Though she knew she wanted to be an artist by the third grade, Anne Neilson began seriously painting with oils in 2003. She would hole up in her Charlotte, NC, home studio, blast her favorite worship music, and paint from her heart. This began Anne’s ethereal Angel Series: an ever-evolving collection of impressionist angels with textured brush strokes and rich colors. After she began painting angels for specific people to help memorialize and grieve their losses, the angels took off in a bigger, more impactful way than she could have imagined.
She decided to add to her artistic endeavors and created Anne Neilson Home, a collection of luxe home products like candles, matches, notecards, prints, scripture cards, and journals. Her Charlotte gallery, Anne Neilson Fine Art, represents more than sixty talented, emerging, and established artists from around the world. As a wife, mother of four, artist, author, and philanthropist, we’re still trying to figure out how she had time for an interview, but we’re tickled she did. Get to know the woman behind the angels you’ve been seeing everywhere!
Where did your artistic journey begin? How has it evolved since you made it your career?
When I was asked in the third grade what I wanted to be when I grew up, I wrote, “I want to be an artist.” But I struggled in school. I made a D- in tenth-grade art because I was, let’s say, coloring outside the lines. My brain was on the artistic right side and not the show-up-for-chemistry-class side.
I got my elementary education degree and taught for a while. Then I moved to Charlotte, got married, and started having kids. When we built the house we are still in today, I set up a little studio and started painting. When the kids were off at school, I was in there dabbling and painting.
Tell us about the angels … how did the motif begin?
I started with still lifes, figures, and landscapes, but I wanted something that reflected my faith. Not that I am an angel, but I just started painting one. I sent a picture to my sister, and she said,” I think you’ve found your voice.” From there, it’s just become my life song. It started as a hobby. I was doing art shows at my house, selling my tiny paintings for $200. And the angels just kept flowing out of me while I was painting.
I left The Harvest Center volunteering in Charlotte one night, and I just really felt the call to paint and give back. When I got home, I had a voicemail from the woman who owned the shop in Charlotte that had started selling them. She said someone came in and bought them all; she needed more. That’s when I thought, wow, ok, let’s do this. I started donating them to silent auctions and painting bigger ones. It went from a hobby to a “passion with a purpose.”
How did the angel painting turn into a line of home goods?
After the angels began to grow in value, I decided I wanted to self-publish a coffee table book, Angels in Our Midst. We started with 1,500 copies and were worried we’d be stuck with them. They were gone in three weeks. Oprah talked about it, and when Kathie Lee Gifford held it up on the Today Show, the website crashed! That was the start of the product line.
I kept hearing anecdotes like “this book helped me finally start to heal after my daughter’s death” or “I usually don’t read coffee table books, but I picked it up, and now it’s my daily devotional!”… I thought, hmm, it’s a little bulky and awkward as a devotional, so I partnered with Thomas Nelson and we published our first devotional. They were hoping we’d sell 50,000 copies in the first year, but we sold 50,000 copies in the first two months! It’s been an amazing journey!
Your art and products are everywhere now! How does it feel to reach so many corners of the country?
Early on, when Angels in Our Midst came out, we went to Atlanta Market. We were in about 30 stores at that point. We left Market with 350 new stores. That was a big moment for me. And hearing the stories from the people. Husbands will surprise their wives and fly to Charlotte to meet me at the gallery. But there’s also a tough, sad part. We help people deal with loss, whether it’s a parent, child, or loved one. We are always looking at different, creative ways to give back. For example, our candle line — I love candles — now benefits Parkinson’s research.
What’s a common misconception people have about your work?
I don’t know about a misconception, but what makes me cringe — and I have gotten used to it by now — but there are a lot of copycats out there. These angels are really born out of my worship time, so to see people steal your craft, it’s like a knife going into your heart … In an encouraging way. Many people don’t know, so I am trying to educate artists and collectors, too. We hosted a copyright lawyer at the gallery to explain these concepts, and it was really interesting stuff! I want to encourage those people to be authentic in what they do and not try to pretend.
What does a typical day look like for you?
I’m ADD, so it’s kind of hard (Anne laughs). I love to spend a little bit of time at the gallery. I need big chunks of carved-out time to paint if I’m going to paint. Otherwise, I sit down and write for new projects or meet with clients at the studio. If I am not working, I’m putzing around the pool and hanging out with our new Golden Retriever puppy, Hudson.
Favorite hidden gems in Charlotte and the whole country?
In Charlotte, we perch at Bar Marcel a lot. We have just discovered Giddy Goat Coffee in Plaza Midwood — it’s got a great story. I’m in Franklin, TN, a lot and always at the Harpeth Hotel. It’s my happy place. When we’re in Los Angles, where the candles are manufactured, we love the tiny Sunset Tower Hotel. I also love to eat French food at Le Bilboquet every time we’re in Dallas. I tried to get the owners to expand to Charlotte!
Thank you, Anne, for chatting with us about the angels and your books. All photos submitted by Anne Neilson. Entertaining Angels will be released tomorrow, September 20, 2022, and you can purchase it HERE. Stay in touch with Anne on Instagram @AnneNeilsonHome and @AnneNeilsonFineArt, and visit her stunning fine art gallery next time you’re in Charlotte — you’ll be happy you did.
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