Visual Art has been the guiding light on my journey through life with all of its unpredictable twists and turns. Whether I am sketching in the field or draw- ing in the studio, art is the stable foundation through which I learn about life, beauty, truth and God.
Drawing and painting, for me, is a dance between observing the intrinsic nature of my subject and interpreting that subject’s essence on the blank slate before me. I work primarily in graphite, ballpoint pen and watercolor on high quality, archival paper.
Early in my career, I had several art exhibits in Santa Cruz, CA in which I would combine my art show openings with a concert that I produced. These concerts featured several of the Windham Hill artists, including pianist, George Winston and guitarist Michael Hedges.
In 1984, I moved to San Francisco and began making my living with Graph- ic Design and Illustration, and continued to do my fine art on my own.
In 1993, I moved to Tampa to begin graduate work at the University of South Florida in Visual Sociology, researching homelessness. In my studies, I fulfilled the requirements for both an MFA and a MA.
While there, I developed a methodology in which location sketching was my primary means of recording fieldnotes. These were later paired with written observations. Sketching proved to be the ideal way of finding my key informants for more detailed interviews. During these, I would draw a portrait of the per- son I was interviewing.
My graduate exhibit, featuring the graphite portraits of my key informants, was held at the USF Contemporary Art Museum in July, 1996. An article about this exhibit and my work was published in a two-page feature spread published in the Sunday Edition of the St. Petersburg Times on July 28, 1996.
After graduating, I returned to the Bay Area, again making my living with Graphic Design and Illustration. In 2004, I migrated to the web, working as a User Interface (UI) and Visual Designer.
My job at Intel working on staff as a User Experience Designer (UX), brought me to the Pacific Northwest in 2014. Since leaving Intel five years ago, I have been able to devote my time more fully to my fine art
Since 2019, I have regularly participated in Valley Art’s Chalk Art Festival. In 2021, 2022 and 2023, I was honored as one of the featured artists in this annual event.
Working within a limited time-frame and producing a meaningful portrait using graphite, rather than chalk, on a rough sidewalk, is what I strive to achieve whenever I draw freehand during these festivals.
Graphite is my medium of choice for my portraits, but for my florals, ball- point pen is better at capturing the intricacy and delicate beauty of flowers.
My approach to drawing flowers is to draw freehand from photos I have taken in ballpoint pen. Once I am satisfied with the drawing, I complete these pieces with a watercolor wash.
The result is a floral painting resembling an old botanical drawing with a watercolor wash. These are not intended to be scientifically accurate, but in- stead to reflect the artist’s efforts at capturing the essence and beauty of the subject.
During the Fall of 2024, my painting, Tulips, was purchased by the City of Forest Grove and was given as a gift to Forest Grove’s sister city, Nguyan, Ja- pan. It now hangs in the Mayor’s office in Nguyan.
As for the future, I will continue to honor God’s creation by expressing my appreciation for the beauty, truth and spirit that sustains all life, through my art. As I complete work, I will be adding it to my collection at Valley Art.
Ann Wellington
