All posts by Oil Painter Annie

And the Featured Artist of the 58th Annual Snake Alley Art Fair Is…Annie!

March 12, 2025Art Show, Blog, painting explanations, UncategorizedOil Painter Annie

With a very happy, and “humble-and-proud-at-the-same-time” heart I get to share with you the news of the year for me so far! I have been selected to be the featured artist at this year’s Snake Alley Art Fair in Burlington Iowa. This is it’s 58th year and is a wonderful tradition at a historic landmark: Snake Alley, “The Crookedest Street in the World”. Each year they select an artist to create an art piece that will be featured on their poster, shirts, postcards and more.

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New Mural at New London Community Childcare Center

March 10, 2025Blog, muralsmuralOil Painter Annie

I had the pleasure of adding a 3rd mural to the New London Community Childcare Center in New London, IA recently. They were my first 2 big murals- if you remember the Happy Farm and the The Magical Forest murals I painted in 2022. I want to thank them for their continued support of my art! The staff are very easy to work with and i’d love to add more art to their walls in the future.

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Under the Sea Mural

March 29, 2024Blog, muralsfamily art, kids artOil Painter Annie

I recently completed this Under the Sea Mural for the Henry County Public Health Office in Mt. Pleasant, IA. The mural is located in their immunization room, and they requested a scene to help distract kids from the stress of receiving shots. There are lots of fun surprises to search and find, and some of the sea creatures have band-aids on their fins as if they just received a shot too.

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Murals for Always Sunny Inside

January 8, 2024Blog, muralsmuralOil Painter Annie

The first week in January I had the pleasure of creating 3 graphic murals for Always Sunny Inside, an indoor playground in Burlington, IA. I followed colors and design elements they had chosen for their decor to create these murals. I used interior latex paint in their chosen colors too. Overall, these designs were very clean and simple, but keeping the edges crisp and clean took all of my expertise and experience. I was so pleased to to have some really nice large brushes to complete the task with no hiccups. Enjoy a few photos and a video too!

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Annie’s Gift Guide 2023

November 14, 2023Blog, gift ideas, UncategorizedOil Painter Annie

It’s that time of year! Here is my list of 23 art related gift ideas for 2023. It includes my top loved and used art supplies by my amazing art students- because, what do all artists want, no matter the age?? Art supplies!! I’ve also include my top gift-able items from my shop. Enjoy!

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Marvelous and Minutia Show

November 6, 2023Art Show, Blogart show, oil paintingOil Painter Annie

This last week I got to install and then have the opening reception for my show, Marvelous and Minutia. This line of work focuses on the extravagent beauty that surrounds us- whether big or small. If you are gazing at a vast sunset sky, looking down from a mountain peak, or looking at the intricate detail in a single flower in your own garden- we are spoiled with beauty all around us. Enjoy this video showcase of the gallery show and reception.

The Magical Forest Mural

February 22, 2023BlogmuralOil Painter Annie

I was pleased to create a second mural for the kids at the New London Community Childcare Center in New London, IA. The theme of this mural was a magical or enchanted forest, again with lots of surprises for the kids to find. After completing the Happy Farm, the director and I worked on 20 add ins to my original hand-painted mock up. My son Conan contributed many creative ideas, and my amazing husband Nils used his graphic skills to add my drawings to scale to my mock up, which made the first step of projecting the image on the wall much easier. (This is why you see black and white drawings imposed over a painted background for my mock up. The white items are the hand-drawn add ins)

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The Happy Farm Mural

January 29, 2023UncategorizedmuralOil Painter Annie

Over the past week I had the pleasure of painting this 240 square foot Happy Farm Mural at New London Community Childcare Center in New London, IA.

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Annie’s 22 for 2022 Gift Recommendations!

November 8, 2022Art for All ages, Blog, gift ideas, Kids Art, Uncategorizedart supplies, gift ideasOil Painter Annie

Every year, I try to help art parents or those who desire to give gifts to the artists in their life. The following are my recommendations (with links!) to help you fill those stockings with art supplies this year. What do all artists want, no matter the age?? Art supplies!! I’ve also include my top gift-able items from my shop. Enjoy!

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Totem Pole Repaint

October 3, 2022Blog, Outdoor Art, UncategorizedOil Painter Annie

I spent the first week of September up in the air! 30 ft up to be exact! I was hired to repaint a weathered Totem Pole in Mt. Pleasant, IA. It was a crazy experience for me, full of literal ups and downs on a boom lift. I was delighted to learn that i’m not particularly afraid of heights, though when it was windy up there it was a little scary. Luckily I was blessed with a few wind free days and lots of family support to put in some long painting hours and get it done.

For materials, I used Chroma Mural Paints which are UV stable. I lightly sanded off old paint (customer did not want me to prime the surface) and coated every inch with bright new color. I then applied a generous coat of Helmsman Outdoor Polyurethene coating. (These are the same materials i’ve used on my Peace Poles and Garden Poles)

Overall, I found the experience exhilarating and empowering. I’m feeling inspired to take on mural work and can’t wait to continue to paint on a large scale more in my community and beyond!

Enjoy this video of the process, as well as some of my favorite images.