Artist Perspectives: Annette Henry, Georg-Ann Phillips and Janie Stewart

Showing in August, this three woman show titled THREE CURRENTS, ONE TIDE will run through August 28th.

Left to right: Georg-Ann Phillips, Janie Stewart, Annette Henry

What is a first impactful exposure to art for you?

Georg-Anne Phillips : “Karlyn Holman 1940-2019 and Karen Knutson -present day, for their line work, glazing, and geometric design. They were my first workshops online when I first looked at watercolor seriously. Paul Klee 1879-1940 and Kandinsky 1911-1921, as well, for geometric design and line work and Klee’s quote, that I use often, “A Dot is a Line that Took a Walk”. Another is Joseph Raffael 1933-2021. Large florals that I shan’t ever be able to try in his largeness [and] I don’t have the space. Watched his progress and was blown away! He included  a unique border around those fabulous florals. I’ve included a similar border in two of my paintings. But wow he creates big paintings.”

Annette Henry: “From early childhood, I found creative expression in the form of drawing and painting. I was first “discovered” in grade school having drawn, in pastels, a waterfall I had visited while hiking. I love the out of doors and animals. These are often
subjects in my paintings. My aunt, an accomplished oil painter, introduced me to the medium as a child. I took
every art class I could in high school and college. While living on Kodiak in the 70’s, I discovered
watercolors with several different painters who visited the island.”

Janie Stewart: “I can’t remember my first exposure to art as it has always been in my life.  My mother and grandmother were watercolor artists and after marrying, my high school sweet heart, exposure grew.  My husband (Phil), had an aunt who was a commercial artist for Nordstrom’s and Frederick & Nelson’s in Seattle as well as an accomplished oil painter.  Phil’s brother is also an accomplished artist as well as architect.  So, as you can see I have been surrounded by art most of my life.”

What is the most challenging thing about creating art for you?

Annette Henry: “There have been many ebbs and flows in my art journey. The study of music/piano (also a form of
art) took priority through high school. It required hours of practice. Time for drawing and painting took
a back seat, though I often yearned to be drawing while practicing…feeling guilty that I wasn’t
practicing while I painted! I felt like I needed to be two separate people! After raising a family, I
began to prepare myself to go professional with my art only to find myself dealing with very ill family
members, having no time to even think about painting. After these distractions from creativity I’ve
found it difficult to pick up the brushes and get going again. Confidence seems to have flown away!

Making art is HARD WORK!! Inspiration usually comes easily but then, in the painting process, after
the first wash of a painting, I often stall. It seems like, as a friend once described it, a stage…. like the
teen-aged years, when it’s questionable whether or not it’s going to turn out like you imagined. My
best remedy is to hang the painting somewhere so I can look at it often and hope that one day it will
become clear what to do next!”

Georg-Anne Phillips: “Creating time. Although, after retirement, this has not been a problem for me. Although I am slowing down, I still paint or draw every day.”

Janie Stewart: “The most challenging thing for me is making time to be in the studio and focus.  I find I have so many ideas floating around in my brain that when I am in the studio I don’t know where to start!”

Describe your style:

Georg-Anne Phillips: “I am a watercolor and ink artist who finds joy in the fluidity of watercolor and the contrast of ink that is sometimes bold and sometimes minimal. With my combination of painting and drawing, I am deeply influenced by my grandmother’s joy, sitting with her watching her draw and paint. And she encouraged me by putting a pencil and a brush in my hand at an early age. I saw and felt the joy as she painted the world as she saw it with textures of places we lived in and visited.” 

Janie Stewart: “My style is eclectic. The years spent raising our family and working I was limited to needle work and knitting. Those passions carried on during our 16 year circumnavigation of the world, as space for art supplies was limited. Upon returning to the states I dabbled in jewelry design and construction followed by collage, watercolor, work with acrylic paint and my true passion…book creation and binding.”

Annette Henry: “Finding my identity/style has been somewhat of a struggle. I am attracted to works of other artists who
seem to achieve a pleasing outcome with few brushstrokes and simple design. I want to be like that
when I grow up:} Sometimes, though, a very literal approach is what the subject requires… case in
point, my paintings of the barn. They are very literal! To capture the intense impression of this ancient
barn weathered by the heat of the Central Oregon high desert sun required strong contrasts. Some of
my work lends better to a looser style. I like that a viewer gets to use their imagination to fill in the
details.”

Thank you for taking time getting to know our artists! Another artist perspective coming soon!