Anne Jenkins, Artist, Union Point, GA

Photo by Hillary Odom

Magnify

My work: Professional visual artist and gallery owner. It helps if you're crazy to own an art gallery.

My passion:  Travel, art, wine & food

I love: Art and music - and Lee, he makes me laugh everyday.

My favorite possession: My most important possession is my British passport. Favorites are too fleeting.

My best bargain find: My car, a Dodge Caravan - I traded a painting for it.

My hometown: It's a small place in South Africa no one's ever heard of, so I just say South Africa. Some folks even have trouble finding that on a map.

I’m thinking about: Trying something new.

Words I live by: If it's worth doing, it's worth overdoing.

I can’t live without: Humor & laughing.

I am most proud of: Making a living as an artist. There's some interesting months. And now my book on my art of New Orleans "City of my Soul."

I’m inspired by: Life -  preferably with different scenery often.

What keeps me awake at night: I'll wake up to find I've matured and am all grown up.

One thing I never want to do again: Don't think it can be printed in a nice publication like this.

If I could be totally wild, I would: I've always been totally wild and done what I wanted.

I am guilty of:  Being too direct, I tend to say what I think - not always a wise move.

Right now I’m reading: "The Map of Love" by Ahdaf Soueif. Set mainly in Cairo, one of my favorite cities.

The one item that has changed my life: That pesky phrase, "Well ...why ever not ... ?"

Favorite website: www.annejenkinsart.com.

Last major purchase: An air ticket back to South Africa for my nephew's wedding.

The nickname I wish I had: I don't mind what people call me - if they're talking about me, at least I'm not being ignored.

My theme song: Born to be Wild - however, with advancing years it probably should now be Born to be Mild.

If I could do it all over again: I'd do it all the same, only better - I probably should get a university degree next time around. My father quite rightly nagged me to do so but, let's just say, I was going through that stubborn adolescent stage.

My favorite body part: Oooh, well okay, ... my hands. They're strong, expressive and in control.

The food I could eat every day: Avocado.

The food I never want to eat again: Cauliflour. I went to boarding school - it doesn't require any other explanation.

If I were a superheroine, I would be: You mean I'm not?

My blog: artbyannejenkins.blogspot.com.

The most important thing I ever lost: My old RV - she floated in 15 feet of water in Katrina. I miss her fat butt waddling down the road in search of adventure. She was a great home for over a year when I first came to the States when we roamed the Lower 48 and Canada.

The best thing I ever won: Still waiting to win an airticket to South America or the Trans Siberia Express.

My best friend says I am: The most wonderfully irritating person he knows.

I still can’t get the hang of: Math.

I wish I’d known: That you get much smarter as you get older - not that I minded experimenting with everything.

The world would be a better place, if only: More people traveled and met/understood other cultures.

I’d like to learn to: Be musical. My mother sent me to piano lessons when I was about 11, after two lessons the teacher sent her a note, "The only musical talent this child posseses is the ability to turn on the gramophone." That was the end of piano lessons, and it really shows my age.

Something most people don’t know about me: I drove an 18-wheeler for nearly 2 years to explore the US and was really good at backing and maneuvering in difficult areas!

My mother always said: "You should do something with your artistic talent." I didn't listen to her until three years after she died when I became a full time artist. But I guess she's knows.

The worst idea I’ve ever had: Hmm, let's see, you want a list?

The smartest woman I know: My mother. She was smart even when she was young - she waited until she was nearly 40 to get married which was quite unusual way back then. And she married my Dad, a good choice.

My first job: It was a long time ago but I believe it was as a sales person in a friend's mother's dress shop during a school holiday. I was young and thin and she thought it would promote sales. But at that age I didn't know how to promote anything.

What are you most vain about? Nothing - my sense of humnour is too well developed.

Whose diary would you most like to read? Cleopatra's. But since I can't, I'll settle for Madelaine Albright - it'll be fun to read her latest one, "Read my Pins."

What do you fear the most? Sailing in a hurricane. I lived on a sailboat in the Med for five years. And then in New Orleans, I lived through Katrina. I think the two combined would be mind-boggling.

Best one-liner you ever heard: In 2003 we were sitting in a box at the Houston Ballet watching a glorious performance of the Nutcracker. It got to the part where the toy soldiers shoot the mice and Lee pipes up in a stage whisper, "Ah! They've finally found the weapons of mouse destruction!"

Early bird or night owl?: Night owl. You really don't want to see me in the mornings.

Favorite color and why?:  Can I have two?  Red and purple.  I associate them with strong women.

I feel strongest when: I've had a glass or two of wine.

When I grow up, I want to be: Talented, nice and rich. Okay, I'll settle for talented and rich.

At the end of a long day, the first thing I want to do is: Have a glass of wine.

Always... look on the bright side of life and don't regret what you can't change.

Never... . trust a man who says, "I just want to hold you."

I wish… everyone could relax around wackiness and not be afraid of people or cultures different to themselves.