Mary Dolph Wood
"I have an intense love of painting. From the first canvas I painted in 1990, my enthusiasm hasn't waned. Daily when I am at my studio, the first strokes of paint that I place on the canvas draw me into artistic pleasure. I like to paint "wet on wet" so I usually finish most of the painting in one sitting. Everything is fresh; fresh paint, fresh subjects, fresh outlook. I love flowers. So buying a fresh bouquet starts the process for the next painting, At times I go outdoors and wander until I find the subject that captures my interest. Having a variety of subjects keeps me thinking and growing. I never want to stagnate. My love for color and texture draw me to paint and through my inspiration I hope others will be inspired by God's handiwork."
The magic of Mary Dolph Wood's paintings lies in the depth of their shadows. Dusky and inviting, these backgrounds glow with possibility. The exuberant cascades of brush work magnify the warm, fragrant mystery of the forms beneath. Mary's paintings are in collections throughout the United States, including the permanent collection pf the Van Vaechten-Lineberry Taos Museum. The paintings are inspired by the colorful life around Mary's home and studio. Occasionally, she travels and paints on location, capturing a picturesque seashore or a small fishing village in her signature style, but the everyday surroundings afford a lifetime of subject matter.
Mary comes from a family that values creative work. Among her ancestors is the noted painter George Catlin (1796-1872), who traveled the American West and made visual records of the Indian tribes and their cultures before they were changed by the arrival of European traditions. Catlin's quaint, formal portraits are from a time deep in history, yet there is the strong art spirit which connects these two distant relatives in their life's work. Mary honors the family creativity with pure love for her subject, her brush and her canvas.