What are you earliest memories of art? How did you become an artist yourself?

As a young child I remember my oldest sister loving to paint and draw and seeing her work made me want to be an artist, too. I was always fascinated by the human figure and continued to draw and paint from books, magazines and from life.

What has been your evolution as an artist ?

Catholic girls schools didn’t allow nude models which made my learning process a bit longer than necessary (especially since they dressed them in black leotards). I think that added to my abstracting from the figure and loving the freedom of interpretation. There was one particular teacher who made a difference in my artistic life because he loved abstraction and encouraged me on that path. After college I created sculpture, ceramics, prints, and pen & ink drawings but always reverted back to oil painting.

Are there any artists who have inspired you and influenced you in your work? If so, who are they?

In studying art history I discovered Matisse, who progressed throughout his career finally reaching a more abstract quality to his art with fanciful paper cutouts. And also JMW Turner whose paintings have an abstract quality about them that is ethereal and mesmerizing. Most of all was Diebenkorn and his Ocean Park series because he mixed figurative painting with abstraction. Eventually, after spending years painting, you assimilate all the art and artists you have seen and studied and they all become in influence on your work.

Can you describe your process for creating a work of art? Are there any colors that you particularly like using?

Working with oil paints is such a fascinating medium because of the slow drying process which allowed me to continually go over layers with more paint and glazes and blending them or scraping away to reveal the colors underneath, almost always using many different palette knives. I work on several paintings at once in order to continually work them - often starting with a complicated composition and then simplifying and abstracting even more. The colors in my work have always tended toward earth tones mixed with blues and whites.

You mostly do abstract work. Is there a reason why you are particularly interested in abstract works?

Abstraction allows the viewer to use her imagination and interpret the painting in her own individual way. There is no right or wrong.

Where do you see your work going from here?

Wherever it leads me.

A Conversation with Anne Smith Stephan, September Featured Artist