Congratulations to Ann Moeller Steverson, whose work has been recognized in the PleinAir Salon, a monthly art competition with many categories in which to enter your art. We invited Steverson, who paints in the style of contemporary romanticism, to tell us more about her art and inspiration in the following guest blog post.
Art Inspiration: Wherever It Takes Me
BY ANN MOELLER STEVERSON
Art Inspiration: On Painting “Along For the Ride”
My inspirational path isn’t usually guilt, though travel often is. But on this occasion, I was inspired by both to make some imaginative paintings involving my daughters when looking at the elephants at the Museum of Natural History in New York.
My girls hadn’t been able to make the trip with me because of school, and I was feeling a little sad and guilty because they weren’t getting to enjoy the museum with me, so they were on my mind. I thought about how much we had enjoyed the children’s book, “I Know A Rhino” when they were little, and I decided it would be entertaining to paint them interacting with exotic animals they weren’t really with.
When I returned home, I started with a studio photoshoot where I told my girls they were “riding an elephant” (which was actually a large ottoman on top of a table). Through the magic of compositing, I explored many ideas.
Due to my immature sense of humor, the first version I had to paint was of an elephant’s backside. I decided my youngest wild child would end up riding this elephant backward off into the sunset. In the painting, she listens to music in gleeful abandon and is dressed in the rebel gear of a leather jacket and innocent bare feet.
The sky is a fiery sunset, and while I am not sure what will happen when the elephant reaches the water, I’m confident it will all be okay.
When I began the painting, I thought it would be titled “wherever it takes me” as she has clearly abandoned all control to the music and the elephant and is feeling just fine about it. I can sometimes be a little “type-A” and have trouble letting go of control, so I deeply enjoy this work’s emotion.
Dennis Perrin, my clever artist friend, was in my studio when I was finishing it and suggested “Along for the Ride,” which seemed to suit the painting even better, and so it stuck.
Art Inspiration: On Painting “Elephas Nimbus”
My eldest daughter is a lover of all animals and has been since she could talk. She is my best hope to save our planet or at least to offer a significant contribution to caring for and protecting all the beautiful life in our world she can.
While she has a plethora of stuffed animals, her most treasured is one she has had since she was born, named Elie. In “Elephas Nimbus,” Katherine stands in a windy field, hailing a ride with Elie hanging from her backpack.
The sky looks like a storm is coming, and an ephemeral flying elephant appearing to form from the sky is approaching. It is once again being ridden by my youngest daughter Emily. I’m not sure where they are off to on “Elephas Nimbus,” but I feel that they are out to conquer the world together.
Through both works, I am filled with a sense of adventure for myself and for my girls and their future. They have also opened the door to fun and creative commissions reflecting the imaginative personalities of my clients’ children. Recent days have proven how unpredictable life can be, but I am optimistic about future brighter days and am along for this ride wherever it takes me. ~A.M.S.
Why should a contemporary realist enter the PleinAir Salon?
Because this art contest is created by PleinAir™ magazine, which features not only plein air paintings, but also studio paintings, all types of paintings are eligible and do not need to have been completed in plein air, but should originate from a plein air study or plein air experience. As we know, many studio paintings start with plein air sketches. Our interest is in rewarding great paintings.
The PleinAir Salon awards $50,000 in CASH each year! Learn more at pleinairsalon.com, and enter your best work for your chance to win this art competition. Enter now – the next deadline is coming soon!
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