ART THROUGH A LIFETIME
KYLE — Boling Law Firm is more of a gallery than a law office. Each piece is either local or self-made, a testament to Anna Martinez Boling’s emphasis on local art and its importance.
Anna Martinez Boling[/caption]
Boling began creating artwork at a young age, citing her parents as sparking her initial interest.
“[I’ve been doing art] since I was a kid … My dad drew a little bit and my mom, well, she tried,” chuckled Boling.
These familial connections continue as she finds many ways to make her art a family affair. Boling and her husband often work together as he creates pieces out of wood while she paints them, she spends visits with friends and family creating bracelets and various jewelry pieces together and when her daughter was younger, they would create artwork together; one of which sat on the wall behind her, full of bottle caps, chains, screws and door hinges to create a sunset over a house in the mountains.
Art followed Boling throughout her life as she created banners and posters for her elementary classes, completed an undergraduate degree in graphic design, worked as a sign creator for 11 years and painted images for fundraisers in law school, all leading to the current moment with her artwork displayed at Kyle City Hall.
“I just love color. Some artists [paint in] black and whites and I just love color,” said Boling when asked what inspired her. “But it doesn’t come as easily to me as it does to other artists. I feel like I have to decide, ‘Okay, I’m going to try to do some abstracts this week.’”
Despite being a full-time lawyer, Boling tries to find time for her passion: “[I get] less sleep than I would like. After hours with my legal stuff, I try to do a little bit even if it’s a little sketch or a little bit of journaling or something … I’ll try to do several [art pieces] at one time because I have so many days or weeks between the time I get to do that.”
She hopes to one day transition from a full-time lawyer to a full-time artist, but has always been concerned about when the best time would be. Reasons to delay appeared constantly as life got in the way — a sudden death in her family put a stop to these debates. The atmosphere shifted as Boling described this part of her life.
“After my [family member] died, I said, ‘Okay, it’s time to start working on it,’ … If not now, then when? I’m going to keep doing as much of it as I can until then,” she said.
Part of the reason her display at Kyle City Hall features Dìa de los Muertos is due to the interest she gained after the her family member's death.
“The symbolism of it, you can tell people about your loved one through the items you put out [on the ofrendas],” said Boling.
After being a resident of Kyle for 10 years and having lived in the county for multiple decades, Boling takes great pride in the opportunity to have her artwork showcased locally.
“I’m very proud … I know a lot of people know me in Hays County because I’ve been a lawyer for a long time. I’m glad that they get to see another side of me,” said Boling. “I’m hoping that it’s an inspiration for other people to get after it and get out there and do stuff.”
She hopes to continue encouraging others to experiment with art and offer classes to children by opening an art gallery in Kyle.
“[The project to add art to Kyle] means so much to me. Part of the reason I want to open a gallery is because Kyle doesn't really have any art or art movements. [The art scene in] Buda has blown up over there and San Marcos, of course, has art. I heard the Kyle Arts and Culture Commission was started and they’re doing exactly what I wanted to do … I’m glad they’re doing that and getting a list of our local artists,” she said.
Boling emphasized that art has always been a comfort for her.
“I just think art is very important. It always seems to be the first thing people cut in schools, but I think that’s what gets the creative spark going for kids,” she said. “It’s in my blood to create art … It’s just always helped me through things.”
Boling’s work can be viewed at Kyle City Hall, located at 100 W. Center St., through the remainder of May.
