Community Heroes Series
From the December 2002 issue of Alabama Living magazine

Story by Kay Marshall

Artists are notoriously defined in many ways. Some folks might visualize a recluse slaving away in a dim garret wearing a paint-stained smock and beret while deep into their art. Others might envision a more historical Michangelo or DaVinci painting lofty depictions of biblical heroes in some far away land. Now if you will, picture yourself traveling down a country dirt road that winds and makes its way in gentle seclusion toward a two-story log cabin in Lamar County, Alabama. Here you'll find another kind of artist; an artisan who is as treasurable as those artist in cosmopolitan areas who busy themselves painting images that the average individual seldom can fathom.
As Jackson Pollock once said, "Every good painter paints what he is."

An artist who paints what is known, what is loved and what is commemorative of our area is the focus of this article. It is my pleasureto introduce you to Outsider Artist, Annette Weeks Otts, Lamar County's Painter of Rocks.

What is Outsider Art?

Primarily, Outsider Art is art produced by an artist without formal training of any kind - purely self-taught - that shows talent and artistic insight that is often deemed missing in many of the world's art schools. The criteria required for someone to be called an Outsider Artist is that they be self-taught since the idea of untrained artists producing works of fine art is what makes this field so fascinating.

Rocks of Ages

Annette's love of rocks and archeology began many years ago. Lamar County, being part of what geologists refer to as the Tuscaloosa Group, is rich in historical Native American artifacts and has an abundance of natural rock. Born and raised in Crews, Annette enjoyed searching for hidden treasures. "I've always been interested in rocks and old things and I'm really into archeology. I surface collect arrowheads and Indian artifacts and clean them up for display," she stated. "When I lived in Birmingham, AL, I joined the Birmingham Archeological Society and our group participated in digs with the University of Alabama. I learned a lot about this field of study through speakers and meetings," she explained.
The rocks she paints on are an extension of this interest that have allowed her to create a unique art form, and one that will most certainly make a name for her in the genre of the folk or outsider artist.

"The rock paintings are quite different and people seem to like them. I
came up with the idea of painting on the rocks about eight years ago. I
searched for round, smooth quartz rocks because I thought they would look nice around the cabin," she said.

The cabin is a handsomely built structure that Annette put together on her own deep in the heart of the county. It sits at the end of a curving, tree-lined private road that invites you with its charm and simplicity. An eclectic assortment of rocks, cobalt glass, wooden ducks and bears, and three very friendly dogs of various pedigrees greet your arrival and one can't help but smile. The cabin, yet another passion of Annette's, is the impetus that cumulated with her innovative Rock Paintings.

"I wanted to place some natural rocks around the cabin so I set out in search of unique rocks to bring home," she stated. As luck would have it, she found a source near her cabin and like a kid in a candy store she collected them in gallon buckets until she was ex-hausted. A thought occurred her as she held one of the smooth quartz stones in her hand. She realized that she held what had the potential of being a wonderul painting surface for her acrylics -- a smooth paint on a smooth surface.
"It was like having God's canvas in my hand," she stated serenely, and then with a hint of mischief she continued, "and it also gave me a fine excuse to go out and play in the creek!"
Such delight and joy is evident in Ott's art. In talking with this artist you know that she is doing what she finds fullfilling. Although Annette's interest in painting began when she was a small child, she actually started to paint in 1963 and sold her first painting in the mid-1970's. With no formal art training she simply paints what she knows from the heart.
After selling a painting she confided that she was shocked that someone liked her work enough to buy it. Like most artists who timidly offer up their creations -- creations which are often marked with a bit of their soul -- the idea of another person wanting to display your work can be an incredible feeling.
"I never thought my paintings would sell and even now when someone wants to buy one I feel very flattered," she said with sincerity.

Historical scenes inspire

Not all of her paintings are done on rocks. Many of her works are acrylics on canvas. Some of her well-known pieces are depictions of local Lamar County historical sites such as the Stagecoach Inn, the old Gin and other folk homesteads.

In each of her canvases Annette includes a special trademark. She places two birds in the sky which represents the couples that began housekeeping in the old homesteads.

Asked what prompted her to pick up the palette again she said, "I've always heard that if you write you should write about what you love, so I applied that logic to my desire to my paintings. I've always loved local history and the old homesteads where I grew up. One fond recollection is of my grandpa's house which was built in the 1880's with the traditional dogtrot in it," she recollected.
Dogtrots are indeed a good source for historical works of art. Alabamians once sought relief from the heat of dog days on the open breezeway of a dogtrot house. It is typically believed that the dogtrot house has its origins in the lower Tennessee Valley of north Alabama and east Tennessee and dates from the early nineteenth century. The dogtrot combined folk architectural traditions from Scandinavia, Germany, and England; but, it was an environmental adaptation to the Southern dog days of summer that gave the dogtrot its characteristic open breezeway. "I can still see it in my mind's eye," she said, " and when I do all of those happy memories -- memories of when I was growing up -- just flow back like it was yesterday. They left an impression that prompts me to paint. I guess you can say it's my way of saving the memories on canvas."

What's next?

"I want to enjoy what I'm doing. A future project she has in mind is to photograph the old homesteads and churches in the area which she finds so inspiring. "I have recently completed a commission which is available to the public as a print," said Otts. "I've been told that I price my work too low but I want the average person to be able to own a painting." Her 16" x 20" prints are $45.00 unframed, and are vividly and faithfully reproduced from the originals. You can get a glimpse of Annette's work at the upcoming Jerry Brown Art Festival, on Saturday, February 22, at the Bevill Center in Hamilton, AL. For more information call the Chamber at 205.921.7786.
"We have so many treasures here in our area --- treasures that are so steeped in history. We just have to get off the main highways and onto the dirt roads to find the them!"

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