“It’s just another way I can give back.”
Those who know Annie Scavarda well probably aren’t surprised that she’s been a Flutter artist from the very beginning. The Arizona native, who says she has loved painting and creating since she was a young girl, is currently working on two creations for the 2024 Flutter at the Fountain fundraiser.
“I love butterflies!” she explained. “They are so cool! Plus, I volunteer at one of the nonprofits that receive grants from this fundraiser. It’s a great way to contribute to my community.”
Annie volunteers at Reigning Grace Ranch, home to nearly 80 rescued and rehabilitated horses which help empower and inspire children, families and first responders through equine therapy. The Fountain Hills Community Foundation grant provides scholarships for an 8-week mentoring session to students referred by the Fountain Hills Crisis Response Team. This equine assisted program pairs at-risk youth with a rescued horse in weekly sessions focusing on core character values, leadership, and esteem.
As an ASU grad, Annie majored in photography and watercolor painting. She spent time photographing caves for 17 years and owned Fountain Hills Pro Photo from 1998-2008. Currently, as the owner of Annies Arizona Arts, she sells her line of Horseshoe Dreamcatchers, polymer clay creations and jewelry, and beaded jewelry at various venues and markets including Pine/Strawberry Festivals, Prescott Farmers Markets, Apache Junction Blues & Brews Festival, Jakes’ Corner Bike Week, and various western, equine, and music events.
All the profits she makes from selling her dreamcatchers are spent on supplements for the senior horses at Reigning Grace Ranch, whom she affectionately refers to as her “boyfriends.”
“It’s just another way I can give back to the ranch,” she said.
Annie’s past Flutter butterflies (Bonita Mariposa 2020, Polly 2022, and The Cameleon 2022) were created using polymer clay, a process that limited the size of butterfly she could create, so her 2024 creation will be painted using a mandala dot technique. Mandala means “circle” in the Sanskrit language. Mandala dot art is the process of creating a geometric design or pattern using small dots which Annie says is time-consuming and takes a lot of imagination.
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- Bonita Mariposa 2020
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- Polly 2022
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- The Cameleon 2022
“Mandalas are a central focused piece that radiates out into whatever your imagination will allow. Lately, I’ve been creating a lot of hand-painted cups,” she said. “People go nuts over them.”
A Fountain Hills resident for 30 years, Annie refers herself a “continually explorative artist who has a passion for the world of color creations.” She credits the success of her 40+ years of marriage to her faith in Jesus Christ, calling her husband a “super supportive man.”
“I love my life,” she said. “In my studio and out at Reigning Grace Ranch… those are my happy places.”