Beijing Artist Profile: Annette Golden

Beijingkids was first introduced to this local Beijing artist when an art teacher pointed to her as inspiration. Annette Golden’s work really entrances and captivates your eyes on a first look, and we’re thrilled to have the chance to introduce our readers to more of her artwork, as well as her upcoming workshops.

Annette Golden running her INSIDEOUT workshop.

How did you discover your love and talent for art?

I don’t remember the exact moment and age when I discovered my passion for art, because I was way too young. But I remember myself at the age of four always having paintbrushes and watercolors around and painting billions of pictures nonstop. Jasmine, The Little Mermaid, Cinderella, Snow White — I think I drew and painted at least 1,000 of each as a kindergartener. If I wouldn’t finish my meal my mom would hide my watercolors and colored pencils and would give them back only if I finished! That was the best motivation.

My grandpa taught me how to hold a paintbrush and how to draw lines, faces, and animals. I’ll never forget that. When I was four, he took me to the art school where his friend was teaching and they sat me in a chair, gave me paper, a paintbrush, and three fluorescent oil paints: orange, yellow and pink. Since then, those have been my favorite colors and they’re also the ones that represent my art. They are colors of happiness, of the joy of life, of my childhood. I don’t remember exactly what I painted, but I’ll always remember the smell of paint and the vibe. Older kids were really kind and curious about the process of my painting. That’s how it all started. Several years after that when I was seven, I became a student myself. Those were the longest and most terrifying years of my life!

That experience was very deep and insightful. I have an understanding of dozens of different art techniques, sculpture, sketching, charcoal drawing, watercolors, and many more. I still use lots of them.

How did you find your way to Beijing?

I was planning to come to Beijing with my best friend to travel and make some money for just six months. She got married and never joined me, and here I am living my fourth year and planning to live many more years here. I am a part of this place. It touched my heart and I’m loving it.

What themes do you tend to explore?

I’m most fascinated by portraits; I always have and probably always will be. I’ve been exploring contemporary art, but we’re way too different. People inspire me the most. Each one has a very special story, a special energy, and I try to show it the way I feel it in my art. I tend to play and explore the topic of a portrait deeper in the future, taking the cultural and spiritual aspects of it. I think of it as a “let’s see what happens” approach.

“Petal Hair” by Annette Golden

What are your favorite pieces of yours?

Every single piece of mine that I have shown to the public I truly love. My most favorite three pieces are: “Paola,” “Petal hair,” and “Tease,” but they are sold out.

What artists inspire you?

I’ve always been fond of Van Gogh and Ivan Aivazovsky. But the artists that inspire me the most are the modern ones, people I’ve found on Instagram. My favorite modern artist is Kate Tova, a Russian based in California. Her art and lifestyle inspired me and I even asked her a couple of questions when I was starting my own brand. I also love Elena York, an Armenian artist living in New York. Her art is powerful and very unique; sometimes, it takes her up to 12 months to finish one work. I love it. I also love the Shenzhen art district, you can feel the vibes of the new generation there. That place is probably my favorite art place in China.

“Into You” by Annette Golden

How did you start running workshops?

I’ve had the idea of doing an art workshop for several years. I simply always want to show people that it’s possible to create something unique and beautiful without long hours, months, and years of studying art. It’s much easier than that and really fun. I met the right people (my team) and we worked hard for several months creating a concept and developing our INSIDEOUT workshop. I wanted to create something extremely fresh and unique, and together with that, something very insightful and peaceful, a workshop I’d love to attend myself. It worked out much better than any of our expectations.

Your workshops sound like much more than a night of painting. What do you wish for attendees to get out of it?

I want my attendants to explore their sources of inner power and strength. Art is the best way to do it. I wanted to create a safe and beautiful space for women where they can feel free and where they can create without any judgments, with no limits but being inspired at the same time. Now, INSIDEOUT is growing and we will be open to a wider audience: we’re going to have mom & child workshops, all gender workshops, that kind of thing. It’s important for all of us to be able to have a little getaway from big city life and just dive into the atmosphere of art. It’s healing, it opens our eyes, horizons, and hearts. Art moves our planet.

Art photography by Yulia JPFstudio is as big a part of the workshop as the art itself.

Part of your workshop is also art photography. Why do you offer that and what can people expect from it?

I admire photography and I think it’s a very unique kind of art. I love capturing and I love being captured. I love watching women while they’re very concentrated on the process of creating in my workshops and I believe it’s necessary to keep those memories in the form of a photo. It’s art in art. My friend and my business partner Yulia JPFstudio was the one who was doing the first art shootings for me and I believe that her style and methods as a photographer are extremely feminine… She focuses on details, sexuality, gentleness. We do create beautiful memories, but it’s better not to expect anything from the workshop, to be honest. The outcome for every single person is very different and very unique. The only thing people should expect from it is joy.

You can learn more about Annette’s workshops through her WeChat: AfromtheW

How can people follow your work?

For now, the most accessible place where I share my work is my Instagram account (@annette_g_art). But I’m working on my website as well, it’ll probably be ready at the beginning of 2021.