Hi. I’m Mary, and I’m happy to join Jackie and Kathy as one of the Painting and More group moderators. I’m an editor for both fine art and comic/fantasy art books, and I have a wide range of artistic and craft interests.

My primary creative interest at the moment is knitting, though, now that it’s starting to warm up outside, I’m starting to lean more towards crafts and activities that take me outdoors. (I suppose that makes me a fair-weather..er...ill-weather knitter.) My other artistic interests include clay (both sculpture and pottery), photography, drawing, sewing, embroidery and beading. I have also, upon occasion, dabbled in pysanka (a Ukrainian egg-dying technique), candle and soap making, basket weaving and more.

I’m not currently a painter, but I hope to give it a try. I’m actually taking a community drawing class at the local art academy this summer in hopes of improving my skills so that I might feel confident enough to give painting a shot. I think I’d like to try working with pastel or oils. What painting medium did you start out with? What did you enjoy or find challenging? Any recommendations for my first foray into painting?

I’m excited to be a part of the Painting and More community, and I can’t wait to exchange ideas with you!

mary