Welcome to

Into the Light

A series of 20+ contemporary impressionist oil paintings that capture the beauty of our gulf coast. Each piece explores themes of renewal and light—echoing the beauty and possibilities of our coastal landscape.

  • The 50th Anniversary Mainsail Art Festival Poster Painting:

    "Emerging Into the Light"
    To me, a sunrise symbolizes renewal and the promise of new beginnings. After the challenges our community faced from the hurricanes of 2024, I envisioned a dramatic, powerful scene depicting a moment of transition when storm clouds begin receding, revealing the sun and its golden light washing over the city.

    ~ SOLD ~

    Please message me if you would like to commission your own version of this painting.

  • "Emerging Light"

    40x30 Oil on Canvas
    AVAILABLE

    Similar but smaller than the official poster painting, "Emerging Light" shows the sun rising over the St Pete Pier as it emerges from storm clouds at the dawning of a new day. This is a beautiful and serene painting about hope, optimism, opportunity, and love.

  • "First Light"

    48x24 Inches, Oil on Canvas
    ~ AVAILABLE ~

    This is a wonderful painting of the first glimmers of red sun rays catching the sky on the horizon over Tampa, in front of the St Pete Pier. Storm clouds are dissipating and clear skies are peeking through promising a beautiful new beginning ahead. This painting is powerful, peaceful, and dreamy. Can you hear the sounds of the world waking up?

  • "Drift and Dream at St Pete Beach"

    40 x 30 inches, Oil on Canvas

    ~ SOLD ~


    This painting was inspired by the bright and cheerful color palettes of our signature "Pink Palace" and aqua beach days. This beach suffered greatly after the hurricanes and it felt like a good time to celebrate the reopening of the beach with hope and optimism for a bright future for St Pete Beach, Pass-A-Grille and the Don Cesar Hotel. This painting feels cheerful, bright, coastal, and beachy.

  • Seaside Reverie at Outback Key

    84 x 60 inches
    Oil on Canvas
    Available

  • Ripples of Wonder

    30 x 40 inches, Oil on Canvas

    ~ AVAILABLE ~

    Inspired by my encounter with this friendly and familiar dolphin along the seawall during last year's Mainsail Art Festival! It was a beautiful day and the water was so clear and clean. It was the perfect St Pete moment of wonder, and I had to paint it. This painting is about love, light, wonder, and serenity.

  • "Moonrise Kingdom"

    36 x 48 Inches, Oil on Canvas
    ~ AVAILABLE ~


    Inspired by a small plein air study I made from the Ft Desoto bridge as the full moon rose over the Sunshine Skyway Bridge. The sun is setting in front of it, casting it's hot pink sunlight on the clouds hovering inland. The water below is a sea of emereld green, glistening with movement and moonlight. Three white pelicans fly south in the foreground, a common formation seen during this time of day. This painting is about quiet serenity, renewal, and hope. The canvas is heavily textured, with thick, impasto, palette knife strokes.

  • Soaring Over Shell Key

    48 x 60 inches
    Oil in Canvas

    Available

  • Marina Days

    48 x 48 inches, Oil on Cavas

    SOLD

    Inspired by my memories of sailing and working as a deckhand as a kid at the marina down the street from my house in Maine. Marina Days is a striking portrait of sailboats at rest in their slips. These Florida sailboats feel fresh and classy, with vibrant blues, nautical green, and a touch of Florida Pink.

  • Bridges to Paradise

    48x24 inches

    Oil on Canvas
    ~ AVAILABLE ~

  • Free as a Bird

    48x48 inches

    Oil on Canvas
    ~ AVAILABLE ~

  • "Glistening Waters Under the Crescent Moon"

    36 x 36 inches, Oil on Canvas
    ~ AVAILABLE ~

    Inspired by a plein air session, this painting captures the last rays of the sun highlighting the clouds over Shell Key Preserve as the moon comes into view. A sea of inky water below glistens with movement and moonlight. This painting is about renewal, opportunity, and hope. This canvas is heavily textured, with thick, impasto, and palette knife strokes. Unframed with sides painted and varnished for even gloss and protection.

For inquiries, or to schedule a studio appointment contact me at 207.239.4581

Private commissions also available with custom location, size, and color palette.
~Anne Zimmerman Briand

About Anne

Anne Zimmerman Briand is a contemporary oil painter capturing the vibrant landscapes of Florida through expressive brushwork, layered textures, and luminous color palettes. Inspired by the ever-changing light and atmosphere of the Gulf Coast, she paints en plein air, working spontaneously to capture
fleeting moments in nature before refining larger, contemplative pieces in the studio.

Anne began painting as a child under the guidance of her aunt, a professional acrylic artist, and later earned a BFA in graphic design from the Savannah College of Art and Design. During a study abroad program in France and Italy, she immersed herself in the oil painting techniques of the master
impressionists, an experience that continues to shape her approach to light,
color, and composition. 

Fresh out of college, Anne jumpstarted her career as a designer in the marketing industry for high-profile brands including Mercedes Benz, Martha Stewart, and Gillette—an experience that took her across the country, from Boston to New York to Los Angeles, broadening both her worldview and creative perspective.

Now, she brings those insights into her life and second career as an artist, based in Tierra Verde, where she finds endless inspiration in the coastal landscapes right outside her door.

Anne’s work is held in private collections throughout the U.S. She frequently collaborates with homeowners and interior designers to create art that brings a sense of peace and calm to a space. Through her work, she strives to connect people with their favorite places, moments, and emotions.