Not a stranger to beauty, Anke Punt Bach has lived her life traveling the world and embracing all it has to offer. In every place and at every stage in her life, she found herself experimenting with different mediums and freely expressing herself through art. 

Born in Düsseldorf, Germany, Anke moved to Holland at the age of seven when her parents got divorced. She grew up with her mom in Holland and attended school there. She later went on to become a primary school teacher. Down the line, she met her husband and was blessed with two kids. With her family, Anke traveled all over the world from England, Gabon, Syria, Scotland, Russia, London, Australia and now resides in Kuwait.

Although she takes full pride in motherhood and all it has to offer, she is much more than that. She is also a Reiki master, who has an immense amount of passion for wellness, art and jewelry. Earlier this week, we had the pleasure to virtually meet the face behind the wonderful 3D art we fell in love with.

Speaking with Anke, we could feel her vivacious energy through the camera. One thing about artists and the way they see beauty in everything around them, is that it’s very inspiring. When asked what it was that inspired her to start making art, she told us that from a young age it was a way for her to access her emotions that are tucked away and reveal them “[it] lets you discover the emotions hidden within and hope people can see it too” she explained. Anke indicated that people express themselves differently; some may prefer dance, others writing, and some through cooking. Whatever it is, doing something that brings you joy sends a message and a feeling out into the world which Anke hopes people see through her art. 

Having faced many challenges and experiencing different cultures over the years, Anke learned to appreciate what life has to offer. It wasn’t until she had relocated to Sakhalin, the Russian island, that she took this profession seriously. Up until that point, it was a hobby that brought her delight. For two years, she had the privilege of being taught by the well known local artist, Victor Kovalevski. She also had her first group exhibition, which solidified her confidence in her work.

Throughout our conversation, Anke repeated the phrase “nothing comes for free if you don’t practice” like a mantra. Her advice to anyone comparing their work to the professionals is to understand that they did not get there overnight and they have many scraps in the bin but the finished product is the only one you see.

Next stop on her journey of life was a move to London, it brought amazing opportunities for her career. She was able to study full time at the Art Academy. At the academy, Robin Lee Hall, Brendan Kelly, Anastasia Pollard and other artists shared their experience and knowledge with her and the other students from all over the world. An opportunity like this was a spectacular milestone for her since only 16 students from all over the world were selected. She was able to take part in many exhibitions which were located in the Shunt, the Mall Gallery, the Menier Gallery and the Merchant Taylors’ Hall. She also became part of the United Society of Artists, the Hesketh Hubbard Art Society and the Federation of British Artists. While there, she mastered art history and spent her free time appreciating museums and art fairs. This all led to her first solo exhibition hosted in Holland.

Being in Damascus, Syria is a very memorable time for her that she looks back on very fondly and expresses that it helped her strengthen her spirituality through the practice of Reiki. She was trained, and promoted to be a Reiki master. Being a Reiki master, she felt the grounding and healing benefits that come from the earth. This helped her connect with her latest project when she stumbled upon rocks on the beaches of Kuwait.

Up until her move to Kuwait, Anke’s preferred medium had been pastel, however she was now looking for a new challenge. After her move to Kuwait and during a stroll along the corniche, Anke stumbled upon beautiful shells, stones and wood pieces. This left her artistic mind to wonder how to create texture, color, shape and ultimately a joyful workshop with these different mediums. “It [picking stones] is like free shopping,” Anke giggled as she shared with us. She expressed her love and admiration for Kuwait, and noted that it has motivated her to step outside her comfort zone and experiment with different mediums. The ultimate vision she has for her time in Kuwait this year is to create a series of paintings with the materials found on the local beaches. She would like to give back through art, while making it more personal to Kuwait.

When asked what kind of art she identifies with the most, Anke said “I am a colorist, I like fantasy and surrealistic art, portraits, beauty and romantic paintings.”

As mentioned on her website:

Anke’s belief to never stop learning is truly inspiring. During our talk, she mentioned that ultimately her dream is to combine her art with the Reiki practices she has learned along her journey, in Damascus.

Her mind is a happy vacation, constantly searching for the next captivating thing. With such a positive attitude, she is a great reminder to believe in yourself. 

For more information, or to view more of Anke’s work visit her Instagram, Facebook or view her gallery on algarve-art.com.