Ann Hill Cohen is the Leeds Arts Council’s featured artist in February.  The public is invited to the opening reception on February 4, 2018, 1:30-3:30 pm, to view her delightful paintings.  Admission is free.

With an undergraduate degree in Communication Arts from Birmingham-Southern College, Ann has always enjoyed drawing, but it wasn’t until she took a color theory class at Alabama A & M University under Bill Nance that she began to see and mix colors anew.  She would go on to enjoy painting sporadically for the next 20 years as she raised her daughter and pursued a career in Real Estate.

It was through a move from Huntsville to Birmingham, Alabama in 2015 that she took a necessary break from her real estate business and began painting in earnest.  In 2016 she joined the Mountain Brook Art Association and participated in her first art show that spring.

Two days before a trip to Portland, Oregon in 2016 Ann woke up with an inspiration to paint a Mondrian influenced bicycle.  She just HAD to get it finished before she and her husband left town, lest she forget her dream image.  That has led to many more bicycle paintings which are among her client favorites.

Ann and her husband, Dale live in a wonderful 100-year-old house in Birmingham’s Highland Park community.  They have two indoor cats, Percy and Lily, and two outdoor strays–Callie and Sylvester.  Painting her own cats has led to a love of painting birds, animals, and beloved pets of others.

Ann paints in oil and acrylics, with a preference toward oil for still life and animal portraits. Her whimsical bicycles are done in acrylic.

Ms. Cohen’s paintings will be on exhibit through March 2, 2018.  You may view examples of her work at: http://www.anncohenartist.com and on Facebook @ anncohenartist

The Arts Center is located at 8140 Parkway Drive, in downtown Leeds.  The gallery is open during events.  In case of inclement weather, call the center at 205-699-1892 to confirm opening hours.