At a Glance
What book is currently on your nightstand?
The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah and I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou (a nightstand staple).
What movie do you recommend to everyone you know?
I’m not a big movie goer…. I’m not sure what I’d suggest as I usually fall asleep before the credits roll. Splash was my most favorite movie as a little girl, as well as Pippi Longstocking, but I’m not sure I’d necessarily “recommend” them.
What’s the first thing you do when you get home after a long day at work?
Because I work from a home studio, days don’t necessarily have a definitive start and stop time, I suppose. If I had to say something, I’d say I kickback with a cold one and indulge in some smutty brain drain TV, but who am I kidding—it doesn’t need to be a long day for me to do that!
If you couldn’t live in Alaska, what’s your dream locale?
I lived in Rome, Italy, for almost half a year during college, which I absolutely loved… I’d love to live in Rome again and really take advantage of all that is there. (Side note: While in Rome I lived on Via Del Corso, my company’s namesake.)
If you could domesticate a wild animal, what animal would it be?
My third kid. She’s always been a wild child bursting with creative, crazy, and chaotic ambitions (my husband affectionately calls her feral). But like most wild animals, she is a fascinating creature that brings so much excitement into our lives… couldn’t imagine life without her!
At a Glance
What book is currently on your nightstand?
The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah and I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou (a nightstand staple).
What movie do you recommend to everyone you know?
I’m not a big movie goer…. I’m not sure what I’d suggest as I usually fall asleep before the credits roll. Splash was my most favorite movie as a little girl, as well as Pippi Longstocking, but I’m not sure I’d necessarily “recommend” them.
What’s the first thing you do when you get home after a long day at work?
Because I work from a home studio, days don’t necessarily have a definitive start and stop time, I suppose. If I had to say something, I’d say I kickback with a cold one and indulge in some smutty brain drain TV, but who am I kidding—it doesn’t need to be a long day for me to do that!
If you couldn’t live in Alaska, what’s your dream locale?
I lived in Rome, Italy, for almost half a year during college, which I absolutely loved… I’d love to live in Rome again and really take advantage of all that is there. (Side note: While in Rome I lived on Via Del Corso, my company’s namesake.)
If you could domesticate a wild animal, what animal would it be?
My third kid. She’s always been a wild child bursting with creative, crazy, and chaotic ambitions (my husband affectionately calls her feral). But like most wild animals, she is a fascinating creature that brings so much excitement into our lives… couldn’t imagine life without her!
Off the Cuff
nnie Brace is the founder and owner of Corso Graphics, which specializes in graphic design, fine art, illustration, and “a splash of photography.” Brace is also the phenomenal artist of our cover this month; we reached out to her because we were drawn to her brilliant use of color, the high energy of her work, and how clearly Alaska inspires her.
Annie Brace: Free time…. that’s cute. Well, between running my own business, carting three kids around town to all their activities, and preparing for a number of art shows and events throughout the year, there isn’t much free time left over. With whatever time we have left over we love to spend it hiking, camping, and/or hanging with friends.
AB: Is there a skill you’re currently developing or have always wanted to learn?
Brace: When I was in high school, I was obsessed with ceramics. Every day I’d skip study hall or scarf down lunch and utilize any remaining minutes to throw some clay and get my hands dirty. I’d really love to reignite that flame again.
AB: What’s the most daring thing you’ve ever done?
Brace: I went white water rafting several years back, which may not sound that wild and crazy, but I am pretty scared of water, so for me it was quite a feat.
AB: What’s your go-to comfort food?
Brace: Mmmmm… probably spaghetti and garlic bread—a classic.
AB: Other than your current career, if you were a kid today, what would your dream job be?
Brace: I think working for a company like Pixar would be pretty amazing. I’d love to explore the world of animation and specialize in character development. I’m not sure I would like the tedious technical side of it, but getting to create and mold attributes of the characters from the very beginning would be so cool.
AB: Dead or alive, who would you like to see perform live in concert?
Brace: If I had to pick one off the top of my head, I think I would pick Pink Floyd. I’d love to be a part of that concert experience for sure.
AB: Have you ever had a supernatural experience?
Brace: One time I was 100 percent sure I blew out the candles on a wall sconce, and, when I was retiring for the evening, they were lit again. I’ve always blamed it on the spirit of Joan Rivers… she’s my usual scapegoat, her or Phyllis Diller… don’t ask me why, but now whenever anything weird or funny happens you’re sure to hear someone holler from the other room, “It was Joan!”
Brace: Perhaps they are one and the same. I’d say my best attribute is having the ability to stay rational, mindful, and thoughtful when presented with a problem or when navigating the problems of my friends/family. I can compartmentalize the feels and focus on the “why” and “why nots” of something that’s going on. On the other hand, that same attribute can also cause me to be a bit closed off emotionally. While I like to think of myself as a very compassionate person, I’m not always available for the super sappy side of emotions. Basically, crying makes me uncomfortable, but no matter how uncomfortable it makes me, if I need to sit with you while you cry for 24 hours, you best believe I will be there, Kleenex and all—and by “Kleenex” I mean beer and snacks.
