Anna Girgis has been interested in art for as long as she can remember. Her parents bought her children’s art supplies as a child. The defining moment in Girgis’ life was witnessing the Lincoln Memorial during her fifth grade trip to Washington, D.C. She said something about the way the stone was carved made her want to create art. Girgis now attempts to use her paintings to convey the deepest emotions of human psychology.
Q: What kind of artist do you consider yourself? A: I am a contemporary artist, although I use very traditional materials and methods.
Q: Where does your inspiration come from? A: I am influenced by my emotions, imagination and spirituality. I feel that once my brush touches the canvas, God is in control of my hand.
Q: Have you studied art abroad? A: I studied ancient Egyptian art and architecture in Egypt for three months. During 2005 in London, England, I studied art history and painting and later went to study Italian, art history, and painting in Florence, Italy. My travels have enriched my life intellectually and spiritually.
Q: Who are some of your inspirations? A: Vincent Van Gogh, James Ensor, Edvard Munch and Rembrandt. I feel these artists portray deep emotions and the essence of humanity in their works.
Q: Where do you find the meaning behind your work? A: I want to represent the emotional and psychological state of the soul. Sometimes I will experiment with the paint, but the focus is always on this image or idea of the soul.
Q: Why did you choose to double major in art history and painting? A: I feel that to be an artist I must be educated about the history of art, and to be an art history major, I must be educated about painting creative works of art. I believe this helps me to be a better artist and a better future educator.
Q: Where do you see yourself in 10 years? A: I do not like to plan my life too far ahead of today, because we never know what tomorrow will bring and I’m excited in creating possibilities for today. I’d also like to continue to graduate school and possibly become an art educator.
