Mary Mann |
Mary Mann's paintings are fresh, touching and she has a great sense of humor.
Mary's love of painting has been a lifelong and vital part of
her nature. She cannot remember a time when she was not expressing herself through
the visual arts.
Her formal training began at age twelve with private art lessons, and continued through high school, when she went on to graduate with a minor in art from Oberlin College.
In the years that followed, up to the present, she has taken workshops in sketching, acrylic, watercolor, oil, and pastel.
At this time, most of her work is done in acrylic, watercolor, and mixed media.
She enjoys painting still lifes, landscapes, florals, vegetables, and fruits.
She sees the opportunities that vegetables and fruits offer as sources of humor for many of her paintings, as in "The Incubator" ,"On the Phone" "New Kid on the Block".
"On the phone"
Also, in a series of small acrylics, she paints a single vegetable or fruit against a textured background of contrasting jewel-like color.
Her landscapes are focused on the beauty of her local hills and valleys, and the
nearby Finger Lakes region, particularly Seneca Lake.
"Seneca Lake: Rosemarie's Place"
In her floral watercolors she often expresses her awe over
the intricacies of the plants by choosing a view of a small section and enlarging it to
paint.
"Magnolia"
Mary exhibits at the Elmira Regional Art Society venues; and in the annual regional juried shows of the Gmeiner Art & Cultural Society.
Over the past few years she has won:
--Honorable Mention awards at the Gmeiner.
--two Palette awards annual juried Palette Award Exhibits,
--three Honorable Mention and
--two Popular Awards at the Elmira Regional Art Society.
--Also in 1991 she received 1st prize watercolor at the Arts
in the Park.
One year she had the opportunity to show some of her paintings and share her art
experience with an Elmira high school art class. It was a privilege and a joy.
Regarding sales, her paintings were included in the corporate collection of Artist
Greetings, Inc. Sales to individuals have come through the exhibit venues of the
Elmira Regional Art Society and through referrals.
One interesting sale was the purchase by a young student who wanted a gift to take to Japan where he was going to live as an Exchange Student for a year.
It was a local landscape (small, making it a convenient size for travel !) and was chosen because he thought it was a good example to show his hosts of what his home locale looked like.
Mary enjoys thinking about her painting going all the way to
Japan and living with a Japanese family ! She never would have dreamed of that
happening !
Art Memberships:
Elmira Regional Art Society; the Arnot Art Museum; and the National Museum of Women in the
Arts.
Mary has worked tirelessly for the Elmira Regional Art Society,
having taken care of care of many duties. Right now she is in charge of keeping all
the addresses of members current and helping with the directory.
Contact Information:
e-mail: Bomar131@aol.com
"Incubator" Water Color 2005
"New Kid on the Block"
"Autumn on Jerusalem Hill"
"Winter on Jerusalem Hill"