Anne began her interest in art at the age of five when she discovered photography. Throughout her childhood, photography and painting were always an interest. She began studying photography at the age of nine and first published images in local newspapers and other publications throughout high school. During this time, she also served as the photography editor of the school yearbook.

In 1997, Anne enrolled at Purdue University, where her passion for, and her innate connection with photography as an art form grew extensively. In addition, she served as a staff photographer with the Purdue Exponent. In 2002 she graduated from Purdue with majors in Photography and Communications, and minors in History and Theatre.

While in her studies, she concentrated on black and white photography, but her work took a dramatic and positive turn when she employed the element of “color” to it. Abstract photography in color became a major theme in her work, where she reached a higher level of exuberance. I personally own a piece of Anne's work from this era.

On Assignment in High School

While exploring abstract photography, she branched into painting which, like photography, conceptually is still a two-dimensional form of art.

Through painting she explores shapes, colors and textures in an attempt to create visual entities. These paintings are aesthetically pleasing for the eyes, but unlike photography, she has to create from the unknown, from the blank, empty canvas. These are abstract works of expressionism, and are that of perpetual motion. Everything she paints has a sense of free flowing movement. Her use of color is vibrant and alive with passion. I get a sense of feeling that evokes a myriad of emotions, none far from splendor. At once arresting, her paintings allow us to scrutinize into her exploration of thought and soul searching that makes each piece “a happening”.

-by Vilas Tonape