Ana Sneeringer

Apr 14, 2022

Ana paints abstract and colourful portraits that show bold female faces. Her signature style includes a pigmented circle on the cheek.

Hyderabad, India

*Moving to Montgomery, Alabama, USA this April!

tribal

A former documentary journalist, her paintings are informed by her travel experiences and her studies about women in various communities around the world. She uses acrylics and oils for her paintings, while her sketches are made with watercolours.

I read my own future

*untitled - woman of African Himba Tribe*

I suggest you listen to yourself

forward bend

What are some characteristics of your artistic style?

I paint bold female faces that are skin colourless. Living around the world taught me some outstanding life lessons about women - behind the skin colour. So when you see my "white" portraits, you see the transparent colour representing equality to me.

I love using an almost dry brush while shading my muse's cheeks, eyes, and neck. Those rough brushstrokes represent the toughness of their spirits. One of the most outstanding features in my paintings is a boldly pigmented circle eclipsing either the right or left cheek.

The circle symbolizes unity, complete closure, and internal wholeness. To succeed in life – be happy, be a better person, etc. – one must look within. One cannot wait for someone else to rescue them or do all of their work. We can accomplish everything ourselves, but we must choose to take action.

I like mix matching all the colours. That gives vibrating life to my paintings.

close enough to hear you

abstract life

on the yellow chair

Originally from Slovenia, Ana has lived in many countries around the world.

How has your former career in documentary journalism influenced the work you create?

Ha, such a good question. I had been working in media for a very long time. I developed a TV show with a producer called 'You see what you want to see'. The show documented individuals, it was like a video interpretation of my portraits. Over the years, I made the connection that this is something that is still present in my artwork today.

Working as a journalist was a dream for me. I learned how to listen to, and bring the best quality out of, the person I was "painting" in video form.

Is there a message you strive to convey through your art?

Yes. The message is about equality between humans. I am no better than someone else in any shape or form. Some might be richer in the material world but not necessarily in the heart. We all have this power to be better ourselves, so why not be.

What motivated you to move to India?

Before I moved to India, I lived in other countries. When I left Slovenia, I lived in Jordan, France, Russia, The Dominican Republic, The Netherlands, and now India, which I will also leave soon. We moved due to my husband's work.

AnaxKuro

mayra seems

destination

energy

What do you like about creating abstract art?

There should be no limits in any shape of making art, but really, there is none in the abstract - that's why I love it.

How has your artwork developed over the years?

It went from abstract art to fine portraits to abstract portraits. When I started expressing myself in abstract form, at one point I had not felt fulfilled. I needed more challenge, so I took pencil and paper and threw myself into exploring drawing and painting fine art portraits.

Then, after years of working in that direction, I felt called to include a more abstract and surreal approach to my paintings. So I did. I brought more colours to my artwork and mixed more facial expressions into my abstract portraits.

What are some other elements that are often present in your work? And why do you include them?

You can often find a cactus in my artwork, which represents durability. Also, cowboy boots represent toughness.

walk your walk

my own space

red desert

When did your painting career begin?

I started painting in 2010. Painting for me was a form of doing something while I started my life journey around the world. I've started expressing myself through abstract art, but as I got more involved in other communities, I found myself painting portraits because a human would become my inspiration. It's a super exciting path to observe how something that used to be my inspiration developed through the years to where I am my inspiration now.

Do you have a preference for whom/what you paint?

I paint women. However, I see painting women as painting myself and my story through the female portraits and figures. Because I am a woman, I am unsure how I would paint myself as a male figure, but I do paint aspects of my female side and also my masculine side.

How did you initially learn and later refine your painting skills?

I am a self-taught artist. I progressed in my art by practicing every day. I've collected a lot of knowledge of mediums and materials from my dear artist friends worldwide, and through trials and tribulations.

Photo of Ana!

*untitled - Scandinavian woman*

mary go round

Have you collaborated with any individuals or companies? If so, what was it like seeing your art displayed on their products or in their spaces?

Yes, I collaborated with LIDL Slovenia and Europa Donna to raise awareness about breast cancer. I've also collaborated with a couple of nonprofit organizations - Okanogan Highlands Lavender Farm from WA, USA, where you can find my artwork on their labels.

Recently, I collaborated with an Indian artist to raise money for SAFA, an NGO from Hyderabad, India, and DISINI eco-resort from Lombok, Indonesia, who installed commissioned artworks in their resort rooms to enhance the wisdom and knowledge of Indonesian women. I am also working on some other projects that I can't speak about yet.

What is your support system like?

I have a very supportive family, which is enormous for every artist. But apart from that, I have the artist community, to whom I can turn anytime.

Where do you envision yourself and your work in the future?

Ha, not sure since I rather see myself go with the flow. I work hard to make things happen, and I am always open to new changes and opportunities. I mostly try to live for today. But let's see what the future brings.

Liviya Toen

*work in progress*

Integrity

Ana's work has been featured in publications such as All She Makes, Create! Magazine, Beautiful Bizarre Magazine, Abode2, World of Interiors (Conde Nast), Bazaar India (Conde Nast), Elle Decor India, Soupcan Magazine and many more!

Do you have a career highlight?

One of my proudest moments happened in the last few years while living in India. It was when I was selected to paint as part of a collaboration for women empowerment at the National Gallery of Hyderabad. Then, the Museum Salar Jung exhibited my work in their space, and this painting is now in their private collection.

These achievements are an enormous success for me as a foreign artist in India. However, I consider the most success in my path of art to be how I learned about the female being and their thoughts on my artwork, and created a mission of woman empowerment.

I have heard their voices in response to the art pieces I published, and appreciate the worldwide community of women that have expressed themselves on how I've changed their life perspectives with the narrative through my art.

In the process of creating work, what have you learned about yourself?

So many things. I am constantly exploring myself through my art practice - my emotions, feelings, and how they affect me.