ARTIST STATEMENT
I collect too many rocks and am in awe of the complexities of nature and the majestic world we live in. My studio is on the shore of Lake Michigan, a good place for my body and soul to recharge every night as I dream my abstract layered and scarred oil and cold wax paintings into being. Inspired by views, memories and wanderings I construct a picture in which shapes, spaces and colors form a set of unique relationships that combine to express a personal landscape. I work in oil and cold wax mixed media building up layers on the treated surface of birch panels or supported canvases. To achieve a finished painting I have to go through many iterations on the surface before I am happy with the result. Drawing is at the heart of my process with lines and a personal set of symbols and markings telling the story of my interactions with nature and memories. My paintings are about finding the edges of an experience or a story without giving too much away. I don’t want to spell it out for the viewer but want to allow room for them to feel or see something meaningful. Making paintings is a daily challenge and my greatest joy, and is my way of communicating my emotions and feelings.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
I have a BFA in Painting and Drawing from UW-Milwaukee and a Master of Arts in Education from Lesley University as well as many additional workshops and courses. After a 24 year career as a high school art teacher I retired and now paint in a studio overlooking Lake Michigan. My paintings have been included in juried exhibitions in Wisconsin, Michigan and Illinois and Ohio and Colorado. I have won purchase prize awards, a merit award, a donor award, and the opportunity to be featured artist in a 2 person show at the Marquette MI arts and culture Jack Deo Gallery. I have had solo shows at the Hartwig Gallery, Escanaba; Mr Helsinki, Fish Creek and Telluride Arts District HQ Gallery. I am honored to be represented by galleries in WI, MI and TN.
© Mara Manning