Hi, I’m Annette Zimmerman—Anni for short—an artist and writer living in East Tennessee. Realmscapes is my creative home: a place for art, stories, and the ongoing work of building a life with room for wonder.
I draw, paint, keep sketchbooks, and make zines. I also write stories and create journaling adventures that invite you to bring your own imagination along. My work wanders between the world outside my window and the worlds taking shape in my head. They seem to get along reasonably well.
I was born among cornfields in the Midwest, lived on Long Island and in California’s Central Valley, and traveled across much of the United States. When my husband and I found East Tennessee, we decided to stay. Southern Appalachia’s landscapes, seasons, and rich culture continue to shape what I notice and create.
I have a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from California State University and worked in both petroleum refining and renewable power generation before retiring in 2016. In 2021, cancer treatment brought another substantial change to my life. Creativity has been part of finding my way forward—a way to pay attention, explore, and make something from the days I’m given.
Here you’ll find finished artwork alongside sketches, studio experiments, nature observations, and writing fragments. I share the process, too: what I’m learning, what surprises me, and what happens when an idea refuses to behave as expected.
You can also find me on Substack at Realmscapes, where I share occasional notes from the studio and the borderlands of everyday life.
Thanks for stopping by. I hope you find something here that makes you pause, look closer, or reach for a pencil.