Annie Scull shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Good morning Annie, we’re so happy to have you here with us and we’d love to explore your story and how you think about life and legacy and so much more. So let’s start with a question we often ask: What makes you lose track of time—and find yourself again?
My guitar has always been a foundation that allows me creatively express myself. Some nights I will practice alone in my bedroom for hours before I realize that most of the world has gone to sleep. Through every achievement and heartbreak, my guitar has served as my favorite confidant.
As a visual artist, I constantly feel a pressure to keep producing new work. Even in periods when I am not creating art, I find myself being critical for my lack of productivity. I have always appreciated that music has served as a creative space with no expectations. There are no deadlines, only progress. Recently, some friends from Philly (Mild Havoc) used my music as a sound track to one of their films – that felt really special.
I’ve always been fond of that Basquiat quote “Art is how we decorate space, and sound is how we decorate time.”
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Though my background is in photography, I have spent the past few years branching into different mediums. Soft pastels tend to work through my color pallet as a consistent visual element. There is something inherently feminine about everything I do, from photographing the shadows of flowers to designing a custom set of earrings, or painting a custom surfboard. I still make photographs, and recently began instructing photography at F.I.R.S.T. Institute – which has me itching to do more creative photo work.
Several passion projects of mine are in partnership with surfboard shaper, Brayden Brown. I have been working on the digital media side of things to help strengthen the visual identity of the lifestyle brand, El Emporium. Over the past few years, Brayden and I have been working together to create an intentionally curated surfshop and vibe space unlike any other. It is a growing project, but I am stoked to see it’s progress from seed to flower. As well, In an effort to reduce the waste of materials while manufacturing surfboards, I have began using excess epoxy resin to create charms for hand crafted jewelry. Oftentimes I incorporate natural elements such as crystals, pressed flowers or butterfly wings into my designs.
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What was your earliest memory of feeling powerful?
My mom practically raised my sister and I in water. In the summertime, she would take us to the springs and teach us to free dive. It was like magic when I learned how to equalize the pressure in my ears. However, I have this memory where my mother took me to the ocean during a tropical storm. As we waded into the water, the waves continued to get larger and larger. I was a strong swimmer, but this was a vastly different ocean than I was used to. As the force of the waves pressed through my body, my mom encouraged me to lay backwards with my face towards the sky and float. In that moment all of my anxieties went away and I learned that I had control over my fears. To this day I still feel most powerful when I am in water. I think that’s why I’ve grown to love surfing.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
I would tell a younger Annie to never stop exploring her interests. Somewhere along the way, she learned to become critical instead of curious. I was boxing up some old memories and came across a vision board I made in middle school. It listed topics like “Make life long friends, see the Great Wall of China, go scuba diving, study photography, and learn to paint.” As an adult, I find it amusing to compare what I have accomplished and what I’m still working towards.
My dad recently turned 64, and is just now starting his Drag Racing career. He has taught me to always follow my dreams, all it takes is time and dedication. I would also tell a younger Annie to practice patience and listen to her parents more. I recently started painting, that has been teaching me a lot about patience.
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What truths are so foundational in your life that you rarely articulate them?
While studying photography, I read this textbook titled “Light Science and Magic”. The book was filled with diagrams depicting how light travels, and explaining concepts like the electromagnetic spectrum. I became really interested in the rhetoric. Specifically the idea that everything is made up of energy and light. In many spiritual communities there are conversations about how we are called to illuminate the world with our presence. At the foundation of everything I do, I acknowledge that it is a vibration or frequency that I am putting into the world.
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. What light inside you have you been dimming?
I would like to return to a more foundational spiritual practice. Being raised in a Catholic household deeply instilled the practice of prayer, meditation and song into my life. As I entered adulthood, I stopped attending weekly mass and became more interested in eastern philosophies and metaphysics. My new interests contradicted Catholic doctrine, and that caused a type of internal struggle for me. These themes tend to show up in my art work.
I feel called to deepen my spiritual practice and build community through art and music. The world requires so much healing, and it is through creativity that we can overcome darkness. This is the light that I would like to let shine in my life.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://anniescull.me/
- Instagram: @nullscull @el_emporium
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annie-scull-53b93b19b
- Other: https://gallery500.art/collections/annie-scull
