Artists In Action Residency at Annmarie Gardens

This past spring I was honored to be selected to participate in the Artists in Action Residency at Annmarie Sculpture Garden and Arts Center in Solomons, MD. As stated on the Annmarie Gardens website, “Artists in Action provides visiting artists the opportunity to develop new artwork, network with other artists, display and sell their existing work in a gallery exhibit, and share their creative process with visitors” and the program did just that!

I am so glad that I took the leap of faith and applied to the program. It was such a wonderful experience and allowed me the time and space to develop new ideas into pieces. I also loved interacting with the visitors who came through! Working from my home studio, most of my interaction with clients comes from markets, so it was a really unique opportunity to share my pieces in progress with others.

All of the work stations set up

The view from my station

Projects in progress

My view out the window!

Walking around the grounds

The view at lunch

Saying hi to Frida the axolotl

Walking around the grounds

Walking around the grounds

Walking onto the property in the morning

Dinner out in Solomons

Networking with the other artists was such a treat! I loved stepping outside for lunch and chatting with the other artists, learning more about their methods and how they run their businesses.

This residency allowed me to stretch myself creatively free from my everyday distractions. I had several ideas that I ended up exploring, and I love the finished pieces! Even though a few of my ideas were not successful, I’ve learned from the failures and now know how to avoid the same mistakes in the future! (I have my eye on you, toaster oven!)

I wasn't sure where to start, so I made some sculpted florals to loosen up creatively

Flowers before baking

I wanted to make these flowers bursting forth from lichen

The first tray of pieces ready for baking

A new take on sculpted florals and dangling leaves

Post-baking

I wanted to create botanical line drawings surrounded by frames

The drawings on a "wood" backdrop

Adding gold mica to highlight

Making the frames out of gold leaf and liquid polymer clay

Chunkier line drawings

The toaster oven got too hot, but I love the mica highlights!

All of the finished pieces at the end of the week

Overall, this was SUCH a wonderful experience, and if you are thinking of applying I highly recommend it! What an experience to push myself creatively and professionally in a supportive environment! A HUGE thank you to Annmarie Gardens for this opportunity! Thank you for being such a support and resource for artists!

To check out the completed pieces I made during the Artists in Action Residency, click here.