Today we’d like to introduce you to Anne Byrd.
Anne, we’d love to hear your story and how you got to where you are today both personally and as an artist.
I’ve always been attracted to art in some form or another. Especially drawing. As far back as elementary school I could always be found sketching in class, usually when I was supposed to be doing something else, actually. I took every art class I could get my hands on and eventually that lead me to art college. Though I am a Texas native I ended up attending Columbus College of Art and Design in Ohio where I received a BFA with a major in Illustration. I had the opportunity in school to experiment with different forms of art like painting and sculpture, but I eventually found my way back to drawing materials like colored pencil, marker and wax pastels. Even the actual act of drawing is appealing for me. It’s so easy to get lost in the process, it becomes almost hypnotic. I really couldn’t imagine my life without it.
After college I spent several years job hopping in various industries (retail, graphic design) in order to support myself as an artist. But it wasn’t until I did my first art festival that I felt I’d really found where I belonged. I felt a real sense of community and energy amongst the artists and loved that I could sell my work directly to the public. I was instantly hooked and have been doing festivals and art fairs ever since.
We’d love to hear more about your art. What do you do you do and why and what do you hope others will take away from your work?
I like to refer to my medium as “mixed drawing”. Basically, it’s a mix of drawing media like colored pencil, ink, marker, wax pastel, chalk pastel, etc. I have never been a fan of the term “mixed media”, to me it’s just too vague.
Throughout the years my works aesthetic has slowly developed into something I could best describe as natural surrealism. “Natural” subject matter such as animals, plants, anatomy, etc. often existing in unusual or unrealistic scenarios. I have an immense love and curiosity of the natural world around me and enjoy learning about it. Surrealism is something that blew mind as a kid, the idea that art didn’t have to necessarily match reality.
I revel in displaying objects or scenarios that really shouldn’t exist together, but somehow complete one another. Soft and hard, sweet and terrifying, innocent and tarnished. Visuals that borderline on the uncomfortable, but still feel cohesive and unified.
My pieces tell a story, but not necessarily the whole story. They are windows into certain glimpses of a narrative that is already in play. I like to create images that act as puzzle pieces for the viewer, allowing them to put the story together based on how they relate to what they see.
What do you think it takes to be successful as an artist?
Success is different for everyone I suppose. To me it’s simply defined by being able to support myself doing something I love. I don’t ever expect to be a millionaire doing what I do, but to live comfortably doing something that I truly enjoy is better than anything else I could image.
I think the one thing that an artist really needs for success is perseverance. Many people assume that all you need is talent and everything will fall into place. Talent is great, but it’s not as rare as you think and will only take you so far. Persevere through the pain and outlast all the people who threw in the towel because they didn’t want to deal with rejection, criticism or setbacks. There will be times where you feel absolutely defeated and consider giving up, but you dig deep, push past that feeling, and come out stronger on the other side.
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?
I do various shows throughout the sates, but mostly Texas. Shows like Bayou City Arts Festival, Woodlands Waterway or First Saturday Arts Market in the Heights are great places to see my work in person and buy originals and prints. I also sell work at an artist’s consignment shop called Space Montrose in Houston. Online my website is annebyrdart.com or you can find me on Instagram @annebyrdart.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.annebyrdart.com
- Email: anne@annebyrdart.com
- Instagram: @annebyrdart
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/annebyrdart
Image Credit:
Anne Byrd
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