Original Oil by Anneliese Shapiro Art Size: 11" x 14" Framed Size: 17.75" x 20.75" Artist Bio: A college art professor once told me I had a choice: I could attempt to make a living as an artist, or I could make a living and buy art. The latter seemed less intimidating. So after briefly working in an art gallery I built a career in marketing strategy and then freelance consulting while working at home with my three daughters. Even though this work occupied the majority of my time, and furnished some paintings to hang on my walls, I always sought a creative outlet. Sometimes it was gardening, or cooking, home design, or sewing or knitting. There were elaborate parties. There was even blogging. And occasionally, I dabbled in art. At the end of 2019 however, I decided to make a commitment to what I have always felt was the ultimate, and most lasting form of visual expression—painting. Even though it feels difficult every time I walk into the studio. While I focused on the figure and portraiture in college, I have a great love for Utah landscapes. And the subject matter is so available! I constantly take pictures on road trips and hikes to gather references for painting. My backyard mountain, Mount Olympus, provides year-round inspiration. While most of my painting takes place in my Millcreek home studio, I love opportunities to paint plein air, taking advantage of nearby painting workshops and competitions, and occasionally I beg a pause on family trips for a quick landscape study. I hope this approach results in paintings that evoke in you that same sense of awe and renewal I experience when I am outdoors in these beautiful places.
