I'm almost giddy with the interview I'm bringing you today. I've had a major art-crush on this artist for the longest time. I stumbled across the painting below on Etsy a few of years ago, and was immediately smitten. Now she's got even more impressive and awesome things going, not failing to mention she's a momma to two adorable kids, and now I get to introduce her to you! Meet Annie Koelle:
1.
Were you always an art kid, or did you stumble upon it later in life?
Always
an art kid! Can't remember when I wasn't drawing, making, or thinking
about what I was going to make. I don't think I ever had to
sit down and figure out what I was going to be when I grow up, its
like I have an extra bodily organ that drives me to create.
2.
What style of art is your favorite and why?
I
have don't have a favorite style, I like everything from realistic
dutch still lifes to candy colored abstracts. I usually connect with
individual paintings or pieces of artwork as opposed to one
sort of look.
3.
What do you use for inspiration, or how do you generate ideas?
Oh
my! Where do I start!? Inspiration is an extremely complex
idea. . . first of all it has been building in life from childhood.
My love of natural subjects, the sort of landscapes I paint like the
ones from where I grew up and many tiny woven things that I can't
probably discern myself but they are a part of me. These bits build
on each other and and then I fit them all together within the
confines of my present life situations - like not having much time to
myself for work because of dear little babies to play with and being
too terribly tired at night to think about much. And my art inspiration board on pinterest! I look at all those jewels glowing on
the screen together and it gets my brain going.
4.
Walk us through your creative process from idea to finished project.
Well,
I have lots of collected things laying around, like old
thrift store frames,wood panels and things to assemble, so thinking
about what I have to work with I let the idea spark for a while. Then
I prime my surface (mat board or wood panel) with flat latex paint,
make my drawing with graphite or charcoal, spray it with fixative
then I start applying acrylic paint. First I goop on
a tinted glaze that I meticulously mix just right, dry
brush it out with nice wide brushes until I get the texture I want
and let it dry for a day or so, or I hurry it along a hair dryer that
has only been used to dry my hair like twice. Then once the glaze
dries I might tweak it some more and then I apply the stronger swipes
of color in heavier acrylic paint and latex paint. Once I'm settled
with it I varnish it, sign it and tap a hook into it.
5.
What is a typical day in your life?
Hahaha,
first, try to stay in bed as long as possible which is usually
until 7:30, change Pearl's stinky diaper, feed myself, her and my son
who acts like he is going to die of starvation. I take him to
preschool, my husband puts Pearl down for her morning nap and we both
get to cracking at art or stuff. I work for a couple of hours if I'm
lucky, while she sleeps, then when she wakes up I might run some
errands before I pick up Marshall from school at 12:30. We lunch,
then Pearl takes another nap and sometimes I work again, but usually
I try to reign in the chaos. At night I don't usually do
much art work, in the past I've tried but I usually hate what I've
done in the morning. I really need good daylight. And
sleep! I don't know how some people do it! If I stay up any later
than midnight I end up with migraines so it just isn't
worth it. You can sneak a peek at these days if you follow me on instagram.
6.
What do you think draws you to other people's work?
I
don't actually know, if its really great art it draws me. You can
tell when you look at a piece if the artist behind it knows
what they're doing, if they really care about what they are doing.
7.
What are your interests/hobbies?
Ha!
no hobbies. Living life and enjoying it and painting as
much as I can, that's what I do, the painting part is not a hobby.
8.
Is this your full time job, or do you have a job out-of-studio?
Mom of
two crazy kiddos. That's job enough at this point.
9.
What is your favorite piece you've ever made and why?
Oh
dear, I have had several, not too many but a few, more now than
before which is good. Right now I really love two landscapes that are
a set, they are about 8 inches high with deep frames. There is a
wilderness scene with big pines I drew and painted in them. The
frames are gray, then painted gold on the lower half, the best part
are teeny tiny gold cowboys and indians fighting in
front of the landscape inside of the frame. The paintings
are called "Manifest Destiny" and I made them because I
didn't know what to do with all the sad things that happened to the
indians, my grandfather being one of them. I loved him very much and
I think of him every day. That's probably why I like it so much.
 |
| An image of a work in progress that became a collaboration with Knack Studios. |
10.
What advice would you give to an artist just starting out in the
business world?
Well,
at this point I am not involved too much in the business world, but I
would say networking and finding people who really believe in your
art is the best place to start. Fortunately I have many people like
that, one of them being Teresa at Art & Light Gallery.
 |
| Her lovely family. |
11.
Describe your work space
I have
a closet that I stuff things into and a mid-century cart
that I keep most-used things on. I work on the kitchen table, an
easel and usually the floor covered with swaths of brown paper.
Here is a link to a feature a sweet photog friend did of my family, house and studio.
 |
| Another work in progress that became a collaboration with Knack Studios. |
12.
Did you face any setbacks on your path to being an artist?
Well,
lets not call them setbacks. They are very cute setbacks, I love them
very much and their names are Marshall and Pearl.
 |
| Another view of the work in progress of the collaborative piece. |
13.
What milestones, goals, or achievements are you striving for right
now?
Keep
my children alive, be a good fun wife and always figure out
how to keep painting.
Thank you so very much Annie for your time, and wonderful answers.
You can find her on:
Instagram: http://instagram.com/anniekoelle/
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/annie_koelle/
Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/AnnieKoelle
1 comment:
All of this work is fresh and imaginative!! Very creative.
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