How I Create My Paintings

In this post, I'm sharing a close-up look at the process behind each of my paintings. Here's how I bring them to life:

STEP ONE: Start with color

My approach to starting a piece of art always begins with me walking into my studio, standing in front of my desk, and looking through a wide array of paint jars as I consider what colors I want to use for this new painting.

Sometimes, I'll approach my desk with a preconceived idea, an art history book, or a photo for inspiration. Sometimes, I'll stand there mixing new paint colors for hours, searching for a specific palette that I feel excited to begin painting with that day.

STEP TWO: Work in layers over time

I like working in layers because this gives me permission to change my mind or take artwork in a new direction if something isn't working. Usually, I'll bounce between wet and dry media, adding several layers of material to a canvas until the composition feels just right.

There's always a chance I'll finish a painting in a single afternoon with only one or two layers of material, but this is a rare occasion. Some of my favorite pieces rest on top of several "failed" paintings I worked on for weeks or months before landing on the finished work.

STEP THREE: Paint like a child, think like a designer

I recently had this motto of “paint like a child, think like a designer" come to mind because this very much describes my creative process. In my abstract mark-making, I always try to release control and embrace the joys of spontaneity and surprise as I make - much like a child at play. At the same time, I constantly see through a designer's eye, and I can't help but make careful edits or considerations about balance and composition as I work.

STEP FOUR: Give it a name

Naming artwork almost always happens last in my process. When I finish a painting, I'll step back from it and consider what story the work is trying to tell. What was my mood when I made it? How was I feeling? Is there something I read recently that this painting reminds me of? I'll ask myself these questions as I search for a name. When I find it, the right name truly captures the spirit of the painting.

STEP FIVE: Complete the work and find it a home

Once I finish a painting, I'll either release it on its own or as a part of a collection with the hope and mission of finding it a new home with the right collector. This step of the process is always the sweetest when I meet and hear from a collector who feels like the artwork speaks to them in a special way.

I love seeing my paintings become symbols of a milestone or emblems of celebration in someone's life. Once a work has been collected, I'll write the collector a special thank you note, package the piece, and ship it off to live a new life outside my studio.

collector images - shared with permission

Thank you for taking the time to get to know my creative process! I hope you enjoyed this little peek behind the scenes on what steps go into my paintings.

To see the original paintings I have available to collect, click here.

Chat soon!

– Anna

P.S. My bonus step is to take a piece of art after it sells and turn it into prints. You can find some of my prints for sale here and here. :)