Today we’d like to introduce you to Annie King.
Annie, please kick things off for us by telling us about yourself and your journey so far.
After graduating with a BFA, I was eager to spread my passion for art. I began teaching art while maintaining a consistent practice in my own painting. During this time, I recognized how art was serving a therapeutic value. I developed a strong appreciation for how art making was connecting me to my Self: spiritually, emotionally, mentally, and physically. I felt and saw in some of my students how the expression, process, and production of art generated a sense of healing. This belief led me to pursue a career in art therapy.
After earning a Masters in Art Therapy, I worked primarily with children struggling with issues of neglect, trauma, and abuse. I witnessed and experienced many accounts of how art served as the tool for instilling overall health. The world of art has been an amazing adventure for me. From art educator to art therapist, I have always remained rooted in my own growth as an artist. Currently, I am devoting my attention to motherhood and painting full time as I faithfully allow this artistic journey to shape me.
Can you give our readers some background on your art?
Inspired by the intrinsic value that art-making promotes a healing power, my paintings play a significant role in the relationship that I pursue with Spirit, Self, and others. Reflections of emotions, thoughts, and actions are the muse to my process, and the insights they produce form the overall abstract composition.
Focusing on the journey rather than the destination, my paintings are drawn from intuition and result from spontaneous yet thoughtful strokes and markings. I use mostly soft-bodied acrylic paints along with other mixed media to create a loose yet contained aesthetic. Bold, black forms are balanced with calm colors on neutral white backgrounds to achieve a sense of stability among the impulsive chaotic details. Layers and layers of paint are used. Information emerges, hides under other “coats,” and then reinvents itself.
My paintings represent the constant struggle to maintain comfort and truth among the confusions of life. I paint for the process, and each work is always in progress until it ultimately awakes with a fulfilling realization.
What responsibility, if any, do you think artists have to use their art to help alleviate problems faced by others? Has your art been affected by issues you’ve concerned about?
Artists have a unique ability to engage others in deep and personal ways. Using art to express individual, societal, and political events can serve a great purpose in helping culture gain a better understanding of humanity, the conditions we live in, and the issues we face. It can be the catalyst to confront the need for change, initiate empathy, and even in some cases, to praise and spread a spirit of appreciation and gratitude. The artist in the world today plays an invaluable role in creating human connection, which I believe to be the root desire of all mankind and exactly what is necessary to initiate ultimate healing in every aspect of life.
What’s the best way for someone to check out your work and provide support?
annieking.com
Huff Harrington Fine Art in Atlanta, GA
Various locations around the southeast
Contact Info:
- Website: annieking.com
- Email: info@annieking.com
- Instagram: intagram.com/annieking
Image Credit:
Heidi Harris, Atlanta based photographer (for some of the images)
Getting in touch: VoyageATL is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
