Ani Eastwood has been working on her upcoming Spring 2026 show for two years. This show, “Bloom”, features all new original oil paintings centered around themes of nature, springtime, and rejuvenation while bringing influences of Abstract Impressionism to the forefront. The loose brush strokes and ideas behind the pieces are inspired by Western Montana locations.
Arts Missoula had the pleasure of getting an insight into how Ani creates, what inspires her, and how the natural world plays a part in her creative process.
Arts Missoula: What drew you to abstract impressionism for this show and collection of work?
Ani Eastwood: Lately I have felt like I have wanted the beauty of the image to speak out more than a tangible place. I have really had the desire in the work to just let it be what it is at the start without trying to control the painting very much. Just capturing that first impression and emotion. We all live and love our beautiful Montana home and have specific memories and places dear to us, but often it’s the small things that strike me and get me out of my daily grind and remind me to look up and out. A type of flower or grass, the color on the hills. I think this is the universal thread. I think when we depart from needing reality and realism, we allow ourselves to just feel more and be in the moment. That is my hope with this show, that it just captures that joy of spring, being out and relaxed in nature.
AM: This show is based off Western Montana inspired locations. Do you have a specific location around Missoula or Western Montana that has inspired you?
AE: I travel around Western Montana whenever possible. Any day on the Blackfoot river with the baby geese and crawdads is a good day. I love all the lakes up on the Seeley side, and love the southern end of the Bitterroot Valley where my grandfather grew up as well. All these locations are loosely worked into these new pieces. We are so lucky. You drive in any direction and it’s beauty, beauty, beauty.
AM: What is a memory you have there?
AE: My greatest happiest memories are with my family and friends. The days we get to escape and adventure. Just be ourselves. Backpacking with my dad at Stuart Peak. Fishing with my son at Flathead. Watching my daughter ride horses in Lolo. Those are the days you remember as the years pass and treasure in the winter months.
AM: What does the process of creating a painting look like for you?
AE: Often it starts with my photography and being inspired out on adventures. Sometimes it is more of a story or a mood I’m trying to impart than a physical place, and I find I’m most drawn to sunlight and it’s interactions. I don’t often sketch anymore through starting a piece, and like to just let the paint and color go where it may, often building the piece from furthest distance to foreground. There are very few truly free things in our lives, and my life is included in that with kids, jobs. So many day of responsibilities we all take part in. Painting for me, as I hope art is for so many, is a time to let that logical brain go, and just be who I am, feel joy, peace, and nature again. Reconnect with what is important and grounding.
AM: Your other job is centered around giclee printing for artists. What exactly is a giclee print?
AE: Giclee printing is an archival museum quality printing process deliberated on very specific printing equipment that has replaced the old lithograph that so many of our famous Montana artists utilized in the 70s -90s. The printers are highly intelligent with a 12 color system, rendering a closer likeness to the original piece of art both in clarity and color. In order to reproduce a painting, it has to be photographed, carefully digitally edited and then the giclees often need embellishment to truly capture the beauty of the original piece’s textures and depth. The end result is a beautiful archival reproduction that can last 100s of years and enjoyed by all in any price range.
AM: How can the public find your work when it’s not displayed at the Artist’s Shop?
AE: I have a large online presence at ArtistsMontana.com. I also do have a permanent sort of rotating seasonal exhibit in my section at The Artists’ Shop in addition to this premier show of newer paintings. I also have a nice selection of prints and cards at Frame of Mind as well as cards at Rockin Rudy’s, so thankyou to all the wonderful Missoula businesses who host my work. If anyone is interested in more specialty pieces or just to talk, I’m always also available via appointment in my private printing office for Artists of Montana Giclee as well! I love talking to artists about their process and helping them get started with prints or helping people find something special to bring Montana and Nature into their home of my personal work! The show will be up the month of May with an opening reception for first friday! I hope you enjoy the spring and make it in!!
Ani’s newest show can be found through the month of May at the Artist’s Shop in downtown Missoula. We encourage everyone to stop in and enjoy this incredible homage to the natural world around us.
