Featured Artist Ann Stockdale

Painter Ann Stockdale shares the fascinating story of her life as an artist and a collection of vibrant abstracts. Visit her website to see more of her work.

 

 

My evolution to becoming a painter brought me through many creative venues. After graduating from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London, I became drawn more to the music scene. I absorbed fabulous vibrations and frequented the studios of some wonderful geniuses. Sessions with Jimmy Hendrix, Steve Winwood and Traffic, Spooky Tooth and The Stones. It was fabulous. Things changed in 1970, and I moved back to the United States.

 

 

I moved to Hollywood where I knew no one, and was lucky to end up in Laurel Canyon. I loved the looseness in the lifestyle and lived there for twenty years (as a real estate agent for 10 years). When I met my future husband, we decided to move to Washington state. By the 90’s, Los Angeles was getting very crowded and rowdy.

 

 

As a child of three, I would climb the banyan tree in my grandmother’s yard and talk to my four invisible friends. They faded away when I was eight, but reappeared when my dad was murdered. Dad had been a close confidant of Jack Kennedy and was his campaign manager. The President appointed him Ambassador to Ireland. Ten days after Kennedy was assassinated, my father was thrown out of his thirteen-story office building and killed.

 

 

My invisible spirit friends held me together and brought his spirit to me to show he was still himself, but in another realm. This made me realize the wider implication and experience of life.

 

 

I have written a small poetry book with paintings called Javvy Jeaners, which is what I have come to call my spirit friends. The book is about how they influence me and the fun we have painting together.

 

 

In 1989, when we moved to Washington, I went into the garage of our new house and started painting with watercolor. It has been my daily practice since then. We never start with an idea… but an impulse. We have no plan, but over the years I have learned to trust their guidance. And we never know what will be until it becomes.

 

 

My work has been shown in many galleries, on the Princes Cruise line and in several museums, including a solo show at the Frye Museum in Gig Harbor. A few Best of Show awards have been garnered along the way, including one a few months ago at the Tacoma Community College juried show in Tacoma.

 

 

Lately I have discovered what fun it is to digitally fuse some of my oil and silk paintings. It has somewhat of a neon color flavor. I’m very grateful to have had the time and space in this lifetime to explore with the spirits. Personally I believe that is where all creativity  from the heart comes from.

 

 

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