We recently connected with Anne Emerson Hall and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, so we’re so thrilled to have Anne Emerson with us today – welcome and maybe we can jump right into it with a question about one of your qualities that we most admire. How did you develop your work ethic? Where do you think you get it from?
My parents set wonderful examples of a strong work ethic, doubtless inherited from theirs. i saw my mother working hard running the household. My father commanded ships, squadrons, divisions and forces in the U.S. Navy. While I was not as aware of all that his work entailed, I could tell that he loved it. Both of them worked together when he pursued a master’s degree and I saw them working together at the dining table while she typed his thesis. They rewarded my two sisters and me with great attention to our progress and school.
Once, consoling me over some adolescent heartbreak, my father advised me that the remedy was to “do hard work and think philosophically about life.”
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
I paint in oil with a passion for color and meaning after a successful first career in book publishing. I work almost exclusively from life in my studio here in the Atlanta area.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
I was fortunate to study with accomplished artists and dedicated teachers of art. From Kate Fetterolf, I gained the insight that talent is application. From the late Nelson Shanks, I learned that he judged talent from a student’s willingness and application of feedback. In many instances, I could see students resisting an instructor’s lesson to the detriment of their work.
“Teaching is the best learning tool ever invented,” Nelson claimed, and I had the honor of assisting him in his class at the Art Students League in Manhattan for nearly three years. I continue to learn through my own studies of painting, drawing, sculpture and anatomy, and while observing my students master concepts and practices.
To develop my knowledge of art, I led my fellow students in a weekly art history discussion group based on The Story of Art by Ernst Gombrich.
Is there a particular challenge you are currently facing?
My particular challenge at the moment is finding time to paint. I was elected Director of Norcross Gallery & Studios by my leers in the last year, and spend my time learning how to resolve the challenges of a volunteer run 501(c)(3) organization that serves as a community art center for this small Georgia city. I have written successful grants, restarted an education program, pioneered a citywide photography competition free for all to enter, established an annual exhibition of the artwork by students in local high schools. I attend an average of two to three outside meetings every week, from those held by the mayor and council, the local chamber of commerce, the local business association and the public arts commission.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.annehallstudio.com
- Instagram: Anne Emerson Hall
Image Credits
Larry Hall
