Today we’d like to introduce you to Annie Compean.
Annie, please kick things off for us by telling us about yourself and your journey so far.
My life as an artist has been incredibly fulfilling, and I’m fortunate to have come across wonderful people and opportunities in the Art world. I spent a lot of time in school, so I’m always using that experience to navigate my life. Even though “the real world” is always seen as separate from a student’s world, I try to hold on to that curiosity, skepticism, and optimism. I’ve been working in Art Education for several years now, and I find teaching to be very rewarding. I enjoy the challenge of boiling things down to basics and trying to qualify what’s “successful” art. Students are incredibly inspiring, and I’m always invigorated by their questions and assertions. Since teaching and learning involves criticism, I’m always finding connections to my studio practice.
Can you give our readers some background on your art?
I’m in love with painting and looking. My work is rooted in a rich tradition of image-making, and I love finding that unnerving space between seeing something tangible in an image but not being able to identify it with a name. So I’m always collecting discarded materials to manipulate and arrange into a model for a still life. Or I’m clipping emotive images of objects and figures to collage with. This preliminary work is a substantial part of my painting process. I enjoy applying the early stages of construction and invention when scaling the work to a larger painting.
By constructing a tableau of artificial beings that have apparent skin, and at times ornaments and accessories, I can discover their distinct personalities and relationships. The still lives are typically comprised of crudely-made “sculptures” and everyday objects. My goal is to create objects that are nameless but elude to the body or an organism. I like to play with the readability of limbs, craniums, appendages, and orifices. Sometimes a hand or lips are clearly asserted, but sometimes a belly or a creased joint are just implied. In order to create these features with non-art materials such as plastic table cloths, inflatable toys, and packing foam, an understanding of the human form is required.
Drawing and painting from life is a constant practice for me. Being in that meditative state of looking and being sensitive to the conditions of an environment or a subject is equal parts enriching and perplexing. I believe my foundation in observational work has broadened my range of image-making and constantly challenges my visual vocabulary.
Artists rarely, if ever pursue art for the money. Nonetheless, we all have bills and responsibilities, and many aspiring artists are discouraged from pursuing art due to financial reasons. Any advice or thoughts you’d like to share with prospective artists?
No one said being an artist was easy, and of course, that’s exactly why we do it. Sometimes, the trade-off comfort for passion is what it comes down to. It will inevitably be a struggle to survive as an artist. But if you set some long-term goals and spend your time and resources strategically, you can probably find a balance between earning an income and spending time in the studio. Aspiring artists should take advantage of opportunities that arise because there’s really no harm in saying yes to things. Even if the show isn’t as good as you thought it would be, or you didn’t sell any artwork, the experience is likely more valuable. By supporting other artists, participating in events, or getting an education, you’re building a community who will in turn support you.
What’s the best way for someone to check out your work and provide support?
I show my work around Orange County in group shows, but I have a studio space in Santa Ana, where I host studio visits. I also belong to a group of painters there who exhibit and curate together called IPA (Independent Painters Association).
Contact Info:
- Website: anniecompean.com
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amcompean/
Image Credit:
Annie Compean
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