Anita Best Misel

As Anita's best friend, I asked if I could act as her press agent as I want you to unabashedly know this special artist:

I have watched, admired, and learned from Anita for over a decade, and we communicate daily. She loves learning, trying new things, and taking chances, and has spent a lifetime reinventing herself. She is an inventor of art in all things: her painting, cooking, entertaining, gardening, fashion, business, and friendship. Whether it be daring to totally revamp her already perfect boxwood garden, killing all the grass to make room for flowers, changing recipes and cooking for others, and deciding to become an artist in her late 60’s, she is fearless. In her professional life, she endears herself to all by telling magical stories to inspire others, in lieu of talking about her franchise business. But this creates trust and customers flock to her. She is inspired by beauty, and she is beauty. She looks at things with wonder and invents. 

In her words: I started painting in my late 60’s, after only having painted for a year almost 30 years ago. I have become so passionate about it and now try to make art every day. It is never too late to find our passion and blossom. In the last 3 years I have been fortunate to study with many great teachers both in person and virtually. My most influential teachers have been Gary Bodner, my dear friend Maryam Askaran, and Jennifer Ferris. I love feeling the joy of learning and trying new things. I mostly love interpreting photography that I have taken in my travels. I paint in an upstairs bedroom overlooking my garden, often with my nutty little dog alternately chasing her tail or slumbering by my feet. And of course, always with my favorite eclectic playlists in the background! I typically have several paintings going at a time so I can contemplate next steps or just do what inspires me in the moment. My number one hero is without a doubt Winston Churchill. While saving the world he was also a prolific painter, credited with over 500 paintings. When not painting, I fill my happy days with my husband Gerry, our blended family of 5 children and 10 grandchildren, and our precious little dog Gemma.

And it is worth noting that I currently am fortunate to own two of her paintings and happily anticipate collecting more. Thankfully, I look forward to many more years of Friendship with my hero and best friend, Anita Best Misel. Katie McCleary