Artist Statement
Water-soluble materials continue to fascinate me. I began experimenting with different watermedia while in a weekly class. Getting into the flow of wet watercolor, acrylics, gesso and other materials is fascinating. The real work begins when I want to make a finished work from the wonderful chaos that happens on wet surfaces. The work starts to dictate where it is going and if I resist it will surely become boring and I lose the flow. Sometimes they become parts of a collage when they are torn or sometimes they require another layer to be applied. My paintings often name themselves before they are finished——-and sometimes I have to grieve their loss—-but I listen to the next layer more carefully.
ARTIST BIOGRAPHYMary’s first career was in Medical Technology. Then after spending years learning Decorative Painting she discovered watercolor classes with Tis Huberth. Experimentation with different water media became a great interest then, and has continued. Mary has taken workshops and classes from other teachers such as: Barbara Netches, Carla O’Connor, Bill McEnroe, Robert Burridge, Xiaogang Zhu, Gail Larson, Robert Brown, Ted Nuttall, Ursula Nasse and many others. Mary has also taken art classes from Peninsula College in Port Angeles, Washington.She has entered, been accepted, and won prizes in Juried Art Shows in Kent and Federal Way, Washington and more recently in shows on the Olympic Peninsula. She was president of Sequim Arts for the years 2001 and 2002. Her work can be seen at the Blue Whole Gallery in Sequim, Washington and at bluewholegallery.com or Maryfranchini.com. Presently she is teaching classes in her home studio.