Annie Darling is a contemporary abstract painter whose work bridges mid-century modern aesthetics, the natural world, and the sensual rhythms of the human form. Her paintings explore both structure and spontaneity: bold, geometric abstractions that are precise and detailed alongside moody, textural landscapes that leave room for the imagination to roam. Her appreciation for the curvilinear human form is felt viscerally in her softer, more organic compositions.As an artist inspired by the tactile nature of the world—and the organic nature of creation itself—movement, change, and discovery are concepts deeply embedded in her work. “Every piece is an experience,” she says. “Each painting leads to the next.”Born in Chicago, Illinois, Annie grew up surrounded by creators. Her family included painters, sculptors, printmakers, designers, photographers, actors, and musicians—all of whom helped shape her visual language and appreciation for form, space, and expression. “Art was always present,” she says. “The creative process—and the idea of discovering oneself through it—was rooted in me at an early age.”Annie studied fine art, graphic design, and industrial technology at the University of Oregon and the University of Southern Maine, graduating with a B.A. in Communications. Her career has included running an award-winning graphic design firm and founding a successful art-based stationery company—each step contributing to the depth and versatility of her artistic practice. She now works primarily in encaustic and mixed media, layering color, wax, and texture into luminous surfaces that shift between geometry and gesture.Her paintings are grounded in a process of inquiry and in-flow, allowing questions, accidents, and intuition to guide the evolution of each piece. “One drop informs the next," she says. "I sit with the canvas and let it create itself.”Annie’s work is held in public, private, and corporate collections worldwide. She lives and paints in Maine and teaches workshops that invite others into the joy of creative discovery. Learn more about Annie’s artistic evolution on Radio Maine.