Annie Galvin is a San Francisco-based artist who originally hails from Wexford County, Ireland. She holds a degree in literature from UC Berkeley as well as one in art from Waterford Regional Art College in Ireland, and these dual interests show through in her work, which often incorporates both text and narrative. Annie's paintings range from graphic and simple to figurative and mysterious - what happened right before this?
Annie and her husband Eric have recently started 3 Fish Studios, where, among other things, they are hosting a once a month art-making gathering called Lure, which will happen on the second Sunday of the month (including this Sunday - if you're in the area stop by and meet Annie in person. I'll be there too!)
Annie has two shows coming up this summer in San Francisco, the first opening in late June at Candy Store, and the second opening September 8th at The Salon. Some of Annie's work is available in her etsy store, or e-mail her annie (at) wexfordgirl (dot) com for more information. Annie also writes a fantasic blog, Wexford Girl.
Home is where we are
How do you describe your work?
Girls, patterns,
Mexican wrestlers. I like my work to have a narrative too, some kind of
story we only see pieces of: What news is in the letter she’s holding?
Why are the bear and the girl together in the woods?
I make paintings that
people want to hang on their walls. That sounds simple, but it’s really
the most important thing for me — would someone want to put this in
their house and see it every day? That’s also my main criteria for art
that I buy: “Do I want this on my wall?” If I do, then I buy it (if I
can afford it).
Savage
What is your favorite medium to work in?
I love acrylic, and I
love how durable it is. It essentially turns to plastic when it’s dry
so people can hang paintings in their bathroom without fear of
condensation. But I am contemplating a return to gouache, which I used
when I did the originals for book illustrations (I illustrated a tea
party book and a spa book for girls). Gouache is easier to control; I
can get a thinner line and flatter color. I love what Marci Washington
and Seonna Hong do with gouache.
What medium do you wish that you could work in that you don't currently use?
I want to learn
ceramics. I don’t need to know how to throw pots, but I would like to
make little plates and bowls and draw scenes on them in vibrant glazes.
I love Diana Fayt’s work so much. Her colors are delicious. I would
also like to be able to sew, so I could make 3D dolls of my melancholy
women.
What inspires you?
Textile designers
Josef Frank and Lucienne Day, graphic designers Paul Rand and Olle
Eksell. I love their deceptively simple composition and line, and use
of color. I adore Scandinavian design (and I wonder why so many books
on Scandinavian design are only published in Japan). Other artists
inspire me a lot: the Royal Art Lodge, Camilla Engman, Clare Rojas,
Alex Katz, Mazwell Loren Holyoke Hirsch, Jim Houser, Chris Johanson,
Rex Ray, Amy Cutler – I could go on and on! I’m also inspired by
magazines. My favorite is Vogue, and sometimes I will splurge on
French, Italian, and Australian design magazines.
Who are the girls in your work based on?
I have been drawing
girls since I could hold a pencil. Here are some doodles I did in 1983
in a French textbook that I happen to still have: