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Work Therapy For Painter With Joint Ailment

Tribune photo by FRED BELLET

Anne Fraass said she mixed in some special paint in this picture for her grandchildren so it can glow in the dark.

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By JENNIFER HOWELL

Tribune correspondent

Published: January 8, 2009

LAND O' LAKES - Bright, colorful, whimsical and a little funky. Anne Fraass exudes these adjectives whether in her home, artwork or her personality.

The 55-year-old Land O' Lakes resident discovered painting more than 11 years ago and now says she lives and breathes art. With her kitschy, acrylic creations hanging in every room of her cozy, Spanish-style house, her passion for color is easily observed.

"Painting is the light of my life," she said.

But things may not have always been so bright for Fraass. Fifteen years ago, the former social worker had to retire after receiving the diagnosis of degenerative joint disease, which affects her neck and back. She turned to food for comfort and gained weight.

Then she decided to look for something else to do to fill her spare time. She looked for a sculpting class, a hobby she had pursued in college, but found a painting class taught by Hernie Vann instead.

"I thought if I keep my hands dirty, it's a good way to reduce my weight," said Fraass, a New York City native. "How do you eat with dirty hands?"

What started as a weight loss plan has developed into much more for Fraass. It has helped her through the pain of her disability, and it keeps her busy.

"I have to stay home a lot," she said. "When I can't go somewhere, I paint. As a social worker, I was doing four or five things at one time. I was so used to being active, I had to do something. Painting brings me peace."

Some of the recurring subjects in her paintings include some of the other passions in Fraass' life - the silver Airstream trailers she and her husband, Kurt, own, and their black and white Boston terrier named Peggy Sue. She has three other pets, a silky terrier named Zolo and two indoor cats named Mimi and Simba, but she hasn't figured how to incorporate them in her art.

She also is doing a series of black and white paintings inspired by famed photographer Ansel Adams.

She has given away her paintings as gifts or has used the barter system to get paintings she may want. Usually, though, she said she finds it hard to give them up, even if she were to sell one.

"I give paintings away to people who mean something to me," she said. "I put a lot into them. It's like giving them part of my heart."

Her most recent painting is a Hawaiian beach scene featuring three propped up surfboards, one of which reads "Obama '08." The painting pays homage to the president-elect and to Fraass' own roots to the island. She graduated from the University of Hawaii in 1979.

A Pasco resident of six years, Fraass designed and built her house in Sierra Pines more than two years ago. Affectionately called "Hacienda Fraass," the orange-colored home with a courtyard pool entry has a large studio area that Fraass created just for her art. She said she often hosts parties for the Masters of Fine Art, a group of artists that meets weekly in Meadow Pointe in Wesley Chapel to paint.

She joined the group more than a year ago and says she is thankful for it, since Vann, her teacher of 11 years, retired from teaching art.

She might have just joined, but she has quickly won fans and friends within the group.

"I think her work is fresh," said Richard DePippo, an artist in the Masters of Fine Art. "I love the simplicity and how she catches the colors. It's something I could never do and that's why I respect her. And she adds a lot of fun to the group."

Terry Smith said similarly that Fraass offers the group of artists a change of pace.

"She's one that's not afraid to use bold colors," he said. "She sees things differently than the rest of us."

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