Anne Marie Price shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Anne Marie, so good to connect and we’re excited to share your story and insights with our audience. There’s a ton to learn from your story, but let’s start with a warm up before we get into the heart of the interview. What do you think others are secretly struggling with—but never say?
I think many artists, myself included in moments, struggle with beginning a piece and wait for inspiration to be when we actually start. I think part of the reason I’m always “playing” in my studio in between making larger pieces is it’s a way to keep on that bicycle of creating but not always in an inspired deep way and with a set destination or route. I do a lot of “Sunday drives” I guess and I find a lot of the time when I do this aimless road trip kind of playing in my studio I find inspiration along the way and this is when inspiration hits. We all work different but I do think the act of doing anything in your studio can be exactly what you need to do when you feel stuck.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Anne Marie Price and I was born and raised in North Fond du Lac, WI. I began creating mosaic art in 2003 but I had always, since I can remember, been creating something and always knew I would be an artist in some way..I just didn’t always know what direction that would be. I consider myself an artist first who specializes in the art form of mosaic because I do like to create using other art forms like working with acrylic paint or ink drawings.
I moved out to Southern CA in 2011 as a single mom of two daughters and really started the next chapter of my life as an artist and mosaic art teacher after in 2014 I was awarded the “Society of American Mosaic Artists” “Robin Brett Scholarship”. It was a green light moment for me to start taking classes and seriously pursuing being a professional artist and teacher.
I don’t really stay in one lane as an artist who works creating mosaic but I do have favorite materials I work with and those are stained glass and mirror.
I am currently working on a private smaller commissioned piece and recently created a jellyfish stained glass mosaic on an upcyled wood skimboard. I love working with unusual substrates and love taking substrates that might end up thrown out or washed up on the shores of CA and giving them a new life as mosaic art.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
What I know now after being late diagnosed autistic when I was 50 yrs old is there was a reason for a lot of what I felt..what I struggled with..and what I excelled at. And all how I felt was not wrong, not weak and was exactly who I was born to be as an autistic human. It has completely flipped the script for me to know myself so much better than I ever had the opportunity to as a child and young adult. Everything began to make sense in a way it had never before and I don’t believe in a lot of things I thought were true about me as a child now.
Life changing for me and very grateful to be able to tell that kid I was that you are perfect in exactly the way you were born. There was absolutely a before and after moment for me and I do believe it has greatly helped me as a woman and artist to know this now.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
I don’t think there was ever a moment when I wanted to give up creating art. I’m not quite sure what I would do if I wasn’t creating something…but wow many moments where I have thought what the heck..is this worth the struggle? Or am I good enough? Do I have the stamina to keep at this and is it worth it? But always the answer is yes. Always. I am so grateful for the highs and lows of this lifestyle because all of it has been rewarding in moments and huge lessons for me in others. God I just wouldn’t change a thing about my journey beyond selling more art more consistently lol but you know that’s just most artists feelings in moments.
I so value the lessons about just surviving life in general from the struggles. And learning patience..learning how to slow it down and think about what I’m doing and problem solving. It has greatly helped me in other areas of my life and to hold onto this “never give up” idea has really given me a reason to focus and work.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. Is the public version of you the real you?
Maybe unfortunately and embarrassingly in moments but yes…the public me is the real me. I maybe am a softer version in public spaces and definitely awkward and quiet in person but I don’t change myself to fit others ideas of who they think I should be. I have been pretty consistent about that throughout the years as an artist and I do think it’s important to be genuine and authentic. I do think people sense that and appreciate it. I know I do. I just don’t know how else to be and I do think understanding myself better has greatly helped my confidence in the idea of staying the course with what naturally and instinctively felt a good way to be.
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I hope people say I genuinely cared even if I couldn’t be this socially active human or be there all the time. I hope they say I truly lived by this idea of never giving up. I hope they say she loved her children and grand children fiercely and every single day of her life since they were born they were always what motivated her to be a good human first. And that I never stopped learning and changing my mind and trying to do better whether in listening more and not just reacting and evolving as an artist willing to test boundaries and reach further every chance I could. I hope they say I was a survivor of many different challenges and it’s what made me the empathetic woman I am. That I did good..made my mark while here and left a good legacy.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.AnneMariePrice.com
- Instagram: @ampartstudio
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AMPartStudio
Image Credits
Anne Marie Price
