Show Highlights & New Artwork

October 10, 2018

Show Highlights & New Artwork

Summer has turned to Fall and show season is beginning again here in Florida. The month of August was spent preparing for my current solo show “My World in Color” which opened at the historic Rialto Theatre gallery on September 4 and runs through October 27. The opening reception on September 28 was very well attended and I’m thrilled to say a couple paintings will be going to new homes following the show’s closing.

I am blessed to have had so many friends come out to help me celebrate the evening. Little did I know four years ago that I would be hosting my third solo art show. I’m still pinching myself to make sure this is really happening.

After taking a breather from the show opening I started on new paintings using a blue and violet color palette. These two pieces were painted together as companion pieces, one in acrylics and the other oil pastel over an acrylic background. Both are 12 x 12 inches and will be framed. Click on the photos for more info on each piece.

Spirit Shrine, acrylic and oil pastel on canvas

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I’m excited about another solo show scheduled to open February 2019. I’ll share more once all the i’s are dotted and t’s are crossed on the contract. I’ll be taking my art “on the road” for this show. Stay tuned friends.

Don’t forget my VIDA fashion line make GREAT gift ideas for the holidays. Just click the button below to see the new additions to my line. This is the Bluebird Cashmere scarf designed after my "‘Bluebird"‘ painting.

My VIDA Shop

Thank you so much for being fans, patrons and collectors of my art. Your support means the world to me.

Blessings from your artist, Mary

“To love what you do and feel it matters—how can anything be more fun?”

— Katherine Graham, publisher

Doors and Windows

August 13, 2018

Doors and Windows

“Love unlocks doors and opens windows that weren’t even there before.”

— Mignon McLaughlin

I usually end my posts with a quote, but it seemed fitting to begin this one with this quote by Mignon McLaughlin. During my art retreat in Santa Fe this summer I created a few paintings that ended up starting a new series for me -- Door and Windows. The blue of the sky and cloud formations in New Mexico continue to mesmerize me. Even more so when I spent time outdoors painting.

Inspired by works by Georgia O'Keeffe, who also had a fascination for doors; this new series flowed so effortlessly as if it was a story that had to be told. How often have you wondered what is behind a particular door or window? When I paint, it's with an abstracted view of what I see in life. Perhaps the door or window is just a glimpse of what my mind sees. I'll leave the final interpretation up to you.

Here are my latest paintings in the Windows and Doors series started in Santa Fe. I hope you will enjoy them.

New Beginnings, 12 x 12 inches, acrylic on canvas

Soul Searching, 14 x 14 inches, acrylic on canvas

Two Worlds, 24 x 36 inches, acrylic on canvas

Portal, 24 x 36 inches, acrylic on canvas

This has been a very exciting series and a new direction for me to paint; and, I look forward to adding more windows and doors in the future. I'd love to know what you think of them. Just drop me a line or two in the comments.

I'll be showing these new paintings at my solo show next month at the Rialto Theatre in Tampa, FL. If you're local, I invite you to put September 28 on your calendar for the opening reception. The show runs September to October 28.

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Thank you so much for being fans, patrons and collectors of my art. Your support means the world to me.

Blessings from your artist, Mary

Two Months in Santa Fe

July 12, 2018

Two Months In Santa Fe

I arrived in Santa Fe, NM (aka My Happy Place) at the beginning of May ready to paint, network with other artists, find a gallery to represent me and enjoy the arts and culture of The City Different. After getting settled in to my little casita, I began painting, participated in the annual Canyon Road Spring Art Festival by painting live at Acosta-Strong Fine Art and dropped off a painting for a group show at Metallo Gallery in the quaint and quirky small town of Madrid, NM. Not too bad for my first week in Santa Fe.

What a treat is was to get to paint with three other amazing artists from this gallery. They were all so gracious and I loved being introduced as their "visiting guest artist". After I came down from that high it was time to meet with the galleries who agreed to see my art. The first one was a polite "no thank you" but the second one was a huge YES!!! I came in toting two bags filled with art and I'm happy to say the Turquoise Butterfly Gallery took all 11 pieces of my art.

After celebrating that victory I got back to painting and was able to complete five new paintings. I've just finished adding them to my website. Please click here to visit my website.

Sacred Start, 12" x 12" acrylic on canvas

There's a reason Santa Fe is the third largest art market in the country. With more than 100 fine art galleries and artist studios in one short mile, Canyon Road offers an incredibly diverse array of artwork by established and emerging artists. As a collector, whether you prefer art that is contemporary, abstract, modern, expressionistic, traditional, western or Native American, it’s all here.

And, of course no trip to Santa Fe would be complete without a visit to the Georgia O'Keeffe museum and her home and studio in Abiquiu. O'Keeffe is my muse so I never miss an opportunity to visit these places. I could write an entire blog on how much her life and work inspires me.

I'm preparing for a solo show in Tampa at the Rialto Theatre in September so I'll be painting all summer. And, with all the inspiration collected from my trip those paintings should burst onto the canvases. I'll share more on this as it gets closer. If you're local I hope you will come out to join me.

Thank you so much for being fans, patrons and collectors of my art. Your support means the world to me.

Blessings from your artist, Mary

“I had this desire and interest in painting to want to do my own things.”

— Georgia O'Keeffe