Meet Anita Darling: Fine Artist

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

Hi Anita, career-wise, where do you want to be in the end?
I love this question! I think it is an opportunity to generate good energy and envision grasping on to a higher potential! Honestly, the “end of my career” will be the day I’m no longer inhabiting this earth. Being an Artist is who I am. As far as the career aspect ultimately I want to develop a name surrounding the provision of artwork serving the hospitality industry. I have a real thirst to absorb artwork when I travel as well as absorb the inspiration of the area that the Artist attempted to embody. These days the hospitality industry is taking a real turn and attempting to express the surrounding area of the location that is being designed and being a part of that is so exciting! This means Artists far and wide have an opportunity to not only travel but create for their immediate area. What more could we Artists ask for? I know that is appealing beyond belief for me and I may as well step up to the plate and fulfill the calling to the highest level possible. That may mean reaching a goal I haven’t dreamed of yet or that hasn’t been reached before. So essentially, only the future knows and I’m willing to strive with all I have and see where that takes me.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Essentially I would say my work is set apart by my strong connection to nature. In order for myself to create I must plant my feet on the floor of the earth and as I create portraits of nature I can feel the energy that places me in the perfect groove to create. I call them portraits of nature due to the fact that when I sit with a specific specimen I envision the capturing of their image as a gift to the flora so it has a way of living on. It literally excites me to sketch them and then for each you will notice that I write a blurb. I sometimes envision the blurb as a sort of telling of their story. Along my way I have definitely had many challenges. Mainly it has been development of my truth and comfort within that. In order to create my best and most honest I must follow what taps me in to energy derived from nature and that can sound a bit kooky, but it is what works for me and I have to do if I want to create honest work. Hopefully as my brand develops people will begin to see that my heart is genuine and all work I do has a past and a future. I create for life and deeper enjoyment of that experience.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I have often had friends visit the area and the first place I like to take them is to my art studio. The reason isn’t all selfish, actually it is quite the opposite. I am a part of an art colony, and while I have a private space there, there are 19 other Artists with spaces within the building. This can make for a really wonderful afternoon. I would then hit lunch within the building and eat at Tannery Row Ale House because they have an interesting atmosphere that you wouldn’t want to miss. At the Tannery you can also get a great lesson in history. You would learn that within its walls was the production of the largest amount of leather goods that supplied WWII. You would also have to hit several of the local spots being a sweet little coffee shop called West Main Trade. It is a locally owned coffee shop that also has a bundle of vendors spaces for an eclectic mix of shopping pleasure. I swear I have found some of my most asked about and funky earrings in there! Just past that you can find some of the most off the hook night life! 37 Main is another locally owned business and has had some of the most impressive cover bands I have ever seen, from Van Halen to Whitesnake, Metallica and even Def Leppard. Over all you can find historic sites of soldiers to French cuisine around these parts. I contribute that to the eclectic mix of people that color our area in so many beautiful ways.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Lifting others is what makes life worthy of living for me and I can definitely shout out to a few mentors along my path who took time and effort to help me gain a little ground under foot. First off I was really lucky to have an elderly neighbor as a child who invested in me. Her name was Maryland Bland and though she has passed I can never forget how she exposed me to the arts. The best gift was for my 10th birthday she introduced me to the ballet. I recall everything and I was so enchanted. Knowing Maryland was a real gift. I’d also like to send out a big thanks to all of the Artists’ in Tannery Row Art Colony for all of their encouragement and love over the last 3 years of enjoying the colony with them. Their belief in me has really been a leap in my journey.