|
In 1979, when Ann McLeod arrived in the state
of Arizona, she immediately felt that she was
home. Despite the July heat of 105, she stepped
from the air-conditioned comfort of her van
and exclaimed, "Yes! This is where I belong! This
is heaven." Nearly twenty years later, she still
feels inspired by the beauty and diversity of the
southwest. Ann has found that the Southwest
touches her soul and stirs her creativity in a way
that few places can.
Ann began her art career in her late twenties in
Florida when a neighbor recognized her artistic
gift and encouraged her to try painting. This
was a major turning point in her life. Within one
year, she was showing and selling her work.
However, realizing the need to go beyond her
self-taught abilities, she studied with Staves
Donovan, and concentrated on painting
seascapes, which proved very successful.
During this period of time, she attended a
watercolor demonstration by William Draper
and consequently began studying with him.
Within a few years, she was winning first-place
awards and successfully selling in major shows
throughout the Southeast.
Ann realizes that the power of first-hand
experience adds authenticity to her paintings.
Over the past ten years, she has taken trips
each summer to gather reference material for
her work; one of the more important trips that
she feels has greatly enhanced her work was a
ten-day rafting trip through the Grand Canyon.
"It was this trip that taught me so much about
reflected light."
|
|
|
