Artist Anna Kincaide

“Unprecedented and massively invigorating.” These words describe artist Anna Kincaide’s collection of paintings that are dedicated to the returning craze of vintage style and couture. Her figurative replicas of faceless characters solicit a plethora of emotional responses, as Kincaide’s work depicts experiences and emotions that are felt universally, regardless of who her viewers are.

From those who have found monetary success but still feel empty to others who are constantly surrounded by people, but carry a heavy sentiment of being absolutely alone in the world. These are exactly what paintings like “Waiting for Nothing” communicate to audiences, especially since viewers are able to put their own face, their own self directly into the character(s) before them. Anna’s portfolio of work is a new and welcomed addition to The Eisenhauer Gallery. As usual, we had a chance to speak with her about her collection of work, her exploration of the dichotomy between pain and happiness and what fans and art enthusiasts can look forward to.

 

Q: Tell us a bit about yourself, your background and how you became an artist.

Anna Kincaide: I have been an artist all my life. Growing up, I was hugely inspired by the vintage era of Cary Grant. I was also obsessed with drawing people. My parents gave me dozens of figure drawing books as a kid and for hours I would sit with them watching movies and teaching myself how to sketch and paint. As I got older, I thought the more practical way to make a living in the arts was a major in Interior Design, but I felt unfulfilled and restless. So, a few years after I graduated, I left the field to pursue a full-time career in fine art. It's what I've always wanted to do and I saw my chance so took it. I told myself I'll give it all I've got for 2-3 years and see where it gets me. So in pretty short order, I found a small studio and began working every day. I realized then that so much of my painting influence comes from old Hollywood. I began painting glamorous people and became obsessed with vintage fashion and patterns. As I continued to focus on dresses and suits, I arbitrarily began omitting the faces of my subjects and instead focused on their poses and gestures. It's amazing what you can communicate about a person just by the way they sit or stand. It took off from there. The anonymity of the pieces is something that really resonates with viewers. The work can take on a very personal meaning and becomes their story not mine. So in a couple of years I had a handful of successful galleries, steady sales and a couple of shows under my belt. I'm living my dream and I've never looked back!

Q: What is the motivation or inspiration behind your collection of work? Is there a particular relationship that your paintings take on with their surrounding environment or perhaps culture?

Anna Kincaide: The Golden Hollywood era has played a large role in my work over the last couple of years. I love the elegance of vintage couture. But I am also inspired by all things fashion and design. My years as a designer (both Graphic and Interior) have essentially made me the painter I am today. As a designer you learn about color, proportion, scale, balance, pattern, etc. These principles all play an important part in my work.

Q: Some of your paintings like “I’ve Given It All I Got” and “Waiting For Nothing” seem to offer a more dark depiction of society and the relationships formed with the people around us. Are these indicative of the expectations people have when it comes to their personal life; as if most of us are either waiting on another person for satisfaction or we give everything we have until there’s nothing left?
 

Anna Kincaide: I'd say yes. Sometimes that's true for people. What's been interesting for me is the fact that many of my titles purposely have taken a darker, more melancholy tone and leave the painting open for interpretation. It's easy to look at a person and pass judgment without knowing his/her story.My paintings are representative of that in a way, such as a beautiful girl that's given it all that she's got or a handsome man who feels he's waiting for nothing. People are a lot more complicated than a first glance will give you and I'm exploring this in my work. You may see a painting of a pretty girl in a dress, but the title will suggest otherwise and then you may begin see the piece a little differently. The omission of the eyes allows even more interpretation and can take on a very personal meaning for the viewer. I love that. I love that viewers may have a first impression of my work, see the title and then give it a harder second look. Everything is not always as it seems, even a pretty painting, and I hope to begin to communicate that more and more as my work moves forward.

Q: You say that your style is constantly evolving, how do you think you will continue to grow and what do you think people can expect out of your work in say, three years from now?

Anna Kincaide: I believe I will continue to explore the nature of people and the idea that you can't judge a book by its cover. I love that people are more than they appear to be and I want to elaborate on that idea as I continue to paint. I'm also incorporating a lot more bold color into my work. The bright color and elegant-looking people are in direct opposition to my titles and I love the dynamic it creates. A good example is the piece: "Empty Inside" available at Eisenhauer Gallery. I see myself moving more in that direction. A lot of color and pattern and thoughtfully posed figures that communicate something deeper than meets the eye.

Q: How did you connect with Elizabeth and The Eisenhauer Gallery?

Anna Kincaide: I connected with Elizabeth through my manager originally. But after a few weeks we began working directly with each other and have developed a lovely rapport. She has been wonderful and exciting to work with and I look forward to continuing a relationship with her!

Q: What type of relationship do you have with the fans of The Eisenhauer?

Anna Kincaide: I follow the gallery on Facebook and Twitter and keep up with fans that way. The parties look fantastic! Unfortunately, I'm all the way down in Florida, but I hope to make visits and meet everyone personally soon!

Q: Are you planning on coming over for an exhibit? What can your fans look forward to this summer and heading into the fall?

Anna Kincaide: I would love to come up for an exhibit! Just tell me when to book my flight! I think that people can look forward to bolder, brighter, bigger work as we head into fall. I'm continuing to work on suits, fashion, and bathing beauties and supplying Eisenhauer with as much work as I can!

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