Former local artist opens her first exhibit tomorrow

“Natural and Fantastic Worlds,” an exhibit by former resident Kari-Ann Anderson, is opening tomorrow (Nov. 18) at the Fort Frances Museum.
And while it may be her first show consisting solely of her own work, Anderson hopes it’s just the beginning of a long and prosperous career sharing her creative visions with the rest of the world, whether it be in galleries, on the page, or the silver screen.
“It’s a little nerve-wracking, but I’m looking forward to it,” Anderson said in a phone interview Monday from Winnipeg, where she now lives.
“It’s my first show,” she noted. “I always said ‘Anything first, I want to do in Fort Frances.’
“I haven’t attempted it in Winnipeg yet, but I’d like to,” she added.
The public also is invited to come out and meet Anderson tomorrow from 7-8:30 p.m.
Anderson, 30, the daughter of Bill and Judy Anderson, was born and raised in Fort Frances. She’s a self-taught artist who prefers to work with acrylic paints, and her works include both fantasy and wildlife subjects.
“But the show in Fort Frances will have more wildlife than fantasy,” she noted.
Anderson has been putting her ideas down on paper as long as she can remember. As a child, she was happiest when she had crayons and paper to keep her amused.
In high school, Anderson discovered comic books and fantasy art.
It was at this time she had an art teacher, Anna Pierroz, who encouraged her even though she was reluctant to try any medium other than drawing.
“She took a lot of time to deal with me one-on-one,” recalled Anderson. “She explained a lot of things thoroughly. I can still hear her sometimes.”
It was years later that Anderson began painting with acrylics, using an easel and brushes that she had inherited. Her initial paintings were of wildlife, particularly wolves and large cats.
She later moved into the realm of fantasy, inspired by the works of J.R.R. Tolkien, then other fantastic stories and artists.
Anderson said she felt the realm of fantasy art holds a lot of potential, career-wise, thanks to the renewed interest in the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy, the “Harry Potter” books and movies, and the slew of super-hero films raking in dough at the box-office over the past five years or so.
“It’s all brought it more mainstream. More people accept fantasy,” she remarked, noting it was particularly clear to her when people who had never perused the fantasy section at the Chapters store she used to work at started flocking there after the first “Lords of the Rings” movie came out.
They were showing a curiosity not only in Tolkien but the genre as a whole.
“And the children who are getting into it now will grow up and still be fans. It’s a big field—a bigger field than wildlife,” remarked Anderson, adding even providing concept fantasy art for video games is a lucrative area right now.
Anderson has seen some success with her work so far. Her painting “Fall from Grace” can be found in Winnipeg rock band Blush’s CD “Crowded Alone,” accompanying lyrics of the same song.
“I’d like to be able to do more of that [work in the music field]. I’d really like to get on book covers, maybe get a collection of my work published,” she said.
Two of her paintings have been displayed at the Winnipeg Art Gallery while another three were displayed at Label for Artists in Winnipeg. She also was in a show at 17 Wing Winnipeg’s annual wine-and-cheese gala earlier this fall.
In addition to these displays of her work, Anderson also has donated many paintings to charitable causes, including “Artists for Angels.”
Anderson’s art also can be viewed at www.geocities.com/tigressdragon
In addition to her paintings, Anderson has created character sketches to help market TV shows and has plans to become involved in the growing Winnipeg film industry.
“There’s a film industry here and I’d like to get involved,” she noted. “Character sketches, storyboarding, the whole design process. I’ve been on quite a few sets as an extra and I’m getting to know how it all works.
“That’s what I’d like to do down the road.”
Anderson’s exhibit runs at the Fort Frances Museum until Dec. 20.