Meet Annican Hickman | Coloritualist Painter

We had the good fortune of connecting with Annican Hickman and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Annican, do you have a favorite quote or affirmation?
I have two quotes that come to mind. The first one is by John Ruskin, “You may, in the time which other vocations leave at your disposal, produce finished, beautiful, and masterly drawings in light and shade, but to colour well requires your life. It cannot be done cheaper.” The second quote is by Henri Regnault, “I will rise from enthusiasm to enthusiasm. I will inebriate myself in marvels so much so that completely hallucinated I can fall back into our sterile and stupid world without fear that my eyes will lose the sparkling light that they will have seen for two or three years… Oh what intoxication is light!” These words remind me to do the work earnestly and that itself is the reward.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I have never thought of myself as an artist. I am an oil painter and I also work in pastels. I work from life and memory. I do some imagined work. I work mostly on a small format, many of my paintings are on playing cards. I have been painting on location for thirteen years, which is just long enough to know almost nothing. It has however been long enough to develop a color sensitivity that was worth every struggle and every sunburn. My efforts in the field have been rewarded with a vision for colors I had never seen before. The pursuit of mixing intelligent color has transformed me into what I call a Coloritualist. I define Coloritualism as a path to enlightenment through the study of color. I recently rented my first studio at the Pueblo Arts Alliance. I teach classes 6 days a week in the studio and in the field. I am accepting students of all skill levels. I plan to continue to build these ideas into a movement.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
My favorite places in Pueblo are the places I most love to paint and the places that paintings can be viewed. If I were to take a friend to tour the city I’d start with the reservoir at Lake Pueblo State Park. It is an impressive expanse of wind and water. It’s perfect for painters and photographers along with boating, biking, and fishing fun. The White Water Park kayak course and the new Pueblo Waterworks Park are both stellar! All connected by a fantastic trail system from the reservoir to CSU Pueblo. The Fuel and Iron Food Hall has many food options at one location and shows the work of local artists in their Loading Dock Gallery. Across the street is Steel City Art Works Gallery and it absolutely shines. Union Avenue is peppered with shops, restaurants, and public art installations. There are two excellent breweries, Walter’s and Brue’s Ale House. Solar Roast Coffee on Main St. is my favorite cup in town. Within walking distance of the shops and coffee are the Sangre De Cristo Arts and Conference Center and The Pueblo Arts Alliance. I would recommend touring them both. This list is a tiny offering of what is available in Pueblo. This is my home town and I feel a lot of pride to share it.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Dr. Mari Twinem was my childhood psychologist from the time I was nine years old until I was nineteen. She encouraged me to believe in myself and to pursue studies in art. She paid for my first three classes to study color with J. M. Starkey. This eventually opened the door for me to show my work as a member of Steel City Art Works Gallery. The gallery has been instrumental in connecting me to a community of supportive creatives. Our gallery manager, Diana LaMorris has continued to encourage me to push myself to new heights. These women and the memory of my late sister Ivy deserve credit for my success. They are the reason giving up on my work was never an option. I am forever grateful for their roles in my life. I am also thankful for the support of my mom, Sharon and my wife, Aimee who redefine strength for me again and again.

Website: https://thecoloritualist.com

Instagram: @thecoloritualist

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QR code in photos.

Image Credits
David Hayden