The prolific painting career of Annie Horkan began at the University of Virginia after twice failing her calculus exam for a major in Environmental Science. In search of a new major, she wandered over to the Art Department, sat in on a watercolor class, picked up a brush and has never put it down. Although her art career was put on hold to raise two sons, Annie continued to paint, completing over seventy paintings before her firstborn was a year old. As her children grew, Annie began to exhibit colorfully resplendent acrylic paintings while maintaining a part-time career as a professional tennis instructor. In 1992, after returning to the exquisite countryside of the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, Annie began to paint full time. It was here that she named her studio after discovering her farm was once a small community called “Bliss.” Her pursuits led her in 1995 to New York’s Art Expo as a solo exhibitor for Bliss Studio. Later in the same year, Annie opened her first art gallery where she exhibited her own work, and represented the work of other local artists.

Based in New Mexico’s awe-inspiring “Land of Enchantment” since 1996, Annie continues to “follow her bliss,” creating luminous and rejoicing paintings compelled by her love for color and beauty. Her illuminating images range from garden floral, tropical seas, Appalachian landscapes and charming interiors to the pastoral landscapes of Tuscany, the expansive desert of the Southwest and visionary explorations. She maintains a passion for her travels which imbue her with new and fresh vision with which to paint. Her most recent work includes two series of paintings inspired from dreams and her inner journeys, and her devotion to the sacred feminine. Annie has participated in numerous one woman and group shows throughout the country and abroad. All of her original paintings are now available as fine art Giclée prints. She personally collaborates in their production with her printer to assure the highest quality.