Painting and mixed media

...you will walk through Anna’s backyard to the studio. Seeing work in progress alongside some finished pieces will give visitors a sense of how important the natural landscape is to Anna’s practice, and acquaint you with the slow, fragmented process of her mixed media work.

Combining caregiving, environmental stewardship, and education, my practice transforms the fragmented rhythms of life into a slow, layered aesthetic. Informed by ecofeminism, I embrace a nonlinear process that views interruptions as opportunities for growth. I 'forage' for a visual vocabulary within Pacific Northwest landscapes and daily family routines, gathering textures that mirror the patient pace of nature. Through layered compositions, my work archives a deliberate, cumulative rhythm that reflects the interdependence of self, land, and community.

Anna Wetzel Artz is an artist and educator with over two decades of experience in public education. Following a BFA from Kansas State University and an M.Ed. from Rockhurst University, she has developed a practice deeply informed by her Midwest roots and the landscapes of the Pacific Northwest. Artz’s work explores the intersections of motherhood and environmental stewardship, often refined through site-specific research at residencies such as Richmond Beach Saltwater Park and Prairieside Outpost. Currently a K-5 Art Specialist, her work was recently acquired by the King County Public Art collection.

You will see a mix of finished works and artwork in progress, plus reference images and sketchbook pages. I work in collage and mixed media, so you'll see evidence of my layered materials: acrylic paint, ink, found paper. I am a K-8 art teacher in public schools by day, so I may also set up a hands-on creative experience for visitors to engage in.

I work in a backyard studio shed that is accessed from a gate next to the house. There are no stairs, but there is a slight grade up the front path and the terrain is varied. If it has been raining, the unpaved path to the studio may be somewhat slippery or muddy.