Surana Van Alstine, lives, serves and creates in Ananda Village, Nevada City, California.  

It is in this environment that she finds inspiration based on a lifestyle of community living which includes spiritual practices, quiet surroundings, and a joint effort to live in accordance with the Divine plan found in each individual.  

Her artistic endeavors are inspired by visual art forms including design, texture, color and a variety of acrylic mediums in a single artwork, referred to as Mixed Media.  Her Collage pieces include mixed media forms plus hand-painted and designed papers.  Her Alcohol Ink pieces use a form of liquid media primarily applied to non-porous surfaces.  The inks are highly regarded because of their vibrant colors and metallic qualities.  They can be a great challenge to the artist as they are difficult to manipulate and control, creating unexpected designs.