Anne Von Ehr

I have always been involved in the Arts. Encouraged by my parents and teachers I pursued a degree in Art Education. After teaching Art for many years, I completed an additional degree in Interior Design and worked as a Designer for years. Fourteen years ago I returned to my artwork.

The first time I touched pastels to paper I felt a connection. The immediacy and soft glowing colors drew me to this medium, which has become my mainstay. Since that time I have been working, painting, and growing artistically, in addition to teaching pastel classes and workshops. I also paint with acrylics and oil pastels, which I feel expands the depth of my work.

Much of my work is organic and lyrical, an exploration of place, color, and shape. I feel some of my pieces are produced as a meditation. Drawing my viewers into my work I want for them to feel the serenity that I do when I am working.

Right now I’m in a restful place with my pastel work and in an exploration phase with acrylics. I occasionally try to rationalize how and why I paint, but Art is by nature illusive, and resists being defined.

Artists are encouraged to create a “Body of Work”, pieces that have commonalities and direction. I challenge whether it is possible for any artist to paint pieces that have no relationship with the work they have done in the past, or will do in the future. As for direction, I start a painting intending it to go a certain way and pretty soon it just begins to choose its own path. This is just part of the process.

I have accepted that each painting represents where I am now. Abstract or representational, pastel or acrylic, ideas can be explored, but not totally controlled. New artistic direction builds upon and enhances every painting I do. There is no end to this journey, and for that I am grateful.