Her Approach to Painting...

“For me, painting is a process of endless learning and development, each new work a glorious and sometimes frustrating challenge to capture the essence and beauty of a subject under the unique and unrepeatable conditions of a specific moment. By interpreting detail, form, and composition, I recreate and present my experience to the viewer. I’ve always been drawn to flowers, so it seems quite fitting that I draw what I’m naturally drawn to.”

“Botanical art demands patience and discipline because it involves more than painting. In some cases, you have to germinate seedpod; in others, you have to select just the right specimen and be ready to work feverishly in order to capture the glory of a flower’s defining specifics and eloquent expression at a fleeting moment of peak bloom.”

“This form of art requires control and a self-effacing eye to arrest and fix the subtle and elusive qualities of a specimen. In order to bridge the gap between scientific illustration and plant portraits, however, you must let go and draw from the heart, from what you have seen and experienced, both joyful and sorrowful. My subjects – always painted from live specimens – captivate and fascinate me and my wish is to share this fascination with my audience.”

A Biographical Note:

Born and primarily raised in southern Connecticut,Ann the third of five girls excelled at recess and gym in elementary school, but especially art classes, which eventually brought her to Mt. Ida College where she studied graphic design and received her degree in 1979. Shortly thereafter she joined the Rossin Creative Group, Inc .. Hard work, diligence, and talent soon made her their Creative Director/Studio Manager. Among her clients were Texaco, Pepsico, James River Corp. and many others. She was involved in product decor, package design, promotional materials, photography and illustration. When Rossin Creative closed its doors in 1999,Ann began her second career by enrolling in the New York Botanical Garden to become certified in botanical illustration. An award-winning botanical artist, passionate about gardening and the outdoors in general, Ann currently makes her home in Rockland, Maine. She is a member of the American Society of Botanical Artists and the Guild of Natural Science Illustrators. She is represented by Tidemark Gallery, in Waldoboro, ME, Huston-Tuttle in Rockland, ME and Small Wonders Gallery in Camden, ME.