Artist/Illustrator
Hi, I’m Annie, and I love to create. Art has been my “safe-haven” since I was a young child. So, I’ve been creating for most of my life. I love getting in touch with my soul and forgetting the real world as I create.
What I do
I am a mixed-medium artist, creating with collage, acrylic, pastels, India inks and watercolor. I love to create and I have fun doing it. I am always looking for my next subject matter. I want to create work that speaks, that has a message. I’m big on Conservation and Preservation and I tend to reflect that in my work. We only have one Earth, after all.
Why I Create
I began my artistic journey capturing images of wildlife, soon moving on to portray people whose inner being demanded my attention. It was as if I didn’t have a choice, I was compelled by some inner force. I started with pencil and charcoal, graduating to pastel works. Over the years, I have incorporated several other mediums into my work, appreciating the diversity they offer. Most of my newer pieces are of the colorful sort as I have fallen in love with colors and their ability to influence feelings.
I desire to reflect life in my paintings, capturing the mood and personality of my subjects. I seek to create bold and expressive art pieces that demand a viewer’s attention. It is my ambition to create beautiful works of art with a message. I wish to create work that speaks to the soul.
I have a great passion for creating art that speaks to a need or an issue that society faces. We have a lot of work to do and I seek to do my part, be it ever so small.
If you wish to view more of my work visit my website at https://anniesylling.com
Scuba Diver/Photographer
Hey there! I’m Cortney, I have many hobbies I love, but my favorite is scuba diving and taking photos of the wonderful creatures I get to see. I just love sharing my adventures with others, I want others to love the ocean as much as I do, to see its beauty and all that it has to offer.
Why I Dive
To me, being under the water and seeing ocean life, is like being on another planet, it’s nothing short of magical. Underwater, I feel more at peace, and relaxed, like I would stay down there forever if I could. Seeing all the wonders in the ocean inspires me, and makes me want to do more for our ocean and our planet. I urge others to not fear it, it really isn’t as scary as it seems down there. During the diving class when I first started, I took one look up and I almost panicked and started breathing heavily and fast. My instructor saw me, he kept his calm and just had me look at him, and focus and he gestured with his hands for me to calm my breathing, and I did. After that, I never had another panic like that, I almost did when my mask and snorkel got stuck in my hair when I was to take it off under the water, but then I remembered that moment and instead I paused, put one hand on my scalp near the hair that was caught, then ripped off the mask and my hair, and continued on. Yes, occasionally an incident will occur where I panic a little and then calm down, then I learn from it and how to do better if it happens again. My hope is that others will learn to love the ocean as much as I do, they may still not want to swim in it, and that is okay, but I hope they learn just how important it is to our ecosystem and do what they can to help protect it.
GaiArtivism 