A LIFE WITH ART

       I’m Ann Robinson, a watercolor artist who lives in Coastal Alabama.

I fell in love with watercolor painting in 1979 when I returned to college to study art, design & illustration. I studied art history and took additional watercolor classes as I completed my education in Commercial Design. By the time I finished college, my love of watercolor was deep and I’ve drawn and painted since.

During my career in commercial interior and architectural design I created space in an array of environments from medical and biomechanics facilities to restaurants and corporate offices. One of my greatest experiences was working with The Grand Hotel, where I worked with esteemed New York designer, Carleton Varney.

During visits to the Art Institute of Chicago, I fell in love with the art of the Impressionists, particularly their use of light and space. I also served on the board of the Lansing Art Gallery. There, world recognized watercolor artist Mark Mehaffey was influential in my development of style and technique.

I’ve spent many years exploring the outdoors in northern Michigan, on the East Coast, and now in the coastal region of Lower Alabama, which continues to sharpen my observation of Nature’s moods, colors, textures and shapes.

Since retiring from design work, I’ve pursued my love of painting. I paint exclusively in watercolor, because of its independent character, its ability to capture “mood,” and its demanding personality.

I live near Bon Secour, focusing on the environment, animals, flowers, and my much-loved Gulf Coast.  I’m a member of the Eastern Shore Art Center and frequently have art on display there.

In 2016, I won the first Mission Point Lighthouse Friends competition for the Bowers Harbor Vineyard Lighthouse Pinot Grigio label and was selected for the feature poster and art for the Suttons Bay Art Festival. In 2018, I was honored to create a mural for Bowers Harbor Vineyards marking their Twenty Five year history; a seven-month project covering one wall of their tasting room.

I was an award winner in the 2020 and 2022 Women in Watercolor International Juried Competitions in the Abstract Division and was recognized as one of the “International 100 Best Women Watercolor Artists” in 2022.

I continue to explore new vistas, and new inovative techniques with watercolor.