Art Chowder July | August, Issue 22 | Page 9

A nyone who has followed Annie to date knows a few things about her already: she got her start from her roommate’s hand-me-down leather crafting kit in art school; she uses environment-friendly hide (if you’re vegan you may have to admire her work from a distance); she moonlights as a Celtic singer and fiddler in Spokane. A cursory glance at her website (annielibertini.com) may leave you lightheaded with wonder at craftsmanship and artistry that is obvious even to an untrained eye. A trip downstairs to her home workspace also yields what you might expect: giant rolls of pink cowhide jammed into several large barrels in the corner; an enormous drafting desk littered with tools, cutting mats, and cardstock stencils she designed herself of flowers and owl faces; bestiaries, fairytales, and other compendiums nestled comfortably on the shelf, standing by for reference… July | August 2019 9