By Lauren Stepp
Ann Stowe finds joy in creatures big and small. From the window of her home studio in Woodfin, the artist watches crows gather for peanuts, rabbits munch clover and the occasional black bear calmly dismantle her bird feeder. These everyday encounters form the emotional heart of Happy Creatures.
Norse Cheer (cropped). Ann Stowe, artist
Running from Friday, February 6, through March 20 at BlackBird Frame & Art, the solo exhibition features a collection of Stowe’s animal portraits rendered in ink and acrylic. Lively and expressive, the works capture animals not as symbols or spectacles but as sentient beings capable of curiosity and connection.
“Animals don’t hide their feelings,” says Stowe, whose father was a veterinarian in rural Iowa. “We are just so busy with our lives that we don’t pay attention to what they are sharing with us.”
Although Stowe has always been attuned to the inner worlds of all things furry and feathered, painting did not become a serious pursuit until seven years ago, when she retired and gave herself permission to create freely. “I began my art with colored pens and then moved on to all sorts of inks and acrylics,” she says. “I just went a little crazy experimenting with all sorts of things. If it didn’t turn out well, I just trashed it and moved on to something different.”
Patchwork Joy (cropped). Ann Stowe, artist
That sense of freedom continues to guide her creative process, which begins when she sees an animal she finds interesting. A sketch comes first, followed by layers of ink or acrylic as the image develops. Stowe often works on several pieces at once, allowing them to “settle” before she returns to the canvas. “It takes me months,” she says. “But I don’t have deadlines.”
In some works, Stowe adds an unexpected finishing touch: Swarovski crystals. Placed deliberately—often in an animal’s eyes—they heighten expression and reinforce the sense of individuality and warmth that runs throughout the show. “I like sparkly eyes for my happy creatures,” she says.
When asked what she wants gallerygoers to take away from her winter show, Stowe says, “I just hope people smile and enjoy the art. Life is too short to afford a shutting out of light, joy and good thoughts.”
BlackBird Frame & Art is located at 365 Merrimon Avenue, Asheville. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday. Learn more at BlackBirdFrame.com or call 828.225.3117.
