The Story Behind Studio ANF
2013 was the year I made the decision to focus on art full-time. I'm pretty sure my "starting out" story isn't all that dissimilar from a lot of other artists on Etsy.
You quit your job and take a risk on yourself. You second guess every decision to the nth degree. You worry about the crap-shoot that is called "pricing" and how you're supposed to market yourself, and generate interest in your particular brand of art.
Those, plus a million other thoughts and questions ricochet around your brain until a loving friend, husband, wife or partner hands you a glass of wine and tells you to "chill for a sec".
Well, okay maybe a bottle of wine...
Then you hit your groove, you find that "something" which provides a clear focus and a path forward. Suddenly, you feel as though everything up to this point has been worth it.
I started out creating black and white illustrations by hand on canvases in a more modern, simplistic style. A few of those listings are still lingering around my shop. I love those paintings, but I really found my stride with watercolor. I enjoy the soft, watery aspects of the medium, and I wanted to explore that visual effect in my work.
I started with "splash paintings" and eventually my work morphed into mixed media when I was introduced to Copic Marker. Now I start with a watercolor base and use Copics, pastels and fine liner for vibrancy and definition.
My shop is a visual representation of my artistic journey and my hope is to inspire others with my craft.
