Today we’d like to introduce you to Anna Schmunk
Hi Anna, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
In college, I was a fine arts major with an emphasis in graphic design. I graduated, and like a lot of college grads, quickly found I did not want to use my degree professionally. Graphic design – as a profession – wasn’t for me. I pivoted to front-end web development within about 6 months. I loved the problem solving aspect, but really missed the creativity in making my own ideas come to life.
Fast forward about 14 years, I had recently quit my corporate job to co-found a consulting company to pay the bills. This gave me so much more time. I took a brave leap and signed up for a local art class at Art & Soul Nashville.
As I was leaving my corporate job, I began to experience chronic illness. Despite many doctor’s appointments, I am still waiting on a diagnosis. In the meantime, art has become an outlet for me to process with my body. Many of the marks I make are intuitive, in that I try to tune into the movement my body wants to make and use that to inform what goes on the canvas.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Ha! I wish the road was smoother. It has not been a smooth road, but despite that, I’ve found my art process to be very life giving in this time.
A wise mentor asked me, “What will it take for you to sustain your art practice?” After thinking about it, I realized to navigate the ups and downs of chronic illness, I needed an in-home studio. Being able to create every day in a space that’s just down the hall as made it easier to create on a daily basis. It’s helped me manage my energy through the ups and downs of chronic fatigue and pain. It’s given me a place to create, which has been so life-giving!
Of course, having a supportive partner and enough physical space has helped, too.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
In my artistic practice, I create from a place of tuning in to my body. I do this through meditation, observation and movement – allowing my body to move in the ways it craves.
Those practices then get translated into the canvas, where I process my healing journey. The marks I make are often an abstract expression of the parts of my body that have healed and those that are still in process. Some have said the marks I make look like sutures – stitching up a wound. I resonate with that.
The marks I make are often drips and splatters, but circles have been a repeated theme. They symbolize wholeness – both holding ones’ own and being held.
I’m incredibly proud of the fact that, despite my physical limitations, I’m still able to get in the studio and create!
Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
The Creative Act by Rick Rubin helped put into words many things I had experienced as an artist, but didn’t have language for.
I regularly listen to The Next Right Thing podcast by Emily P. Freeman and I love a good true crime podcast.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://schmunkart.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/aj.schmunk.art
