Anne Sanger
Kingston, NY
Website
www.studioparapluie.com
Social Media
Instagram
Work may be purchased at
Pinkwater Gallery’s website
How would you describe your work?
I work primarily as an abstract painter, though I occasionally return to fashion illustration, which was my first artistic love. My interest as an artist is primarily in working with color, juxtaposing it, playing with interesting color juxtapositions, and combining shapes and line on the picture plane in a way that enhances color relationships. I mostly follow my intuition when working, rather than intellectualizing it too much. I am allergic to art-speak and so can only tell you how it feels for me to paint, which can be summed up in a single word: Discovery.
What inspires you?
I am inspired by paint itself, how it moves and what colors I can make by mixing it, often directly on the canvas in the act of painting. I love to see a painting come to life as I layer forms and color. I work most often with oils at this point, which are endlessly fascinating and frustrating at the same time. I also enjoy working with acrylic, particularly liquid acrylic, as well as ink and on occasion I can really go down the rabbit hole with pastels! And I am very often inspired by fashion, which can be a great jumping-off-point for developing the color palette for a new series. I also find that working with collage (especially painted paper) can be very inspiring and deeply satisfying.
Can you speak about your process?
I nearly always start with making random marks on a blank canvas or piece of paper, usually drawing a series of overlapping shapes in different sizes, to loosen up the body and to just get started (which is often the hardest part). I will then build up layer upon layer, working instinctively with color to ask and then answer questions around what I am finding beautiful in the moment, on the canvas. For me, the process is one of inquiry: what happens if I do this, and then that, and keep going from there. I am comfortable with a degree of uncertainty and "making a mess", solving problems created along the way, resolving chaos. And I nearly always add line work on top of a nearly finished canvas to up the ante and add the frisson of risk. My background in fashion illustration definitely informs my line work, which has become a bit of a signature, and I play with expansive gesture when adding those finishing lines to a piece.
How did you become interested in art?
I started as a very young child by tirelessly drawing fashion, specifically shoes, with which I was reportedly fascinated. I drew them for hours, designing wildly impractical footwear and costumes based on fashion history and royal portraits. I continued to draw fashion through high school and college, where I got my degree in fashion design and went on to work as a dress designer in the garment industry. I also continuously studied other art forms, taking life drawing classes, watercolor and oil painting classes throughout the time that I lived in New York City. Eventually, after a long career working in fashion (initially as a designer and then as a product technologist), I rediscovered the joy of making art for art’s sake and moved upstate. After a few years of limited painting time during weekends and on vacations, I decided to make a major life change, quitting my corporate job and opening an art gallery in Kingston. Pinkwater Gallery paved the way for my becoming a full-time artist and curator and has led me to my current life as a co-founder of the new cafe, mercantile and gallery in uptown called Kingston Social and where Pinkwater Gallery now resides (237 Fair Street, Kingston NY).
Do you have any favorite artists, movies, books, or quotes?
I have too many favorite artists and movies to name but randomly selecting a couple of sources that I go back to continuously for inspiration, I would cite Joan Mitchell as one of my very favorite painters from recent art history, along with Jennifer Packer among painters currently working today; Dries Van Noten as my favorite fashion designer, Wong Kar Wai’s 'In the Mood for Love' as a favorite movie (for both the visuals and the soundtrack), and ‘Barkskins’ by Annie Proulx as one of my favorite books. Each has a certain romantic melancholy that really appeals to me. I also really love a good science fiction show or movie with remarkable production/costume design, including ‘Westworld’, ‘Foundation’ (on Apple TV), ‘Dune’ (the first movie in the Denis Villeneuve reboot), and the original ‘Blade Runner’, which is a touchstone for both sci-fi fans as well as fashion people.
What advice do you have for younger artists?
The advice given to me by my mother, who is also an artist, is simple: do the work. Don’t wait for the muse to come along, for conditions to be right, for more time in the day. Just do the work, even if it’s only for a few moments a day.
Any more thoughts about art, creativity, or anything else you would like to share?
One of the founding principles of Pinkwater Gallery was that art is for everyone. With the gallery now housed within a café and mercantile shop, I hope to bring fine art to more people, and to encourage “regular” people to collect art (even if they are working with a minimal budget). Living with art, having art in your home that was created by a real person, is so crucial to living an inspired life. I have my own art as well as works by numerous artists with whom I have worked at the gallery over the years, and every single piece in my home brings me joy on a daily basis. My work, along with that of other artists currently on view at Kingston Social or available through the gallery online, can be purchased directly on www.pinkwatergallery.com.
