Ruzanna Ohannessian

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ruzanna was born in Yerevan, Armenia and moved to the United States in 1989. As a student in high school she found a passion for art, and decided to continue her studies and major in the arts. She received honorary arts’ awards and scholarships while studying under master artists and professors in Central California, Seattle Washington, and culminating in receiving a Bachelor’s Degree in Drawing and Painting from Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona.Although her concentration was in drawing and painting, Ruzanna spent many years developing her skills in sculpture, photography, and printmaking. She has been influenced by the works of both traditional (Baroque) and modernists (Post-Impressionist and Abstract Expressionist) artists such as; Carravaggio, Artemisia Gentileschi, Henri Matisse, Paul Cezanne, Paul Gauguin, Martiros Saryan, Arshile Gorky, and Georgia O’Keeffe. Although she focused on the masters in her studies, her upbringing in the Armenian culture and the beautiful landscape of Armenia has mainly shaped her artistic direction. Throughout the years Ruzanna’s art has been exhibited at various university galleries and private collections. A majority of her work has been spent on commissioned projects. Ruzanna’s current work is predominantly in painting still lifes and landscapes in the medium of acrylic, watercolor, and oil paints. She paints in the immediacy of light and color to express the moment. Ruzanna currently works in public education administration and holds art camps throughout the year. She has dedicated her career to education and is an advocate for arts education. She is also the Principal of St. John Garabed Armenian School in San Diego, CA where she has developed a program that teaches the children the Armenian culture, history, language, and the arts. Ruzanna lives in Poway, CA with her husband, Yerevan, and her beautiful children Sophia, Angele, and Stephan.