The art community is as deep as it is intriguing! We’re back with another interview of an awesome artist, Anna Manera! Thanks again to Candace Middleton for being our guest interviewer and blogger this week. It’s so awesome of you to take the time to get these spectacular artists into the spotlight! Candace asks all the questions in the following interview — and she even colored this blog’s featured photo!
Without further ado, here’s the interview!
Where are you from? Has this always been your home?
I have lived in Southern New England all my life.
What do you like most about where you live?
I guess it would be the change of Seasons.
What are your past time hobbies and why have you chosen them?
I spend a lot of time with my dogs, cooking, and making art.
How long have you been doing art?
I don’t remember ever NOT doing art. I have always been involved in art from as far back as I can remember. As a child I spent countless hours drawing and painting. When asked what I wanted to be when I grew up it was an artist. It wasn’t until I began illustrating coloring books that people began to follow me as an artist. Social media has played a key role in my being able to share my art.
What is your favorite type of art form and why?
My favorite type of art form is painting. I feel free when I am painting, and it allows me to express myself the most.
How has your artwork developed?
My artwork has always been a surprise. It has always developed organically. I want to say that I have a grand plan for my art, but I really do not. I follow my intuition and one thing always leads to another.
Where do you see yourself in the next 5 years with your artwork?
I can honestly say I have no idea and by this I mean that I have never been in complete control of my artwork. My artwork, in a sense, has control over me. The conceptual part of being an artist comes very easy to me. It’s not forced in any way which results in my artwork developing organically for me. If you had asked me 5 yrs ago if I would be illustrating a coloring book today, I would have laughed . So 5 yrs from now … who knows.. I just know that I will be on my own art journey for the rest of my life. Art will take ME on an adventure .
What inspires you most in doing your artwork?
I am inspired by so many things around me – nature, people. I am also inspired by my interest in metaphysics, energy medicine and philosophy.
In what ways does your artwork bring joy to your life?
Making art is the only thing I participate in that enables me to totally be myself, forget anything negative and be in a blissful state of mind.
The art world is a vast sea of artists doing all sorts of artwork. Where is it that you fit into the style of the different artists?
My art varies so much. I not only illustrate coloring books, but I also have a background in graphic design and web design, which can be a bit technical. I also paint, and my style for painting includes landscape, still life, and abstract . I am most comfortable with abstract painting.
What is the best part of being an artist?
I wake up looking forward to something happy in my life every single day. Each day I feel inspired. There is always something creative rustling through my head. Art is like breathing to me. I could not imagine my life without it in some form. I look at each day as a sort of blank canvas, an opportunity to express myself in a way that so many people are not able to.
What deeply concerns you about the art world?
I can’t say that anything concerns me about the art world. I will say, that art is everywhere you look, from food packaging to museums and sadly, society does not realize this.
Candace – This is such an interesting point of view. I never thought of art in this way, but you are right it is everywhere we look. Great answer!!!)
Besides doing adult coloring books, what other types of art do you do?
I do graphic design, painting, and web design . I hold a BA and MA in Art with a concentration on graphic & web design and digital media. My first love is painting as I feel that it allows me to express myself the most. The skills and knowledge in graphic & web design, along with digital media, which includes video editing, social media management and media theory has enabled me to build my own website and use the necessary tools to promote through social media.
Inspiration is the mother to all artists. How has inspiration guided you with your talent?
I am inspired by everything around me . The inspiration lies in my ability to create what I see in my head. As I stated earlier, the conceptual part of art is easy for me. As a result, I find inspiration in everything around me. It could be a simple rock on the ground or a conversation with another person. Opportunities to create art lie in life’s everyday moments. Being still and silent allows one to digest the world around them. I pay attention to what is around me and what is inside me–taking time to reflect, meditate and simply absorb my surroundings. With that being said, I also do not watch much TV, I rarely watch the news, and I do not follow the news on social media.
Is there anything you use to guide you on your art journey?
The only thing I use to guide me on my art journey is my heart. There is no secret formula that I use to create. I just simply follow my heart and my intuition.
How many books do you presently have published?
76 books total.. this includes 3 kids books, 1 dog treat recipe book, 7 blank journals, 1 collection of poetry and 64 coloring books.
Where can people find your books and works of art?
All in information about my books with links to purchase both pdf copies and hard copies on Amazon can be found on my website.
Amazon www.annemanera.com
You can also learn more about my art on my Facebook page
https://www.facebook.com/annemanerascoloringbooks
Thank you again, Anne, for taking the time to share with the audience and myself about your gifts and talents. I have found you to be an inspiring artist and colorist.
Here’s some more amazing art by Anne Manera, colored by either Michelle Werner or Candace herself!
originally published http://blog.ecr4kids.com/2017/07/a-technicolor-interview-with-artist-anne-manera/