Artist
Ann reveals, “Since no one can visualize what I have experienced, I prefer to paint what I like, or what inspires me. I strive to see the invisible and work to make it visible.
I want to convey pain, sorrow, joy, passion, and thoughtfulness on my canvas or paper. At the same time, I aspire to express love, beauty, and healing to my viewers as they “see” through the eyes of some of my works. It is my desire to celebrate the human spirit through my artworks as I have through my community service. I have always been committed to a vision of unity across age, race, and religious lines, so my work has been created to elevate the confidence, accomplishments, and leadership skills of youth and women especially. I want people to know that I care for them and that they are beautiful. For that reason, I paint from my heart and spirit.
I have traveled a unique journey. For many years I was told that I would be a “starving artist” if I pursued my art as a career, so I earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree cum laude in Interior Design from Ohio University and later spent most of my time in sales and community development work where I earned much recognition. Fortunately, the few discouraging voices were not able to steal my vision, because the spirit within me never allowed me to abandon my art talent gift. I have developed a love for people of different cultures and for public relations, but ART has always called me home.”
ARTIST STATEMENT
I tell visual stories of my people, who deserve to be recognized, with passion, determination, and natural curiosity by interpreting the history and culture that has determined my life in the far western mountains of North Carolina. I bring my unique perspective as an African American woman to an area where we are guided by other people’s views that make us seem to be invisible. As an experienced artist, skilled in drawing and painting, I dispel the stereotype that there are no qualified Black artists in our region by painting personal stories, making the invisible visible. My work, expressed on canvas, in oil paints, and charcoal, can enlighten viewers about the power that comes from the spirit of my people.
BACKGROUND
Ann earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree cum laude from Ohio University, after which she gained sales experience, became an entrepreneur, and benefited from community development work through which she received much respect and recognition.
The Jon Nagy Learn to Draw programs that aired early Saturday mornings gave young Ann her initial skills in drawing. Still, Life with Melons, Corn, and Fruit is an example of her deep long-lasting desire to be a renowned artist.
Ann Miller Woodford is a visual artist, designer, and entrepreneur, a creative person who has dedicated her life to painting and drawing the spirit she feels and treasures around her while uplifting young people and adults. Mostly painting in oils, she calls her works representational, often Southern genre; however, she is skilled at drawing in pencil, charcoal, and ink. She says, “I am motivated by people, animals, clouds, trees, rocks… Inspiration never stops!” I have traveled on a unique journey with art that has called me home.
As a child in the segregated, one-room, one-teacher Andrews Colored/Negro Elementary School in the small mountain town of Andrews in North Carolina, Ann’s talents were discovered and encouraged by her favorite grade school teacher, Ms. Ida Mae Logan. Though Black teachers made very little money, at her own expense, Ms. Logan submitted Ann’s artworks to the Scholastic Art Awards competitions and state and county fairs from which she won gold keys and blue ribbons. Because of Ms. Logan’s generosity, Ann reminisces, “Her caring ways were largely responsible for helping me to build self-esteem as a young artist and led me to become an imaginative, creative adult.”
A school nurse gave Ann a set of used oils, some brushes, a palette, and a Walter Foster How to Draw and Paint Seascapes instruction book that opened the door for her love of oil painting. The nurse suggested that Ann paint on drywall scraps because there were no art supply stores in the region. Those throwaways from her dad’s construction jobs supplied a ground on which Ann learned to compose and create artworks like My Friend, the Pony. 
At the same time, she was encouraged by her family and baby sister, Nina, who often marveled at what she would leave on the paper, drywall, or canvas board.
Today, Ann inspires viewers with her moving portraits of people and animals as they reveal her love for humanity and God’s creation in its myriad forms and moods.
What Others Are Saying
“Your artwork is amazing, and I look forward to sharing it with my friends. Be proud of your work. Not many are blessed with your talents.”