Today we’d like to introduce you to Anna Wise.
Hi Anna, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’ve always been creative—I’ve been painting since before I could write, and started playing and writing music at 12. In high school and my early twenties, I played guitar and bass in several bands. When we were getting ready to release our first album, my bandmates asked me to design the cover, since I was the only one with any art experience.
They loved it, and that opened the door to a few more commissions for album covers and posters. That’s when I started to take art more seriously. A professional artist friend encouraged me to translate my illustrative work into oil painting, since it could reach a wider audience. That advice stuck, and over time I began to refine my skills—especially in mixed media and oil.
After the band dissolved, I took a leap and committed to art full-time. I began selling my work in 2020 through art fairs, galleries, and my website. This year, I was nominated for a competitive artist entrepreneurship program in Nashville, which I’ll complete in September.
From there, I’ll be launching a new line of work called “Wild Cartography”, a collection inspired by my love of nature, hiking, and exploring wild places. It’s about rediscovering identity and purpose through the metaphor of wilderness—both literally and figuratively.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Not smooth at all, haha! It’s a very bumpy road and there’s no streamlined path. That’s been simultaneously infuriating and beautiful. The biggest struggle for me has been to find the confidence needed in the story behind my work. I am confident in my art skills and entrepreneurial skills (I owned 2 dog grooming businesses prior to becoming a professional artist), but there’s something incredibly vulnerable and uncomfortable about sharing your heart on canvas. That is the reason people will both love you and hate you. I’m constantly torn between the desire to share my voice and the desire to be anonymous.
I’m overcoming this fear of vulnerability by focusing on serving my community through my art; people have cried and told me incredible stories of how they connected with my work, and how it reminded them that they ARE healing. They ARE transforming. They DO have hope. That makes the fear of speaking up and standing out worth it! It reminds me that my art is not just about me, it’s about the impact that my work can have on someone else’s journey.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I specialize in mixed media – a fancy way of saying that I use everything and the kitchen sink in my artwork! I love using spray paints and pastels for bold marks and expression, watercolors and inks for their intuitive flow, refining in arcrylic, and finishing in oil paint for its luxurious depth. I’m known for my abstract portraits of women – they symbolize transformation, healing, and purpose.
The best feeling in the world is when someone is truly touched by a painting. I’ve had the honor of my collectors sharing their stories with me – their stories of trauma, sickness, and ultimately healing and transformation, and how my work reminds them of their journey.
They are incredibly inspiring to me and it makes me feel simultaneously humble and proud to know that my work is that powerful, that it transcends words and can touch someone on such a deep level; that they want to LIVE with my artwork as a visual reminder of who they are and their purpose.
We often think that change only comes through politics—and while there’s definitely a time to speak out on social issues, I believe lasting change begins with the individual. Some of the most important issues in our society are rooted in the heart, and no law can fully address those. That’s where I feel my work offers something different. I create from a place that speaks to the inner life—healing, identity, purpose. And in a world where many people feel left behind or unseen, that personal connection is powerful. I think that sets me apart in a meaningful way.
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
I am opening up commissions again this September; I view custom paintings as a collaboration between myself and the collector. I love hearing other’s visions on how to bring my work to life in their homes!
I’d love to meet more interior designers, blogs, podcasts, magazines, gallerists, and shops that are aligned with my purpose and vision to further the reach of my artwork.
Lastly, I’m doing my first professional mural this fall, and would love to line up more murals; if this is something you would like to see in your home or business, please reach out to me!
Pricing:
- Commissions begin at $200
- Murals are $15 per square foot
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.annathewiser.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/annathewiser.art
