Annette Hammer creates fine paintings in the medium of oil, of real places found in the Western and Mid-Western landscape. “Driving the back roads of the San Joaquin Valley with my father when I was a child fostered in me a love of the California landscape.” 

Making art makes me happy. Art lifts spirits in these difficult times. Great art continues to live and inspire generations, preserving the history of our times. The American landscape particularly inspires me as a painter. I concentrate on the Western states, California, Texas, Arizona, Utah. I have recently expanded my subject matter to include the mid-west – Missouri in particular. The wide variety of scenery evokes remembrance of moments of significance in our lives. When not able to actually be at a particular place, we can be there vicariously through great art.

My objective is to capture the essence of the moment, the beauty of the surrounding world, that may be fleeting and not otherwise noticed, scenes that change as we interact with our environment.  Collectors who own my paintings say they feel they can step right into them, and go on forever ... I want people to experience the same sense of awe I feel at the grandeur and beauty of the landscape.  You are not just looking at my paintings: You are there.

My observations in the present are the key to what I paint for the viewer of the future. "My style is impressionistic, expressionistic, classic landscape with a twist.  My work contains undercurrents dealing with common challenges often beyond our control that we learn to adapt to, live with, or change.  How we deal with challenges defines how we perceive our lives and our place in the world.  I deal with issues of uncertainty, the ending of one goal and heading in a new direction.  I believe paths chosen make all the difference."  The final product is a combination of my critical observation, my personal appreciation for the idea and inspired and skilled application of the paint.