Still Life Work now being sold at Hampton Gallery

At the start of the pandemic I had a real sense of loss and fear as I am sure many of you did too.

In an effort to feel productive and distracted I started to story-tell some moments through the practice of creating Still Life photographs at home. The challenge was how to represent what I was personally going through inside these works.

I’m really proud to say that the limited edition archival prints are now sold at Hampton Gallery.

Go take a moment to see their online space and/or go visit them, their doors are open!

For non-archival limited edition prints in 8x12 you can buy them on my site here.

Black Lives Matter

This is just the starting point for me as I openly acknowledge the omnipresence of white supremacy and that I have been complicit in the oppression of Black people and POC. I understand now just how little I understand about even what the definitions are of racism, racists, and white supremacy. And I will not except this of myself any longer.

I recognize that there are frameworks and structures that require time for me to be better educated about before action can be taken — this is not a fix easily made by statements, artwork, hashtags, social posts, donations and so on. Not that those don’t help but I understand now that they can be a distraction from the deeper work required and can only be done in subsequent analysis of my own personal/professional behaviors and practices. And yes, I acknowledge that having this time is also a privilege.

I would like to extend an initial thanks to the following people & organizations (and these are a few, there are many more): Rachel Cargle, Ibram X. Kendi, Rachel Rodgers, Sonya Renee Taylor, Austin Channing Brown, The Conscious Kid and Dr. Tomayia Colvin - helping us/me finally see the culture of whiteness that pervades our cultural practices, social policies, political infrastructures, businesses, daily lives & privileged comforts.

This is not about me, but I am posting this because without it, I know that I appear oblivious and tone deaf the the change required in our world. It’s my responsibility in my business to make it known that I will not be silent or continue being complicit.

That said, I will not post hollow words, surface commitments, unaccountable promises here.

So what now? Analysis before Action. (Thank you Rachel Rodgers and Erika Hines for this delineation & direction).

I am currently working on a pledge and a plan that I can be held accountable for in my business and personal life — and it will be posted here when it is done.

Make no mistake, this is not political, this is a human rights issue that I refuse to be complicit in or ignore any longer. Black lives matter.

With that said, I am ready to be wrong, to misstep, to course correct, to do the hard work every day.

xo Annabelle

Intimate Fall Elopement with a Laurentian View

I am writing this on the eve of American Thanksgiving and it feels like the right time to post, as this elopement happened on the Tuesday after Canadian Thanksgiving up at the Eco-Spa Highland in Grenville Sur La Rouge.

I connected with this couple through the architect (of the design team artville interiors) that helped me re-design the ground floor of our home built in 1895. I loved having her be a part of that massive renovation (you need good people on your side for such a project) so I felt really flattered that she recommended me to Andrew & Holly.

Andrew & Holly found love on a resort when each were taking separate vacations and eventually wound up taking a vacation together at the Eco-Spa Highland. They loved the place so much that they decided to have their intimate wedding with their good friends present to participate in the nuptials.

It was a blustery, cool, sunny but cloudy but sunny day up in the Laurentians and I felt lucky to have such a wonderful set of lighting conditions during the peak colors of Fall. One of my favorite things to look at in life is how the sun chooses to fall on some parts of a hill — and they play on depth that can have from a distance.

It was a beautiful, relaxed and emotional wedding ceremony and when you are a party of four plus an officiant and a photographer — you are no longer a bystander but a friend humbled to be a part of such an intimate and special ceremony. I am truly grateful to Maria & Rob for introducing me to Andrew & Holly.

Happy Thanksgiving Weekend to all Canadians & Americans celebrating their love for each other.