Fallbrook Brandon Gallery

For Mary, process is all important. "(It) Starts in my head. I see something, maybe a group of people, a scene, an arrangement of colors and shapes that is visually exciting, and a seed is planted for a painting. I try to write something down right away, or sketch; take a photograph of the scene or set up a still life. Just anything I need for reference."

Raenell Hooten, freelance writer for Rancho magazine, said of Mary "Her astute observations result in works that are individually different. She is successful because each painting is a new experience and because she goes further than what is in front of her"

Mary concurs, "I avoid starting a painting the same way every time. Very often I treat the paper with acrylic medium or gesso, or paint on illustration board. Each experience is a little different. As I paint, various ideas and problems occur so I might put the painting away a solution comes to mind. Seldom do I start and finish work all in one session; some might take several years to complete."

Of the many awards Mary has been presented with, she is most proud of these:

1983 Watercolor West Annual Exhibition, Riverside, CA
1986 Rocky Mountain National, Golden, CO
1987 San Diego Museum of Art Guild Annual Juried Exhibition, San DIego, CA
1988 National Watercolor Society Annual Exhibition (selected for the Travelling Show)
1991 Art Guild Juried Exhibition at the Lyceum Theater, San Diego, CA