Artist Statement
I have explored art for years in a wide variety of mediums and in the past few years I’ve focused on watercolor. My education in chemistry involved many aspects which now inform my art: material flow, color, close observation and experimentation. I’m a proud Wisconsin native, and I’m grateful for the inspiration of our beautiful state.
As an artist, I try to tell a story using shapes. How pieces fit together to create a whole is a foundation for all my artistic endeavors, just as words are used to relate a story. My attention will be caught by the sweep of a tree limb, the gentle curve of a hillside, a posture that conveys attitude, or some other evocative pattern, and that will be the beginning of a painting. I add information to the central idea to create the entire composition, arranging pieces as necessary to achieve balance and meaning. I try to use both the emotion and the shapes of a scene to impart an essential feeling of place, time, or memory. I find the flowing and lively characteristics of watercolor to be the perfect medium to tell a story.
Mary Tilton 202118
I have explored art for years in a wide variety of mediums and in the past few years I’ve focused on watercolor. My education in chemistry involved many aspects which now inform my art: material flow, color, close observation and experimentation. I’m a proud Wisconsin native, and I’m grateful for the inspiration of our beautiful state.
As an artist, I try to tell a story using shapes. How pieces fit together to create a whole is a foundation for all my artistic endeavors, just as words are used to relate a story. My attention will be caught by the sweep of a tree limb, the gentle curve of a hillside, a posture that conveys attitude, or some other evocative pattern, and that will be the beginning of a painting. I add information to the central idea to create the entire composition, arranging pieces as necessary to achieve balance and meaning. I try to use both the emotion and the shapes of a scene to impart an essential feeling of place, time, or memory. I find the flowing and lively characteristics of watercolor to be the perfect medium to tell a story.
Mary Tilton 202118
What do I paint?
Just about anything except flowers (and sometimes I even try to paint them!). What I find, though, is that flowers are so much more beautiful than I can do justice to, so I am rarely satisfied with how I portray them. I like most to draw and paint people and animals, although I do find them also challenging. When I can capture an attitude, signal a spirit, or tell a story (that the viewer also writes as they view the piece), then I am satisfied with the painting.
Just about anything except flowers (and sometimes I even try to paint them!). What I find, though, is that flowers are so much more beautiful than I can do justice to, so I am rarely satisfied with how I portray them. I like most to draw and paint people and animals, although I do find them also challenging. When I can capture an attitude, signal a spirit, or tell a story (that the viewer also writes as they view the piece), then I am satisfied with the painting.
Bona Fides
I've been practicing painting since 2011, when my granddaughter came into this world and delighted me as a fascinating subject. Those early paintings showed some promise (at least I liked them) so I've kept at it, expanding my subjects and exploring the seemingly endless possibilities of style and technique that watercolor offers.
Here's the earliest painting of that dear little baby.
I'm proud to have been juried into the Madison Watercolor Society (MWS), and am also a member of Wisconsin Visual Artists (WVA).
I've been part of the following exhibits:.
- WRAP (Wisconsin Regional Artists Program) Tiny Treasure Calendar September 2016
- WRAP Honorable Mention 2016, 2017
- WRAP State Exhibit Award 2018, 2019
- Paper in Particular Exhibit 2018 (juried), Columbia College, Columbus, MO, 2018
- Watercolor Wisconsin Exhibit 2018, 2022 (juried), Wustum Art Museum, Racine, WI
- Small Works Exhibit 2018 (juried), Mena Art Gallery, Mena, AK
- Northstar Watermedia Society Juried Exhibition 2019, Roseville, MN
- Red River Watercolor Society Juried Exhibition 2021, Moorhead, MN
I've been practicing painting since 2011, when my granddaughter came into this world and delighted me as a fascinating subject. Those early paintings showed some promise (at least I liked them) so I've kept at it, expanding my subjects and exploring the seemingly endless possibilities of style and technique that watercolor offers.
Here's the earliest painting of that dear little baby.
I'm proud to have been juried into the Madison Watercolor Society (MWS), and am also a member of Wisconsin Visual Artists (WVA).
I've been part of the following exhibits:.
- WRAP (Wisconsin Regional Artists Program) Tiny Treasure Calendar September 2016
- WRAP Honorable Mention 2016, 2017
- WRAP State Exhibit Award 2018, 2019
- Paper in Particular Exhibit 2018 (juried), Columbia College, Columbus, MO, 2018
- Watercolor Wisconsin Exhibit 2018, 2022 (juried), Wustum Art Museum, Racine, WI
- Small Works Exhibit 2018 (juried), Mena Art Gallery, Mena, AK
- Northstar Watermedia Society Juried Exhibition 2019, Roseville, MN
- Red River Watercolor Society Juried Exhibition 2021, Moorhead, MN