ABOUT THE ARTIST

Ann Breckon began watercolor study in 1982 as a break from tending her infant twins, but art in many other forms has always been an important part of her life. She spent hours sketching as a child, and benefitted from the influence of parents who involved the whole family in a variety of artistic activities, sometimes leaning towards turning the home into a ceramics shop. Ann continued to sketch for many years in pencil and ink, but the watercolor classes were a revelation: "Being introduced to watercolors was thrilling...to be able to pour color into the sketches I had done for so long."

Watercolors allow Ann to combine her passions for color and nature, painting bright and realistic florals that jump off the paper, as well as still lifes, portraits, and landscapes. Raised on the West coast, Ann has a degree in cello performance from the University of Oregon. Music and art continue to vie for attention as she expands her artistic career.

Ann began a serious art career in the Fall of 1993. Her art was readily accepted into local galleries and she has had shows each year thereafter. Her paintings have been displayed in the Frye Art Museum in Seattle, and have been included in numerous local and national exhibitions, winning several awards. She is currently a signature member of the Northwest Watercolor Society, holds membership in the Eastside Association of Fine ARts, and juried into the Women Painters of Washington, where she served two years as president. She is a popular and experienced teacher, offering regular classes in her studio and giving workshops and demonstrations throughout the Northwest. Her art can be found in personal, corporate, and military locations.

"While appreciating many styles of art, I experience a strong personal fascination with the preciseness, clarity and technical ability shown in realistic art. I am also very sensitive to the impacts stress, ugliness, and violence have on our society today. My purpose in painting is to exhult in the best of the world's offerings, to capture a small amount of beauty and bring it into focus. Watercolors move with a mind of their own sometimes, providing an endless set of surprises and challenges, and a feeling of life as you work with them. The glowing results are exciting, and I love having an opportunity to share this with others."

Ann has researched watercolor pigments extensively and the colors of her palette have been selected to include only those tested at the top lightfastness rating (good for 200 years). To protect the integrity and life of the paintings, the watercolor paper and all papers used in framing are totally archival.