Acrylic on Kitchen Stovetop Backboard, Commissions Available.

Luminous colors, exquisitely designed lines and shapes featuring extraordinary attention to detail are just a few of the qualities immediately engaging a viewer to the floral and botanical watercolors of Annie Ferder.

Annie's artistic mastery over this unpredictable medium is both incomparable and unique, employed elegantly to communicate her passion for the subject, an open invitation to share her spiritual connection with nature.

From early childhood, Annie has been fascinated with all manner of natural subjects. Happiest when spending time in the family garden drawing flowers, plants and bugs, and with encouragement from her grandmother - an accomplished oil artist - she quickly took up painting and it became her life vocation. "Painting is so instinctual for me. It's how I express myself. It's who I am. When I'm not painting, something is missing, I feel incomplete. Painting is what I love and what makes me happy," she says.

Annie first became attracted to watercolors while attending Western Oregon University. After raising two sons, Annie eventually relocated to the beautiful city of Bend, Oregon. Near the Cascade Mountains and blessed with plentiful High Desert beauty, she says the new surroundings made her creative spirit soar. Beginning in the early 80's Annie focused on honing her craft and exhibiting her work.

She has since enjoyed international recognition, exhibiting in dozens of solo and group shows from coast to coast. Her award-winning paintings are on display in numerous private and corporate locations from New York to Florida, from Michigan to California and Arizona as well as her native Oregon.

Annie has been regularly featured in local and regional arts publications and her work has twice been published in International Artist magazine in recognition of awards received in that magazines prestigious competitions. 

One of only 100 artists invited to appear in the art-instruction classic "How Did You Paint That?" 100 Ways to Paint Still Lifes & Florals, Volume #1" (Northern Light Books), many of Annie's works have been reproduced as limited edition prints, giclèes and greeting cards.

Consistently an active contributor to her local art community, Annie seeks to increase the public's interest, participation and appreciation of the arts. An original member of the artist's co-op Tumalo Art Company, Annie is an active member of the Watercolor Society of Oregon. Numerous charities such as the Assistance League of Bend, the Rosie Barris school and the Humane Society's "Healing Reins" program have been the recipient of her donated works for fundraising. 

Today, Annie's life is centered around creating and sharing her art. Traveling from Hawaii to Florida to sketch and take reference photographs of the fauna and flora found across our landscape, Annie enters the studio first to make detailed drawings of her subject, then to bring the mind's eye interpretation out of her pallet of colors. Exquisite control over the watercolor medium allows her to create her images, layering up to 20 applications of paint while keeping her colors fresh, vibrant and rich. Annie's passion for painting botanical subjects remains as strong as ever. "When I paint," she says, "I recreate the sense of peace and harmony I felt as a child in my grandfather's garden."

Commission Information

Annie is happy to do custom art commissions. Let her help you bring your vision to life. Her extensive library of images is available to help you form your ideas.

Annie also offers private lessons and frequently leads workshops in the Bend area.

To contact Annie, fill out the form on the contact page.