About the artwork: My work focuses on creating a feeling of tranquility and contemplation.  The art is inspired by harmonious settings, reflecting a sense of renewal. I am moved by the power of simplicity, and when I paint I’m seeking to distill the piece down to its most essential forms, eliminating unnecessary details.

I work in a variety of mediums and styles because I love the sense of exploration and discovery that creating art brings. My artwork includes painting, collage, drawing, and graphic design.

For landscape art, when I begin a painting the focal point is often the sky, and the rest of the scene takes its cue from that mood and movement, evolving to find its own voice.  Patterns of light and shadow first emerge on the canvas as chords of color, then as the work progresses, objects take shape as land masses, ribbons of water, tree lines and clouds.

The pastoral scenery of my childhood, gentle fields rolling to meet the first hill of the Appalachians, remains a powerful visual memory. A sense of gratitude for the beauty of the natural world informs my work; and with it, I hope to reflect the peace and spiritual presence so tangible in nature.

“Let the beauty we love be what we do.” -Rumi

 About the artist: Ann was raised in eastern Pennsylvania and in New York City. She was influenced by both the rural vistas of her childhood, and Manhattan’s vibrant art museums. She has lived in the Carolinas for many years, and often paints the local hills, fields and shorelines.

Ann began painting and drawing in early childhood, and exhibited her art during high school in the National Scholastic Arts program, yet initially considered art simply as a hobby. She focused on business instead, earning bachelors and masters degrees with honors at Western Michigan University, then continuing her studies, with a career that included project management, teaching, public relations, and media work. She was also fortunate to be able to create in the commercial arts field, through graphic design.

As a volunteer for historic preservation and land conservation efforts, the beauty and significance of those places profoundly influenced her art. Ann studied painting with talented professional artists, both through individual instruction and in workshops. Her art training also includes studio classwork at Moravian College in Pennsylvania. Among her artistic influences are Wolf Kahn, Edward Hopper, and Jasper Johns.