ARTIST STATEMENT
Art is my way of connecting to an energy field of creativity that informs every line, shape, and color I put to canvas. As an intuitive and visionary artist, I trust in the spontaneous movement of the creative process, allowing my work to emerge organically. Abstract expressionism is a language through which I explore emotion and spirit. My artistic practice is deeply intertwined with my role as an educator.
I am an active member of the Woman Made Gallery Collective and have exhibited my work in the Midwest since 2013. My residency at Charmers Gallery in 2017 and my solo exhibition, Wholeness, at Gallery 901 in Evanston in 2021 were milestones in my career. I am also a trained Open Studio Process Facilitator, guiding individuals of all ages through an art-making practice that integrates intention, expression, and reflection to foster personal growth and well-being.
At the heart of my work—both as an artist and as a teacher—is a belief in art as a transformative force.
Whether on canvas or in the classroom, I seek to cultivate spaces where creativity thrives, where individuals can explore, take risks, and ultimately, find a deeper connection to themselves and the world around them.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Annette Marie O’Donnell is a Chicago teaching artist. As an intuitive artist, she connects to the creative energy field to intuit the lines and colors for her pieces. Her current visual interest is where nature and spirit meet.
After a career as a teacher in the Chicagoland area, she now teaches pre-service teachers at Northeastern Illinois University. As an educator her objective is to nurture the creative spirit that resides in us all and encourage her students to follow their creative impulses. Her goal for her students is for them to continue connecting to their own individual creativity, however that manifests for them.
© Annette Marie O’Donnell