“I paint for the simple and clear reason that it is what I was meant to do.”
Mary H Reed has been a featured artist in over 68 fine art events, including juried festivals in the Southeast, solo exhibitions and numerous group exhibitions. She was awarded First in Fine Art at the 14th annual Arts Festival of Carrollton and First in Painting at Tupelo’s Gumtree Festival. She has studied under numerous teachers during her lifetime in art including her father, James C Keith, as well as Larry Moore, Jason Saunders, Dawn Whitelaw, Camille Przewodek and many others. Her works are collected coast-to-coast and internationally.
Exhibit Statement
“My connection to art began with early childhood. My dad was an independent commercial artist whose workspace/studio was located in our Omaha home as I was growing up, so I was probably more aware of art and the making of it than kids who didn’t have that day-to-day connection. As I got older, my first three jobs were in retail art supplies, custom framing and a gallery. In high school, I became highly focused on painting, drawing and ceramics classes and I fell in love with the works of the old masters – especially Rembrandt. I still have the large-format book that truly captivated me as a teen. That book weighs in at 7 pounds and is nearly 3” thick and I read it cover-to-cover. I was hooked. I wanted to learn how to paint with oils.”
“It took a while for me to make the connection that painting is a very physical activity. My eyes follow my hand as I experience the sensation of moving paint around on a canvas or wood surface, the lovely light fragrance of linseed oil alongside the sharp tang of turpentine, the feeling of the palette knife in my hand as I mix color on my large glass palette. These are aspects of the physical experience of painting that really haven’t changed since Rembrandt was making his art, another connection. The physicality of the work, specifically bringing something to existence which did not exist beforehand, is also an example of connection to anyone who creates by the work of their hands. Mechanic, tailor, potter, baker, gardener, carpenter, hairstylist, floral arranger, and painter – connected.”
“My interest in and practice of painting has fostered connections through years of work with the Carnegie Visual Arts Center and River Clay, through the artists I’ve met to the artworks I’ve donated to benefit area non-profit organizations, to the many clients who own my art coast-to-coast and internationally. Painting has brought me connection to wonderful humans in many walks of life who have enriched my world, my heart and my soul. I thrive on being a part of a thoughtful and talented community of artists who have shared their many gifts, but most importantly, together we have shared a Connection to Inspiration.” -Mary H Reed
