Native California artist, Ann Heskett, began actively creating
art at a young age. She is known for her award-winning wildlife and still life
paintings. She became intimately involved with wildlife through the films
produced by family members who traveled the globe. Her personal discoveries
have taken her to sanctuaries and local zoos where she has photographed and
studied her subjects.
“I believe the designs in nature are perfect:--stripes, spots, a
white lion’s blue eyes, the leopard’s quietly forceful presence and
camouflage. Every time I see these
things I feel that a master artist has been at work.”
It was here that she first sharpened her technique and style,
painting many colors in the fur. It’s
not unusual to see magentas, greens, violets and reds, sometimes Prussian blues
and turquoise. She plays with color and,
at times, will achieve a “happy accident,” as Dan Edmonson suggests in his
teaching.
“I once was so close to a tiger cub, I could see every detail of
his eyes. He was stunning! When he rolled over on his back, the
complexity in the colors emanating from his eyes gave me a chill. It was an
emotional moment for me and I rushed home to begin my first serious wildlife
painting of two tigers.”
Ann paints her still life using dramatic light and color. She mixes her paints from the live setup and
continues the process from reference photos.
Although mostly self-taught, Ann has studied with Mark Carder, an
artist who paints presidents and dignitaries; Gary Bergren, celebrated Western
Artist; Daniel Edmonson, artist, teacher, and mentor for artists from around
the world.
Her career as an executive and consultant in marketing, public
relations and promotional design, enriched her creative side. She studied
ballet and voice along the way and now paints fulltime.
Ann considers herself to be a lifelong student of the environment,
human nature and art.