Conversations with Ann Himel

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ann Himel.

Hi Ann, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I’m now retired after having spent a deeply varied working career in writing curriculum, writing a humor column, creating and designing quilts, and ultimately selling wine to private clients. I had always relied on my art as a hobby; my career was centered in writing, education, and leisure.

With the COVID shutdowns of 2020, it became poignantly clear to me that many students all over the world would experience significant educational lapses. Many school districts have already eliminated the studies of art & music from their curriculum.
If I could bring art lessons to even a small portion of those students, their families or anyone else who for any reason may not be able to leave their homes or afford art lessons, maybe my YouTube channel, Art on the Creek, could contribute to their happiness, education and personal growth in some small way.

That singular goal has kept me motivated to grow Art on the Creek to reach as many people as I can and enrich their lives with art lessons.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I have been fortunate enough to have a very supportive husband and family. I’ve had the same emotional hurdles to overcome that many women do…work and be away from the kids or stay at home and be present for them.

Happily, I was able to do both. When our kids needed me to be home more hours, I was able to tailor my time away to meet my family’s needs.

I have and always will put personal goals above my career goals. For me, that is what gives me balance and perspective.

That may seem old-fashioned, but I can attest to the knowledge that I am very fulfilled in all of my roles because I have always maintained a healthy life/work balance.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
My first love was and still is soft pastels. I love nothing more than painting and drawing at the same time, and pastels provide so much texture and dimension – they really are a delight!

On Art on the Creek, I primarily focus on watercolor. I enjoy working with it very much. It is easily obtained and creates very little mess, which attests to its universal appeal as an art medium.

I am never without a sketchbook, and I love drawing in graphite, charcoal, ink, colored pencil or even a simple ball point pen.

The works that I am most happy with are those that capture the emotion of my subject or beauty of the landscape. I am most at home in our dry, high altitude climate of Colorado, and sharing my own vision of our state’s beauty through my art is truly the passion that drives me forward.

I could say that’s also true for my works involving people or animals. Capturing the joy in my heart when I interact with my subject is such a tremendous gift. I am very grateful to be able to share the light I see in other living creatures in my artwork.

We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
Family is very important to me. My happiest memories are entwined with the people who I love most, and the food around the table.

I have many wonderful memories of driving from Denver to Lafayette to have dinner at my grandma’s house. The house where my dad grew up is still there. It is so small – only 5 rooms – but as a child it felt big, safe and secure. My grandma was a huge role model for me. She was the first in our Italian family to be born in the US. They lived near Sunlight, CO which is near Aspen. Her father came over from Italy to work the coal mines in Pitkin County, and later sent home for a bride. That immigration started our family’s Colorado heritage, and I am very proud to say I am 3rd generation Coloradan and an Italian American.

Dinners at my grandma’s were full of laughter, antipasto trays, linguini, Carbone’s bread, and her incredible meatballs and sauce. We’d finish the meal with Meadow Gold French Vanilla ice cream or an Eskimo Pie ice cream bar from the freezer in the cellar, and my brother and I got to drink real Coke and whole milk, which were two items rarely seen in our own home!

Contact Info:

• Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/@artonthecreek

Image Credits
Ann L. Himel