Born in New Orleans and reared in southern states including Mississippi, Tennessee and Georgia, the imprint of those childhood years spent in the south seasons much of the artwork and life of Carol Ruff Franza.
Art education began at Ringling School of Art in Sarasota, Florida. Carol continued studies at The Atlanta School of Art and Callanwolde. In adulthood Carol has lived in Illinois, New York, Virginia, California, Georgia, Arizona and Washington, before returning to Scottsdale, AZ.
Exposure to many art forms was gained with international travel throughout Europe. During her three years in Scottsdale, Carol fell in love with sculpting. She studied at Scottsdale Artist School and Loveland Academy in Loveland Colorado. She studied figure, bas relief and portrait with Italian Master Bruno Lucchesi, Paul Lucchesi, Stanley Bleifeild, Lincoln Fox, Eugene Daub, Tuck Langland, John Coleman, Susan Henningson, Rosalyn Cook and Richard MacDonald. Anamalia was studied under Richard Loffler, Mel Lawson, Sandy Scott. Phil Beck, John Michael Carter represent a sampling of the masters she studied oil painting techniques with.
Relocation to Bainbridge Island, Washington brought the opportunity to participate in Bainbridge Island Art Walks.
In 2003, Carol created a portrait bust of Governor Sonny Perdue, the first Republican to fill the office of Governor in Georgia since the reconstruction. This work is located inside the Governors Mansion in Atlanta. (cont. next page)