Anne Ross Oliva, Artist

Anne (Annie to me) Ross Oliva is my second cousin. I grew up visiting her family often in a small midwestern town in Illinois and have so many fond memories of those days. Right out of a story book — warm summer days, picnics and weenie roasts, lightning bugs, being pulled by Uncle Jim and his John Deere tractor, searching for just the right branch for s’moires by the fire, and laughter. Lots and lots of laughter. And some of the best potato salad and baked beans you can imagine!

Uncle Jim, also an artist, is Annie’s dad. He was my mom’s uncle whom she absolutely adored. My mom’s Aunt Av, also a gem, was a nurse in WWII. They are all together again someplace smiling down on my beautiful cousin’s artwork. Every year she creates new pieces with a very unique style like I have never seen.

I got to catch up a bit with Annie and her 3 awesome brothers at a family wedding a few years ago. I haven’t laughed that much since. What an incredible family. Since I hadn’t been directly in touch with Annie for quite a few years I had no idea the extent of her abilities until I started seeing her pieces at other cousins’ homes. One Christmas I received one of them as a gift and although I’m sure it was not meant to be, it became our family’s treehopper!

It’s no surprise to me that Annie’s creations have a distinct whimsical character that brings a smile. I see Annie in them. I see Uncle Jim and Aunt Av in them. I even see my mom. And to view these very dimensional pieces in person is a whole different story. It’s really almost as though they are alive.

To see Annie’s beautiflwork please visit her Etsy page: Olivamoon. She can be reached directly at: whohungthemoon@gmail.com Prices range from $50 to $300. I promise you will not see anything quite this unique anywhere else in the world.