THE ART OF BEING ANNIE

21 QUESTIONS

Annie Buchanan Robertson is a mother, a grandmother, a wife, an artist, a wonderful cook and one heck of a dancer who can also play a mean game of table tennis.

I met Annie on a cold and blustery November evening last year at a large impromptu 60th birthday dinner party for a lady we had never met before and whom the host hardly knew. Yes folks, that’s the kind of generous madness that happens here in small town Umbria.

Annie lives in a medieval hamlet called Paciano about 20 mins from Citta della Pieve with her husband Ian and their two lovely dogs. Our interview took place in her fabulous new studio space just a stones throw from Paciano’s Centro storico. Where we discussed life, love and the pursuit of art. Check out her website- ANNIEBR50.COM to see all her latest artwork

Scenes from her studio

” You must have chaos within you to give birth to a dancing star.” Nietzsche

1. Where were you born?

Born in Glasgow and raised in Glasgow.

2. How did you end up in Italy?

I knew you were going to ask me that. Ian and I had talked of moving to Italy for many years. I think our friends in Scotland were sick of hearing about this plan… We used to go to Umbria every year sometimes just the two of us other times with our 4 children. From our first sojourns we felt comfortable, welcome and warm! The weather is of course a huge factor for Scottish folk. A life spent in the rain makes each day of the sun here a source of joy. We thought we would eventually move to Italy full time and we did in 1999.

3. Was Umbria your first choice?

Yes, the first home we ever rented here in 1996 was just at the end of the road from where we live now. We loved this area, loved Umbria much more than Tuscany. It seemed quieter, less spoilt, less expats, less tourists. 

4. What do you like about living here?

I feel I fit in. Italian life suits me the food, the wine, the culture and the way they put family and friendships first appeals to my sensibility. Oh… and I can wear my fur coat without fear of being assaulted! And no one ever asks where you went to school… which is a very British habit!

5. What would be one thing you would change about Italy.

Oh that’s a difficult one.
I think it’s easier to say one thing that Ian would change about Italy. He would change the way that people drive. The way to learn to drive and how they then subsequently drive. He considers it some kind of madness.

And the one thing I personally love is that you don’t park your car you simply abandon it wherever it’s most convenient to your destination. I do love that and I love that people will just stop their car anywhere for a chat, I mean anywhere – even on a roundabout.

6. What did you want to be as a child?

That’s quite a long time ago and I don’t actually remember.
I know I wanted people to respect me as opposed to my just being considered fun or funny and I desperately wanted people to find me insightful and interesting rather than just amusing. I didn’t really know what I wanted to be.

7. Why do you paint?

I think I have the need to be creative for my sanity, whether it be writing or painting or knocking walls down. Over the past last ten years I’ve had more time on my hands and been able to concentrate on my drawing and painting. It is wonderful, it’s my space, my alone time.

8. What or Who inspires you to paint?

I’m not so much of a who, I find looking at a lot of diifferent art confusing and it makes me feel extremely inadequate. There are people who spend hours studying other artists but I don’t find that helpful. I do love going to galleries and seeing all manner of art together in one place. I am quite inspired by a subject, at the moment it’s antique tools, it’s metal and texture. It’s the idea that these objects had a former life. I find that inspiring. In fact I like anything that has been recycled.

9. Do you have a favorite gallery or Museum?

I do like the Kelvingrove Art Gallery which is an incredible space, it has been there a couple of centuries. It’s got all kinds of art and you can easily spend two days just wondering around. I’m also fond of the Uffizi in Florence, the Whitney in New York and the Peggy Guggenheim in Venice.

10. How many pieces of art have you created?

Hundreds. Yes hundreds.

11. Where are they all now?

Where are they all now, very interesting, I gave lots away, occasionally if I’m lucky I have a show and sell them which is always nice. And then I have a sort of art-cull every three or four years and burn some.

NO, I gasp, you lie?

No, truly. I just get tired at looking at all this stuff and it needs to go.

12. What surprises you most when people see your work?

Oh, that they like it. My art is not for everyone, they’re not pretty pictures, or landscapes or God forbid a cat. It’s not that I don’ like cats, I just think they are over painted. I don’t expect most people to like my art but what I hope is they can see the process and the skill involved in each piece.

13. What is the longest time spent on one piece?

Months, yes months. One of the longest was a painting that was based on the rooftops of Florence. It was big canvas about a meter square and it took 7 or 8 months to complete. It was very textured and done in oil and I’d have to wait for a long time for the canvas to get to the sticky stage so I could use the palette knife and work the paint to get the impasto look I wanted.

14. And the shortest?

Oh this one( see picture below), I think it’s beautiful. It only took two hours. I keep it on display to remind me I can actually do this.

15. What was the last book you read that made you laugh?

Old baggage by Lissa Evans, it made me howl with laughter.

16. What was the last movie that you saw that made you cry?

I cry at most movies these days, especially at the classics. Oh I remember, it was The Green book. I had discussed it with my sister and she thought there must be something mentally wrong with me because I found it so upsetting.

17. What is your worst habit? 

I’m think I say sorry too much and smoking.

18. What is your biggest pet peeve?

I’ve got quite a long list but if I have to choose one it would be that in the morning Ian leaves his dirty porridge bowl in the sink in cold water, with the remnants of his porridge stuck to it and I have to spend ages scrubbing it clean. This is every day and it’s infuriating.

19. If you could give your 21-year old self one piece of advice, what would it be?

Right well, I’d say you need go for it in this life, you only have one shot and you need to love and live as absolutely passionately and profoundly as you can.

20. What do you consider one of your best achievements?

The children and grandchildren whom I adore. And probably the fact that I’m still married to Ian after 37 years, that’s definitely a major achievement. An achievement in as much as we have really worked at it and we are very lucky. We are the best of friends and best of lovers, we often laugh together and he can still step through the door and make my heart skip. So, in hindsight if leaves a pan in the sink it really doesn’t matter.

21. If you could ask 21 questions to anyone living or dead who would it be and why?

I can ask anyone and they have to answer them honestly.

Yes.

Well my gut instinct is too say my mother because she never answered any questions when she was living. She just fudged her way through any question you ever asked her. From a simple question about her life to how she felt about something. She somehow just dodged the actual answer. It would be marvelous to sit her down and say I want the truth.- And get it.

That concludes our 21 Questions.

Really, Ok. Well that wasn’t so bad. lol

I would like to say a big thank-you to Annie for taking the time to share her art and life with us here at Centro Storico 21. Please follow Annie on Instagram @ Annieb.r and head to her website ANNIEBR50.COM to see more of her wonderful art.

All original artwork by Annie Buchanan Robertson C. 2019