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photo from photolodico
Artist Statement
Annie Stout is a multi-disciplinary visual artist and graphic designer. Paper Heart Design Co. is her studio, in Midland, MI. Her work is inspired by nature, color, texture, contradictions, and cycles. Her goal as an artist is to find beauty in the unexpected, and to create connections.
In 2022 Annie created The Key House sculpture for the NEA Big Read GLBR Public Arts Project. She was part of the 2021 50 Artists of the Great Lakes Bay Exhibition through Studio23 in Bay City. Her work was also chosen for the 2022-2024 Emerging Artist Exhibit from Creative 360 + Parker Lane Art & Design Studios. She received an honorable mention from the judge in 2023 and 2024.
Annie also was selected for Public Arts Midland’s Outside the Box mini-mural project in 2022, and was a mentor to two young artists for their Neighborhood Bench Project in 2023. She is also an active committee member of Public Arts Midland, is Co-Chair of the Art Seen Festival, and Co-Chair of Midland Child Advocacy Center’s Annual Art + Advocacy Auction.
Artist bio
Annie’s love of art stems from a need to create. She believes that creating is a cathartic practice that everyone can benefit from. She grew up in metro Detroit where art was her passion from a very young age. Growing up, it was always clear that she was meant to create. Annie studied art at Central Michigan University, in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan, where she graduated with cum laude honors in 2007. She earned both her Bachelor of Applied Arts, as a double major in Graphic Design and Sculpture, with a minor in Art History, and her Bachelor of Science in Art Education, with a minor in Industrial Education. As her arts education progressed she wanted to take every class, obsessed with knowing as much as possible about creating. A jack of all trades, Annie is still always looking to learn new skills and try new techniques.
Annie has owned and operated Paper Heart Design since 2008, where she specializes in crafting logos and visual identities as a graphic designer, in addition to creating art. She is passionate about working with small business owners, creative entrepreneurs, and individuals looking for fresh design. In logo design, her goal is clarity and simplicity.
Though she frequently works in the digital world of art, she still very much loves to paint, build, create, and teach art in analog ways. Her goal as an artist is to bring more truth into the world, highlight the beauty in the unexpected, and to create conversations.