Today we’d like to introduce you to Anne Andersson.
Anne, we’d love to hear your story and how you got to where you are today both personally and as an artist.
I was a quiet odd child, always drawing on something. School was rewarding, my teachers seemed to like my silent curiosity and I liked to learn, especially about chemistry and biology. I loved looking through the books in my grandfather’s room. He also had books about art and I remember being very amazed and inspired by a man named Salvador Dali and the old masters.
I received my first degree in Science in Gothenburg, Sweden. After that I was hired at a children’s hospital and worked there for a few years. But I got restless, my creativity was calling me, and I moved to Fort Lauderdale, FL in the late 80’s. A whole new world opened up! I continued my studies at the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale, AIFL, and graduated with honors in 1989. I was immediately hired by “The Wizard of Winterfest” aka Don Moore. An amazing multi-talented artist. He had a design group back then, and together we worked on many different projects such as light themes for the Grand Marshall yachts at the Annual Winterfest Boat parades, we organized corporate theme parties, designed and made costumes for fashion shows, made sculptures, paintings, weavings, etc. etc. It was a great experience and I miss those days very much. I left Ft Lauderdale in the mid 90’s to set up a studio in Saint Petersburg, FL and I have been creating my animal sculptures here ever since.
We’d love to hear more about your art. What do you do and why and what do you hope others will take away from your work?
I like working with Agave fibers because it looks and feels very much like real fur and it absorbs dye very well. The eyes are glass, and I use “hard as steel” epoxy clay for noses and claws etc. The inside structure is a multi-media process. I use wood, metal and plaster to create the shapes. An 8-foot Grizzly bear might get a rebar foundation, every sculpture is different and I come up with new ideas all the time. I like that I can combine art with my love for animals! Hopefully I can prevent someone from killing a lion or a rhino too…Hunters, give me a call…
The sterotype of a starving artist scares away many potentially talented artists from pursuing art – any advice or thoughts about how to deal with the financial concerns an aspiring artist might be concerned about?
There is no substitute for passion! But passion should be joined with discipline as well, to succeed. True, it hasn’t always been easy. My kids are grown now but I was a single mother with two children during most of my career. And there were times when I thought I had to get a second job to support us. I believe in Divine help or I would not be here now.
Do you have any events or exhibitions coming up? Where would one go to see more of your work? How can people support you and your artwork?
My sculptures are represented by Grove Fine Art Gallery in Coconut Grove, FL. www.grovefineart.com
You can also see many images of my work at: www.anneandersson.com
Contact Info:
- Address: Anne Andersson Art Studio
- Website: www.anneandersson.com
- Phone: 727-643-7347
- Email: aandersson@tampabay.rr.com
- Instagram: animalsculptress
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/anneanderssonartstudio
Image Credit:
Anne Andersson (c)
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