Ann was always driven to create. She saw the world with her unique visual genius, always seeing the rhythm, the balance, the color, the space, the movement and the stillness. She was endlessly inspired to create.

 

In her explorations, she did some fantastic sculptural assemblage, of which only a few pieces remain - at least that I know of. From small pieces to lifesize mannequins, her work was fantastical, humorous, and enticing.

 

She spent several years working with pottery under the influence of several professional potter friends, in Laguna Beach, California. When the oceans flowed into her heart, she started creating wonderful ceramic jars with sculpted ocean inhabitants; dolphins, whales, walruses, elephant seals, seals, sea lions, sea birds (including penguins) and polar bears on top. She created a few non-ocean dwellers as well.

 

Ann took every opportunity to learn new media. She had a brief period of jewelry making, and she made some wonderful, inventive pieces - again, there is very little of it that I have in my possession. I'm sure there are some of her pieces out there adorning some lucky people!

 

She did some exquisite work in partnership with the glassblower, Don Pettey, under the name of La Baleine. They created rondels of colored glass with wildlife designs etched into them. Hanging in a place where the light shines through they are luminous and vibrant with the graceful beings depicted on them! They also applied the same idea to other glass forms; lamps, bowls, vases.... 

 

 

 

 

 

During the late 1960s, the 70s and early 80s, she displayed her creations at the Sawdust Festival, in Laguna Beach, California, amongst a fantastic crowd of family, friends and kindred creative spirits. From crocheted clothing, to jewelry, to ceramic sculptural animals and paintings, she always brought her unique style to everything.