Photography is Ann Harper's preferred medium, although she loves to play with a variety of paints to see what will emerge. Her view of the world through the camera lens moves from sunsets off her deck to the humpback whales of Southeast Alaska to the tiniest of flies perched on a dying flower petal. Much of Ann’s art is directed toward nature, but she also sees architecture and man-made structures as interesting subjects. When the light is right, Ann’s camera is often in hand to record things that interest her.
Ann happily lives in a house overlooking Tillamook Bay. She grew up in southern California and chose to leave in the summer of 1979 to escape the smog that burned her eyes daily. She and her boyfriend bought a VW van in Seattle after visiting his parents there and headed south, ending up in Tillamook County. Ann realized the north Oregon coast felt like home soon after arriving. She and her boyfriend parted ways, but she remained in the area. She met Frank Harper soon after and married him in 1989.
While raising their children (Holly, Kate, and Lee) she attended Tillamook Bay Community College and Western Oregon State College to earn an elementary teaching degree. She was a teacher at Garibaldi Grade School and taught there for twenty-five years. After Frank’s death and her retirement in 2016, she began teaching Art Literacy for the Community Arts Project at GGS and will continue to do so for the Sitka Center for Art & Ecology. Ann is also active with the Tillamook Association for the Performing Arts (TAPA) and Art Accelerated_ Blink You Miss it. She enjoys karaoke and singing with local musicians. She visits her children and grandchildren in Alaska, Wyoming, and California when time permits.
The Tillamook Pioneer Museum has been a special place for Ann ever since she arrived in Tillamook. She is honored to have her work showcased in its halls during this show.
Visit her website to see more of her favorite photographs.
While raising their children (Holly, Kate, and Lee) she attended Tillamook Bay Community College and Western Oregon State College to earn an elementary teaching degree. She was a teacher at Garibaldi Grade School and taught there for twenty-five years. After Frank’s death and her retirement in 2016, she began teaching Art Literacy for the Community Arts Project at GGS and will continue to do so for the Sitka Center for Art & Ecology. Ann is also active with the Tillamook Association for the Performing Arts (TAPA) and Art Accelerated_ Blink You Miss it. She enjoys karaoke and singing with local musicians. She visits her children and grandchildren in Alaska, Wyoming, and California when time permits.
The Tillamook Pioneer Museum has been a special place for Ann ever since she arrived in Tillamook. She is honored to have her work showcased in its halls during this show.
Visit her website to see more of her favorite photographs.