A Brief History

Natasha Ruschka is a Canberra-based artist whose vibrant and expressive works capture the striking beauty of nature and everyday life. Her passion for painting was ignited during her time in Colorado, where she immersed herself in the dynamic Denver art community. This experience, along with her ongoing exploration of the outdoors, deeply influences her distinctive style.

Specialising in oil painting, Natasha creates both still life and landscape works, often painting en plein air to capture the true colours of nature and the shifting play of light. Working in the “Alla Prima” wet-on-wet technique, she pushes her colour palette, blending directly on the canvas to create loose, dynamic brushstrokes that convey a sense of movement and energy. Her approach transforms seemingly simple scenes into captivating and intimate vignettes infused with with a sense of immediacy and beauty.

For the past eight years, Natasha has lived her dream as a professional artist, sharing her knowledge and passion for art through teaching workshops across Australia. Her work is held in private collections both nationally and internationally, and she has earned recognition with multiple awards and regular shortlisting in prestigious national exhibitions such as Lethbridge 20000, The Darcy Doyle's, and Spirit of Australia.

Prizes

2023

• Highly Commended – Lethbridge Small Scale Art Awards
• 2nd Place The Doyles Art Awards – Still Life Category
• Highly Commended – Watercolour – Aspects Art Show, Goondoowindi
• 2022

• Peel Region Award – Plein Air Down Under – Mandurah WA
• Commended Award – Lethbridge 20000 – Small Scale Art Award
• 1st Prize – New Exhibitor and Acquisitive Award – Aspects Art Show, Goondoowindi

2021

• 1st Place Oil Painting – Brookfield Art Show

Finalist

2024

• Lethbridge 20000 Small Scale Art Awards
• The Doyle’s Art Awards (Landscape and Still Life)
• Lethbridge Landscape Prize

2023

• Bluethumb Art Awards
• Clayton Utz Art Awards, by Lethbridge Gallery
• Heart of the Bush, Goondiwindi

2022

• 9 x 5 Landscape Exhibition – Waverly Woollahra Art School
• Clayton Utz Awards
• Darcy Doyle Art Awards
• Facets of Fairholme

2021

• Lethbridge Gallery – Small Scale Art Exhibition

Solo Exhibitions

2024

• “A New Season” Solo Show Wild Canary
• “Colourful Spaces, Beautiful Places” Wild Canary, Brookfield Brisbane

• Group Exhibitions

2024

• Floriade Festival Featured Artist, Grainger Gallery
• “Prima Vera” Group Show, Floriade Festival, Grainger Gallery
• Plein Air Down Under, Mandurah WA
• Affordable Art Fair, Grainger Gallery
• “Winter Feast” Group Show, Grainger Gallery

2023

• “En Plein Air” A Joint Exhibition with Leisl Baker at Art Nuvo Gallery, Buderim
• The Spirit of the Landscape Exhibition, Mandurah WA
• “Inside Outside Upside Down”, Online Group Show with Artburst Studios USA

2022

• Wild Summer Days Group Exhibition, Wild Canary
• Monday Painters Group Exhibition, Brookfield QLD
• Featured Artist – St Sebastian’s Art Show
• Brisbane Grammar Art Show
• Toowoomba Grammar Art Show

2021

• “A Winter’s Walk” with Kate Pittas, Kate Mitchell and Jane Thompson, Wild Canary, Brookfield Brisbane
• Toowoomba Grammar Art Show

2020

• Featured Artist – Still Life Collection – Art West Community Gallery, Mt Ommaney
• Flower Market – Sold Out Online Exhibition

2019

• Park Hill Art Association – Spring Show – Denver, CO, USA

Commissions Enquiry