Meet Ans Carnes | Oil painter and sculptor

We had the good fortune of connecting with Ans Carnes and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ans, how do you think about risk?
I love this question because I just recently had a discussion about ‘risks vs certainties and safety in life’ with a friend. I think everybody has quite a tale to tell about life changes and new perspectives in the last couple years. But my last year sure surpassed my expectations in every aspect.

Being a creator of plexiglass sculptures and oil paintings, and displaying my work at a huge art show for a living can be quite adventurous as it is. I stumbled into an adventure of a different kind when during a show it surfaced that my husband of 12 years had moved on without giving me the memo. As often, I was faced with some baffling adversity and uprooting. My faith was put on the spot in face of a pretty dire situation. My art also turned into my tranquil focus as I was working the 70 day show Arizona Fine Art Expo. My 100 fellow artists became my family and lifeline. And, thankfully, blessings rained down in a time that could have easily been hardship, and my collectors, though unaware of the circumstances, supported by their choices my choice to keep creating.
I learned to choose forgiveness instead of grudge and keep a light heart instead of carrying resentment – having the wonderful gift and opportunity to create objects of beauty was certainly an extra grace to have! And, miraculously, simultaneous to the adversity, a wonderful friendship emerged. A fellow student from church went through very similar circumstances at the same time.
I had lost my studio and space to come home to after the art show, but as I was struggling to claim all the basics of life back, against all probabilities I also gained a soul mate, and unexpectedly found the love of my life. Instead of bitterness, coming out of grief I found joy and fullness.

I am very proud to introduce my husband Matthew! My adventurous champion is also an active and loving supporter of my artistic creations and lending his name to Ans Carnes Art (as a hiker I’m thrilled that ‘Carnes’ is the Scottish version of ‘Cairns’, the rock piles that function as trail markers outdoors. Coincidentally ‘Ans Carnes” also sounds like the German statement ‘Ans kann’s!’ – Ans can do it 😄).
There is still some hopping over obstacles – ‘lost’ art supplies, undesirable new studio space surprises and such – but my inspiration seems to be rising to meet the tide of challenges. Beauty out of ashes! – Was risk involved in any of my actions and career decisions? I can honestly say my last year made the more conservatively inclined friends and relatives shout in horror 😄
But the very reason for all these changes proves that most ‘certainties’ in life are an illusion. There’s one certainty in my book, and it’s that I have a loving father who happens to know the end from the beginning and owns the cattle on a thousand hills. I don’t believe in coincidences and my faith has brought me through what could be seen as very risky decisions.
As long as I have an established true north and I keep walking in it, the concept of risk is suspended. I’m convinced that my art is part of it, and I’m excited that pursuing my new sculptures and paintings is not risk, but purpose! 😊

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I think one of the most important factors behind my success is Authenticity. I have a joyful outlook to life and I think it’s a privilege to use this gift that lets me share color and energy with my visitors. I take honest joy in creating what I do, and I believe that this joy is being transferred into my art and to the onlooker and collector.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
All the credit go to the Arizona Fine Art Expo and my champion and husband Matthew, for supporting and growing my art with me!

Website: Www.anscarnes.com

Instagram: @anscarnes

Facebook: Ans Carnes Art