Artist Anne McLeod-Anderson

Story by Betsy O'Leary | Photos by Riyen Helg

When speaking with professional artist Anne McLeod-Anderson, you can tell how the thread of Art wove its warp and weft throughout all phases of her life.

Born and bred a Louisiana girl, Anne has had the opportunity to spend time in New York City absorbing its electric vibe and taking acting lessons staying creatively focused during her time.

And That’s How It All Began

Anne grew up in St. Landry and spent much of her time with relatives in nearby Acadia Parish, where flat farmland prairies sparked visual memories of those landscapes where horizontal lines prevailed. After Anne graduated from the Academy of Sacred Heart in Grand Coteau, she enrolled at LSU to start her path past high school. But her course was not a straight one. She headed back to the bayou at USL (now ULL) before her three-year Big Apple jaunt.

By age 30, Anne decided it was time to get a “real career.” She obtained her Art Education certification from ULL and headed to New Orleans to teach Art. After one year in a regular classroom, she taught special education for 27 years at Marrero’s John Ehret High School. She loved incorporating artistic concepts into her students’ lessons, especially those designed to improve eye-hand coordination.

From Teacher to Painter:

While she first began painting watercolors, she now works mostly in acrylic paint. When Anne talks about her art, she’s animated. She says that she became a “painting minimalist” and that this approach lets paintings “paint themselves.” As an abstract landscape painter, she works in layers. As the layers dry, she looks for the images to appear through the layers and goes from there. Other than the horizontal lines, Anne’s biggest influence is color. She uses all of nature as her palette and says that even a colorful, discarded magazine can give direction to whatever she’s working on.

As she learned the principles and elements of art, she is sure to incorporate line, space, balance, and focal point. Anne enjoys using visual components to draw the view and create paintings. Together with the horizontal lines, it creates a sense of peace and unity throughout her paintings.

Post-Katrina Life

Like many New Orleanians, Hurricane Katrina displaced Anne from her home. She began painting professionally in 2006, after returning to Opelousas and reconnecting with the vibrant art community in Lafayette. There, she took watercolor lessons from Mare Martin and learned a new technique for painting. When Ms. Martin suggested that Anne show her art professionally, she connected with George Marks.

Marks had created an artists’ co-op where Anne began showing her work. A local interior designer began using her work in homes he was decorating. That opened up opportunities in Jackson, Florida and Atlanta, where mainstream galleries showed Anne’s work. This led to her representation by online gallery, Where y’Art Works. Her work hangs in both Oschner and LCMC hospitals after their recent expansions.

When asked what her plans are moving forward, true to her nature, Anne replied, “I’ll just continue painting and see where it takes me.” For those who’d like to reach Anne about her works she can be emailed at Madamecat2001@yahoo.com .