Artist Interview - Annike Peters
The German artist talks about her creative process and her love for beautiful, melancholic, emotional art that tells a story.
A stunning artist from Frankfurt who reinvents herself and doesn't hold herself back from tuning in with her creativity and letting it flow.
She manoeuvres her way through the abyss of her subconscious that acts as a catalyst to bring great artistic expression onto the canvas. Her zest to persevere shines through brightly. With each brushstroke, she paves her way and seizes every opportunity to translate her feelings onto the canvas.
Her dedication is really inspiring and her kindness oozes through her artwork.
I am truly mesmerized by her artworks and her portrayal of feelings and stories; which are open for interpretation. I am very excited to interview her today -
Today we welcome Annike Peters, a self-taught artist, art therapist, and a very kind person.
1) How was your experience at the art show? Especially, the one for which you hand-drawn all the business cards like a true boss lady. (Hats off!!)
Haha thanks! It was actually my first and (until now) only art show in a café/bar from an old classmate of mine. And it was very nice! Some of my paintings are still there at AJOKI in Hanau (Germany) and I had very interesting conversations with the people who showed up that day. It was also combined with a concert from two really nice bands. I had a great time with them before the show, while I prepared my paintings and they had their soundcheck. The hand painted business cards were an emergency idea of mine because I realized that my printed cards were out of stock. And as perfectly organized (hear the irony) as I am, I only realized until the evening before the exhibition. So I had to get creative.
2) What does intuitive and chaotic art mean to you?
For me it's to have room for mistakes. Well actually mistakes is the wrong word because I think in intuitive art there are no real mistakes. There is no wrong or right. You are in a kind of flow state and have a conversation with the painting. You paint something, then you look at what you painted and what it makes you feel/ what the painting tells you and then you react and paint more. Intuitive and chaotic is something I would describe the very beginning of my abstract art process to be like. When I work with no plan in mind and just follow whatever my heart tells me or what the materials give me. It's a safe space to just experiment and try out new things.
3) There is a great world of symbolism out there, do you feel called to study that? Like spirit animals or mystical studies of any sort?
For ex: You've mentioned that the whales nudge your subconscious :)
I love symbols and mystical studies. I was always drawn to these kinds of things. But I never found myself sticking to a specific symbolism. Most of the time I use symbols and metaphors that mean something to me, not like "universal" symbolism or metaphors. For example I have been drawing foxes a lot in my earlier adult years because it was a very specific personal connection I had to that specific animal. But it was never my intention to use it as a symbol for something out of this personal context. Still I think this is a very interesting topic, as I also love to read fairy tales and legends from all over the world and they hold so many symbols!
4) What are your pleasant memories while sketching in the garden of your grandparents or outdoors in general as well?
One of the memories of painting outdoors that stuck with me was actually during the Covid pandemic. It was the first lockdown in Germany and it was not allowed to go outside other than to take a walk alone, everything was closed and you couldn't meet anyone. I was still staying at my parents house at that time, so I had my whole family close by and they also have a garden. The weather was so nice at that time so I spent a whole week in that garden, just painting all by myself. I am still so grateful for how positive my circumstances during that time have been. I know it was a huge privilege to have this space and to be able to just paint and kind of forget about the situation outside for some time.
5) Do you have any pets, if yes, what are their names? If not, do you plan to have one someday?
I don't, I had guinea pigs when I was smaller (called Felice and Nikita) and also a rat (called Findus). For the future I am actually torn between really wanting animals like a cat or dog in my life and also not wanting the responsibilities that come with that.
6) Who is your favourite artist and why?
That's a hard question. Not because I don't have one. But because I don't have just ONE. I could name so many and it changes so often, also because through instagram I get to see so many amazing artists every day. For "classics" I would say Van Gogh, Klimt and Hundertwasser. For artists from the present I would name Agnes Cecile (her watercolor art has been fascinating and inspiring me since I started posting my art on facebook long ago. They are so full of emotions. Also Hanna Wenzel, she is a german illustrator that is not so much older than me and she has such a cool style in illustration. Yes.. just to mention some. I am drawn to art, that makes me feel something. I like beautiful, melancholic, emotional art that tells a story. And of course I always admire artists that have some kind of skill that I would like to learn.
7) What do you want people to think or feel when they see your work?
I don't know if I want them to think or feel something specific. I just hope that they feel something. Sometimes making art is something just for myself. It's my way of expressing emotions and processing things. Of course I like it, when people are moved by what I do and find some interest in it. But what they think or feel while looking at my art is connected more to themselves than to my art most of the time. I just hope to reach the hearts of people.
8) As an art therapist, how has art therapy impacted your life as well?
I studied Art therapy a while ago and just studying it did so much to my understanding about myself, my childhood, my way of interacting with other people and so on. I have always expressed my feelings through art and learning how much art can actually help people was perfect for me. Also I learned so much more about the creative process itself and learned to trust this process again (the free and intuitive way of creating art that I already talked about). A lot of the techniques and things we learned at university are still affecting my art process a lot.
9) What advice would you like to give to your younger self?
To listen to her heart and to go her own way. I recently began to discover a lot of parts of myself, dreams and wishes that I buried deep after years of just doing what society and other people expected me to do.
Thanks, Annike for accepting my request to interview you :)
Dear Reader, you may follow Annike on Instagram
Browse through her website portfolio here.
Thanks everyone for reading.
