Violet & Jasmine, Mary Wood

Mary Wood-McNeil
"Family Portraits"
Chalk Pastels

Artist Statement: I love to create art ... I use all different mediums such as oil paints, acrylic, water colour, clay hand built sculptures etc. Usually my choice of medium depends on what I want to depict and how. As I pondered what medium to create this series of artworks "Family Portraits" I decided to use chalk pastels. I love the softness of the pastels and the hand blending techniques : chalk pastels were perfect for such personal artwork creations. I create larger scale portrait drawings using chalk pastel on vellum surface paper or pastel paper. I work from photographs that have struck a chord in my heart and have begged to be reproduced by my hand. "Family Portraits" will become timeless treasures : a moment in time captured forever on paper with chalk pastel. When I work on each piece my thoughts are about one I am drawing... it almost seems like I get lost in creating with the one I am depicting : it is a very good place to be.

Biography: Born in Manitou, Manitoba, Mary is a multi disciplined artist: she grew up in rural Manitoba on a mixed farm in the Pembina Valley. As a child she was continually drawing and sketching her world as she has seen it: visually depicting the scenic beauty, animals, and family that surrounded her.  She is a painter and sculptor  who loves to create : it is the subject matter that dictates the medium most suitable in depicting what is coming from her heart. She favours painting and hand building sculptures with clay, although recently has acquired a love of chalk pastels.

Although Mary is basically a self taught artist, her art has developed professionally over a period of 30 years through University courses as well as working along side many talented acclaimed artists.  Mary sites the Canadian Group of Seven as her first inspiration for creating art: over the years many artists have made an influence on her personal art style. However it has become clear to her that the true inspiration for her art work comes from God. He dictates what to create and who it is for: her art is considered prophetic art that has a purpose.

Her work has won awards for advancement and recognition and has been exhibited in art shows in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and North Dakota. Her art is in private collections across Canada.

Mary recently retired from Parkwest school division, where she taught high school art, and facilitated government programs such as ArtSmarts and Arts Education Access throughout the division . She has taught many adults and students art classes from her  studio in Russell, Manitoba. Her and her husband have moved to Somerset, Manitoba where Mary continues to create art and love art!