While pursuing her clinical licensure in social work, Anne pours her heart and energy into developing her career as a professional artist utilizing her BFA in Graphic Design. Her life goal is to create a creative therapy program for military service members and their families: Circle Sessions on Mental Health and bringing a creative therapy program for refugees, Yesterday Today, Tomorrow, (YTT) to the U.S. for the first time. The Circle Sessions class addresses the mental health system of the military community, and it is geared toward offering military-affiliated individuals a space to talk about their mental health — an under-addressed issue in the military community.

As a remote MSW mental health intern at the International Rescue Committee of Dallas, Tx., Anne adapted and facilitated that somatic processing painting class, to the refugee population establishing Salamati Rohi: a creative support group for Afghan refugees evacuated during the end of the U.S. War on Terror in August 2021.

Next, Anne helped to revive SIV Sips brings together veterans and Afghan refugees with a Special Immigration Visa to provide support while adapting to civilian life.

Lastly and currently, as one of the U.S. Clinical Program Development Team, she has been essential in collaborating to bring YTT, an international art therapy program pilot study for refugees to the U.S. for the first time. For each program, Anne is utilizing her BFA in Graphic Design to create education materials that aid in facilitation of the clinical groups.

Exhibitions:

2023 Group Exhibition, Strike a Pose, The Cultural Center of Cape Cod, Yarmouth port, MA

2022 Group Exhibition, Members and Teacher Show, Cotuit Center of the Arts, Cotuit, MA

Anne is currently working on a look book of her mixed media portfolio, pursuing funding to help establish YTT in the United States as one of the U.S. Clinical Program Development Team leads and seeking her clinical licensure in social work (LCSW) in April 2023.

Most importantly, a portion of art sales proceeds go to the ability to provide free art supplies for YTT and Circle Sessions participants.

Her artwork consists of colorful portraiture combined with abstract strokes, natural elements, and different mediums. In utilizing tools such as paint scrapers, squeegees, and shapers, Anne’s work is defined by its energetic brush strokes and bold colors. Inspiration can come from a photograph, an experience, a song, or a texture — some sort of brief, fantastical glimpse into a moment in time. From there, her creations become emotional beginnings. The heart of Anne’s work revolves around the conversations she intends it to start: conversations about the real stuff — mental health, spirituality, the realities of military life, the impact it has on spouses and children, the journey of refugees, and more.

View Anne’s Current Portfolio!

Anne has been immersed in the military community all her life — she understands both the joys and the challenges. Her parents are retired Air Force nurses, both serving over 20 years, and her husband serves in the Air Force. While Anne did not expect to stay in the military community, she and her husband love the adventure that the lifestyle brings and the opportunities to see the world in a new light that it offers their children, Leo and Lily. During their 10 years served, they have lived in five states and survived a 365 tour to South Korea. It was during this tour, while she struggled with bipolar depression and long-buried memories, that Anne began painting — and she hasn’t stopped since.