About
Mary grew up in Shelburne, Vermont on the edge of Lake Champlain. Color, pattern and design were easily found in the striped beach rocks and in the texture of the water. Collecting from the natural world and beach combing inspired an ever-present practice of looking.
Mary began working as an artist in her 20’s. In college she sold her batik wall hangings (remember the 70’s?) and later, after an apprenticeship in California with a textile designer, she began printing with potatoes. Why potatoes? They are excellent conduits for paint, transferring the pigment with crisp efficiency like any really good tool. Her first business, Spudprints, was a hand painted clothing company, featuring brilliant combinations of color using actual potatoes for prints! Her sleep shirts and beach cover ups sold up and down the east coast for a number of years. She enjoyed seeing customers experience so much fun choosing just the right, zany shirt for themselves or a friend.
After her kids grew to a certain age she began painting on wooden blocks which soon evolved into rustic peace banners. These were another colorful success, which she later photographed into a line of greeting cards. In her 40’s, she created wall hangings using positive affirmations; large paintings; and greeting cards. Mary’s work has been shown in hospitals, doctors’ offices, and coffee houses. She has taught workshops for elementary school kids , trauma victims, women’s retreats, senior centers and bereavement groups. Students have created healing banners centered on words…love, trust, breathe.
Mary is drawn to primitive and rustic styles of arts and craft such as embroidery from India, hand felted scarves and carvings from Poland.
Painting murals in private homes and businesses using a color wash technique, with natural sponges and a multitude of color and tones, enlivened many peoples’ lives over the years. Organizing community workshops, creating 2’ x 3’ banners which hang from telephone poles in warmer months. Mary inspired friends and communities to collaborate through experiencing and creating art together. She continues to paint, lead workshops, and experiment with new mediums in her rural studio in the wooded hills.
Mary lives in Vermont near Mt. Mansfield with her husband Rick. Being in the country nourishes her artist soul. The quiet, and constant unfolding of the natural world is always a source of inspiration in color and design.
She studied art at a number of different schools in the 80’s and graduated in 2015 from Northern Vermont University with a BA in Studio Art.
Mary’s grown up children continue to inspire her to write, create her own website and be a thoughtful citizen of the world.
Hard at work writing down the many adventures from my starving artist era.