Zee Anweiler is pictured with one of his paintings, which hangs on the wall of Three Crowns Coffee in Warsaw. Anweiler is a full-time artist who sells his work at many different art fairs across Indiana, Michigan, Ohio and Illinois. Photo by Lilli Dwyer.
By Lilli Dwyer
InkFreeNews
WINONA LAKE — “When I was 4, I said, ‘I’m going to be an artist.’ I’ve had other ideas since then, but I’ve always returned to that,” said Zee Anweiler. “I would tell my younger self that art is a reaction to life.”
Raised in Winona Lake, Anweiler graduated from Warsaw Community High School in 2012 and moved on to the University of St. Francis in Fort Wayne to study art.
“I studied ceramics and sculpture, animation and graphic design … I’m a dabbler. There are very few fields I haven’t dipped a toe into.”
After school, Anweiler worked locally. He moved on to the now-closed Mudd Love store in Warsaw, working his way up to becoming creative director. He also played a similar role at Marine Boring, before transitioning to making and selling art full time.
A few of his paintings are hanging in local businesses, including two on the walls of Three Crowns Coffee.
While still based in Winona Lake, Anweiler travels frequently, selling his work at art fairs around Indiana, Michigan and Ohio.
“A little bit in Illinois, mostly in Chicago,” he said. “Wherever I can go within, like, six hours.”
Some of his past shows include the Three Rivers Festival in Fort Wayne and the Penrod Arts Fair in Indianapolis.
“I did one that was a four-day convention that was also camping called Geek Out … It was organized by one guy in southern Ohio,” he said.
Anweiler recalled the convention as a positive experience, but also mentioned, “I’ll be sure to bring ear plugs next time, since there’s EDM playing until two in the morning.”
Overall, Anweiler has found a community of like-minded individuals while working in the art world.
“It’s been very affirming, going out there. There’s a lot of weirdos in the world, and I mean that with the deepest affection,” he said with a smile.
Fittingly, Anweiler describes his art as something that doesn’t fall into one specific genre or category.
“It’s not exactly the sort of thing you’d see at a convention, like in an artist’s alley, and it’s not really fine art. … But it’s kind of in between pop art for the people and something someone would spend four digits on as original fine art. I like to stride that line. If people like me can’t buy my art, then I just don’t feel right about that,” he explained.
He sells paintings and wood burnings, and smaller things, like stickers and art prints.
“I did have a customer pay for my art in all gold coins, because they had gone to a Renaissance fair recently and converted about $2,000 into coins, which was one of the coolest experiences of my life,” he recalled.
Anweiler takes inspiration from science fiction and fantasy, citing Dr. Seuss, Jim Henson and Hayoa Miyazaki as influences.
“When you look at my work and you see floating castles and shining crystals and friendly monsters, the influence is very clear,” he said.
When not traveling or making artwork, Anweiler, a big fan of loose leaf teas, is working on learning the Chinese gong fu brewing technique.
More of his artwork can be seen at zeebeasts.com.