Ghost Plant, also known as Indian Pipe, is a wildflower that thrives across much of North America, including Tennessee. I found that this delicate flower complemented the abstract background I crafted using handmade papers.
Tag: nature
This canvas was originally intended to be part of my Time Warp piece, but it ultimately evolved into a triptych rather than a quadriptych. When I was asked to donate a piece to the Cumberland Trail Association, I contemplated the best approach. I decided that one of Tennessee’s wildflowers would complement the background I had already painted. Passion flowers turned out to be a perfect fit, especially since the theme focused on wildflowers.
Jackson, Ann. (2023). Passion Flowers. [Acrylic mixed media on canvas]. Chattanooga, TN: Private collection. 12 x 12 inches
I almost painted over the background of this canvas because I didn’t like it. However, I then noticed shapes resembling leaves that reminded me of ones I had seen before, so I began painting them. During the 4 Bridges Arts Festival, a man asked why I included Hebrew text in the artwork. I explained that a fellow artist had given me the sheet of paper, and the line spacing happened to match the ribs of the cannabis leaves. He replied, “Well, that’s the first kosher cannabis I’ve ever seen.” I exclaimed, “Can I use that for the title?!?”
Jackson, Ann. (2023). Kosher Cannabis. [Acrylic mixed media on canvas]. Available. 24 x 36 inches
Cherokee Tale
The ancient tale of land and water, darkness and light. This was how children in towns and villages across the Southeast learned who they were, where their ancestors had come from, how the world itself had come to be. There were different versions – probably as many as there were old people – but the heart of the story was the same. Around the home fires of a Cherokee town, it might have gone this way:
Long ago, before there were any people, the earth was a great island floating in a sea of water, suspended by four cords hanging down from the sky vault, which was made of solid rock. It was dark and the animals could not see, so they got the sun and sest it in a track to go across the island every day from east to west, just overhead.
The Creator told the animals and plants to stay awake for seven nights. But only a few of the animals were able to, including owls and panthers, and they were rewarded with the power to go about in the dark. Among the plants, only the cedars, pines spruces, and laurels stayed awake, so they were allowed to remain green year-round and to provide the best medicines. The Creator chided the other trees: “Because you have not endured to the end, you shall lose your hair every winter.”
People appeared last, after the animals, the sun, nad the plants, but they multiplied so quickly that they threatened to overrun the world. So it was decided that each woman would have only one child a year, and it been that way ever since.
Through Indian Eyes – The Untold Story of Native American Peoples by Reader’s Digest ©1995
This piece is SOLD.
I grew up surrounded by sunflowers, but I never truly appreciated them at the end of their life cycle. Over the last few years, however, I have taken to photographing various dead plants and critters I encounter during nature walks, even in the bustling heart of downtown Chattanooga. This new perspective has opened my eyes to the beauty and complexity of decay, allowing me to explore themes of life, death, and transformation in my work. Each image tells a story, capturing the poignant beauty found in the remnants of nature that often go unnoticed.
11″ x 14″
This piece is SOLD.
Using a reference photo I took in my yard, I painted this cluster of mushrooms. When one of the art girls asked how I chose the color scheme, I simply replied, “I used all my new paint colors!” This playful approach allowed me to experiment and explore a vibrant palette while capturing the essence of the mushrooms.
Jackson, Ann. (2019). Magic Mushrooms. [Acrylic mixed media on canvas]. Soddy-Daisy, TN: Private collection. 20″x30″
The initial four colors I used to start this experimental piece reminded me of gazing down into a lake, observing the various types of fish swimming among the milfoil. As I painted, those fish began to emerge on the canvas, capturing the lively essence of that underwater scene.
30″ x 22″