Ana's Biography
Ana is a Master Gilder and Restorer of furniture and antiques. In 2010 she married a native born Vancouverite and moved to Vancouver, Canada, where she currently lives and works.
Ana was born in Madrid, Spain, into a family that has, for over 3 generations been making fine furniture. Her sister is an accomplished interior designer in Madrid, her brother is a respected architect and her mother is an accomplished artist in the making of traditional Orthodox Religious Icons, with embossed silver. With this family and background, it was always Ana’s desire to go on to a profession in the arts.
To accomplish this goal she first studied Applied Arts, at the prestigious school of Applied Arts and Artistic Professions, in Madrid. Her special area of study at this school was Gilding and Polychroming, as well as, gilding restoration, painting in different mediums, and other art and restoration techniques. After 5 years of study she graduated, with honors, in 1986.
Since this time she has also gone onto take various courses to further her career. These include courses in conservation and restoration of paintings on wooden panels, furniture and wooden frames. The interest for the last ones grew when attending a course given by Maria Pía Timón on its history.
These studies and her work for the last 26 years have led to her status as a Master Gilder and Restorer, including being a Master of the Water Gilding process. It has been her honor and pleasure to restore and gild furniture and frames from collections such as those held in the Prado Museum in Madrid, the Palace of Buenavista, a number of embassies, and a number of private collections. She has also given Gilding workshops, both privately and at schools of art, in Spain and in Canada.
Since her graduation in 1986, she has also held five personal exhibitions of her art throughout her career and has participated in various other group exhibitions in Spain and abroad. Her art includes the making and Gilding of traditional Italian Religious Icons, like her mother, oriental themes, on top of her own unique art pieces. Since moving to Vancouver her artistic focus has been on oriental art, specifically the Art of China.
In 2008 she collaborated in the construction of a new alter for Our Lady of the Castle in the Church of Saint Cristobal, in Extremadura, Spain, where she was the Master Gilder in charge of all Gilding.
In 2010, upon her arrival in Vancouver, she was immediately retained to Gild the main alter, two side alters and alter rails for Holy Family Roman Catholic Church, in Vancouver.
Ana uses only the best materials for the commission, such as the best gesso and gold leaf (22 karat to 24 karat) and other items used in Restoration and Gilding that she sources from various places in Europe. She feels that using the finest materials as well as the best technique, is the only way to ensure the best result.
Ana truly loves what she does, and takes great pride in her work as a professional. She will always advise the client of the best way to maintain the value and integrity of any piece through the Gilding or Restoring of that piece. She is always aware that it is the client and their total satisfaction that she is working for and the commission is never finished until the client is totally satisfied.
Ana was born in Madrid, Spain, into a family that has, for over 3 generations been making fine furniture. Her sister is an accomplished interior designer in Madrid, her brother is a respected architect and her mother is an accomplished artist in the making of traditional Orthodox Religious Icons, with embossed silver. With this family and background, it was always Ana’s desire to go on to a profession in the arts.
To accomplish this goal she first studied Applied Arts, at the prestigious school of Applied Arts and Artistic Professions, in Madrid. Her special area of study at this school was Gilding and Polychroming, as well as, gilding restoration, painting in different mediums, and other art and restoration techniques. After 5 years of study she graduated, with honors, in 1986.
Since this time she has also gone onto take various courses to further her career. These include courses in conservation and restoration of paintings on wooden panels, furniture and wooden frames. The interest for the last ones grew when attending a course given by Maria Pía Timón on its history.
These studies and her work for the last 26 years have led to her status as a Master Gilder and Restorer, including being a Master of the Water Gilding process. It has been her honor and pleasure to restore and gild furniture and frames from collections such as those held in the Prado Museum in Madrid, the Palace of Buenavista, a number of embassies, and a number of private collections. She has also given Gilding workshops, both privately and at schools of art, in Spain and in Canada.
Since her graduation in 1986, she has also held five personal exhibitions of her art throughout her career and has participated in various other group exhibitions in Spain and abroad. Her art includes the making and Gilding of traditional Italian Religious Icons, like her mother, oriental themes, on top of her own unique art pieces. Since moving to Vancouver her artistic focus has been on oriental art, specifically the Art of China.
In 2008 she collaborated in the construction of a new alter for Our Lady of the Castle in the Church of Saint Cristobal, in Extremadura, Spain, where she was the Master Gilder in charge of all Gilding.
In 2010, upon her arrival in Vancouver, she was immediately retained to Gild the main alter, two side alters and alter rails for Holy Family Roman Catholic Church, in Vancouver.
Ana uses only the best materials for the commission, such as the best gesso and gold leaf (22 karat to 24 karat) and other items used in Restoration and Gilding that she sources from various places in Europe. She feels that using the finest materials as well as the best technique, is the only way to ensure the best result.
Ana truly loves what she does, and takes great pride in her work as a professional. She will always advise the client of the best way to maintain the value and integrity of any piece through the Gilding or Restoring of that piece. She is always aware that it is the client and their total satisfaction that she is working for and the commission is never finished until the client is totally satisfied.
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