2014, 2015, 2020
• Hockaday Museum Miniature Auction, Kalispell, MT - 2013-2015
Rodeo Uncorked, Great Falls, MT - 2013, 2014
Publications
Big Sky Journal-Fall 2019
Cultural Treasures, 2014, 2019
Western Art and Architecture - 2018
Cowboys and Indians, 2018
Western Art Collector September, 2015, March, 2016, May, 2016
Southwest Art 8/2016
• Cover, Western Art Roundup, Great Falls Tribune,Great Falls, MT - 2013
• Montana Senior News Volume 30 Number 1 - 2013
• The Greatest of Great Falls, Official Visitor’s Guide - 2014
• The Missoulian, Missoula, MT - May 15, 2014
Naatsi Boise Shoshone cover photo on Peaks and Plains Magazine Spring 2015
What Women Want February - March 2015
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
Galleries
Creighton Block Gallery, Big Sky, MT
Frame of Reference, Whitefish, MT
Latigo and Lace, Augusta, MT
Arvon, Great Falls, MT
Winston Gallery, Great Falls, MT
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.