Interview with
Annalisa Shanks

Q: Who is the artist you most admire?

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The artist I most admire is my father, Nelson Shanks – not only did he dedicate his life to perfecting technical skill; he dedicated his life to teaching other aspiring painters both how to paint and how to pursue the never-ending quest for truth and beauty. My father’s unparalleled standards for himself took his career to incredible heights – some of his most notable portrait commissions, all painted from life, included Princess Diana, Presidents Reagan and Clinton, Kings and Queens of Sweden and Romania, and Michael Bloomberg, to name a few. My parents founded Studio Incamminati in Philadelphia, a realist painting atelier specializing in mastery of color, to perpetuate his artistic teachings. 

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Q: What is your favorite subject for your art?

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My favorite subjects to paint are special faces and special objects. Portraiture and still life painting give me profound joy, as the experiences of both painting and viewing the pieces can be so multifaceted and delightful. I love painting things that are beautiful, whimsical and vibrant – but, reading between the lines, there is a glimmer of intellect, humor, or mischief to fascinate viewers beyond the first glance. 

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Q: Why do you create art? 

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I became a professional artist because I have a deep and insatiable need to create. Little visions and big ideas overflow from my mind and heart incessantly. I pursued photography first, hoping I would find myself in the camera; followed by an incredibly rewarding Undergraduate in English Literature, during which my joy nestled itself within the pages and imaginings of fairy tales and children’s literature. But there came a point when I clearly understood, after years of searching for myself, that my identity was always waiting for me in painting. 

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Q: Have you competed in any recent art competitions, and if so, any recognitions you wish to share?

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I recently competed in a Live Figure Drawing competition in NYC among some of the best young realist artists on the East Coast, and will participate in a Live Portrait Painting competition in Connecticut this April, also alongside many of the best East Coast realist painters. Apart from competitions, I have several paintings in two upcoming juried exhibitions, and have accumulated several portrait commissions which I am extremely eager to begin after graduating from Studio Incamminati this May.

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Q: Tell us what it was like growing up at Studio Incamminati- any fun, favorite memories?

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Studio Incamminati was founded by my parents in 2002; I was 8 years old. During the early years my father trained hundreds of artists pining for knowledge from the ultimate source, and I’ve been able to follow their progress. Being witness to so many journeys over 23 years, and experiencing my own, has proven to me that perseverance always wins, doing the exercises a million times is the only path to mastery, and lastly, the life-affirming, all-consuming power of having a true and noble purpose in life. 

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