Hello there! I am Annie Crow, an artist from Central PA. I suppose you are on this page because you would like to know a bit more about me and my work, and although I tend to be shy and not eager to talk about myself, here we go!
My Art
My work is inspired by my deep connection with animals and the magic of nature. A major theme in my art is the intricate dance between life and death. I attempt to capture this concept by using a combination of ink and watercolor to depict a diverse array of animal skulls encased in bright silhouettes of the creature that once was. I don’t perceive the skeleton as a symbol of fear but as a reminder of the vibrant life that once inhabited our world. As far as my medium of choice, I use a combination of ink, watercolor, and micron pens. Using these in unison, I can explore the contrast between the heavily structured ink pens and the free-flowing light watercolors. I guess I just like to combine opposites to show how they work together to create the whole.
My Art Journey
Ever since I was an itty bitty person, I knew I wanted a job doing something creative. At one point I wanted to be a book illustrator, then an Art Teacher, followed by an animator at Disney. In the end, I wound up studying Graphic Design at Harrisburg Area Community College. While the skills I learned in school have proven to be quite useful at both my day job and art career, I quickly discovered that Graphic Design was not what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. I was most happy when I was creating art for myself, either drawing or painting.
I started to attend more art fairs and craft shows, and I was inspired by seeing art vendors at their booths selling their work. This is what I wanted to do. I wanted to share my work with people that would appreciate it. However, Self-doubt in my skills as an artist and not knowing where to begin held me back for years. But then the COVID-19 pandemic began, and businesses shut down. It was during this period I truly found myself as an artist. With no obligation to go into work, I spent every day in my studio creating art and sharing it on social media. Needless to say, I was completely devastated when I had to return to work a month and a half later. I became determined to regain that freedom to just be an artist.
Shortly after that, when the world began to open up again, an old high school classmate was helping organize a small art fair. This was my chance! I messaged her, and I was in! The only thing left to do was to prep my artwork and make prints, which is easier said than done unfortunately. The Fair was a huge success for me! I was amazed at how many people loved my artwork. And from that moment on I continued to grow my art business and attend more and more events. I have been an art vendor for over two years now, and although I am not a full-time artist just yet, I continue to grow as an artist and get closer to that goal.
Fun Facts Interests
Working a full-time job, keeping my house tidy, and running my art business keep me extremely busy. However, it is important for my mental health to squeeze in some hobbies I enjoy. Besides making art, I enjoy the following:
Reading (I like memoirs and vampire books best)
Writing (I am working on a book!)
Collecting bones and oddities (Skulls are my favorite)
Playing tabletop games (Including DnD and MTG)
Researching random historical events
Watching horror movies
Outdoor activities such as hiking, camping, and gardening
I am married to my high school sweetheart Tony, who has been incredible at supporting my art dreams. We live in a house with a large garden, where we grow a variety of plants and food, with our two fur babies, A black cat named Misty and a tabby named Tyche.
