Ann Hanson was
born in Bremerton, Washington and grew up
in rural Wyoming. She attended Northwest College
in Powell, Wyoming, as an art major. Hanson
has been actively pursuing a career in art
since 1986 and works mainly in oil and pastel.
Her studio is located in her home, overlooking
the beautiful Trapper Creek Valley at the
foot of the Big Horn Mountains outside of
Shell, Wyoming.
The subjects in her work reflect her love
of the West. "The people and scenes I
paint are my friends, family and neighbors
doing what they do every day. The 'Wild West'
may be a thing of the past, but cowboys are
alive and well here."
Hanson says of her work, "I am partial
to the subtleties in life. In my artwork I
like to capture subtle movements, the expression
on a face, or that fleeting second in time
right before an event - which allows the viewer
to come to their own conclusion as to the
outcome. There are many others more capable
of portraying events. I am concerned with
the moment. "
Hanson's non-traditional use of pastels has
won her numerous awards and recognition. Her
submission to the 1990 Buffalo Bill Art Show
- "Traditions" - was the recipient
of the 1990 W.E. Weiss Purchase Award, making
a part of the collection of the Buffalo Bill
Historical Center.