Artist Statement

My paintings are inspired by my daily walk in nature.  I have the tremendous good fortune to live next to land where, in a 30-minute walk, I can see a range of wildlife, including mallard ducks, herons, deer, turtles, fish, and sometimes fox kits playing. 

​In the world of art, we tend to dismiss the ordinary to inflate the value of the avant-garde.   Because our real lives are not an Instagram highlight reel, the subjects of my artwork are relatable, evoking memories that offer a sense of connection against the backdrop of an increasingly fractured world.

I create landscapes to offer respite from the daily grind, which can consume us without our intentional agreement. They allow a pause and contemplation, inviting viewers to engage with nature’s beauty. By celebrating this, I hope to foster greater appreciation for nature in others. Painting plein air hones my observation and lets me capture a moment, conveying the sensation of being present as an observer.

“Echoes” depicts a line of Osage orange trees, which were planted many, many years ago by a farmer who intended this perfect row to act as a fence.  The title has a double meaning, referring both to the physical repetition of the trees and, figuratively, to an echo of the forgotten people who once lived here. 

About Mary

I see paintings everywhere I go.  With pure pigment in the form of pastels, I reinterpret local, everyday life to reveal the joy of the moment.  Because many of us lead busy lives full of digital distractions, I want to celebrate overlooked beauty.  How light ignites or bleaches a color fascinates me.   Making art is my instinctual response.  The dichotomy that we need both the light and the dark to see the merits of the other parallels our shared human experience.  In my paintings, I want to show viewers the wonder of the world around them, even if found simply in how light falls on an object.

Growing up in the countryside of Frederick, Maryland, I learned to value the natural landscape and the diligent work ethic of the farming community.  I studied drawing, art history, printmaking, painting, and sculpture at West Virginia University and Lacoste School of Arts in France, graduating with a teaching degree and a Bachelor of Fine Arts emphasis in pottery.  I spent several stints teaching, drawing portraits, and operating a successful functional pottery business until I chose to invest my creative efforts in staying home to raise a family.  Making functional pottery raised my awareness of the marks made by the artist, which later led me to choose pastels as a medium of expression.  Pastels allow me the most direct translation from the color held in my hand to the surface.  As my children become more independent, I am renewing my efforts to make art. 

Please find me on Facebook and Instagram or on my website at marymooresfineart.com.