Mary Clouse

Visual Arts : Illustration , Mixed Media , Painting

Born in Ohio, Mary grew up with a love of two things: animals and art. From an early age she began drawing creatures of all types. In an effort to keep up with their budding artist her parents enrolled her in private art lessons with a commercial cartoonist as well as lessons at the Dayton Art Institute. As a high school student her illustrations and creations frequently took top honors. Always finding new ways to incorporate her passions, she combined her love of pets and imagery with ... view more »

She attended Marian University and majored in Fine Art. When she wasn’t busy drawing human figures, creating ceramic sculptures, setting stained glass or silk screening the latest posters for campus theater productions she could be found in the painting studio, working in oils. During her summers she worked at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. The area commander noticed her creative skills and commissioned her to do a large plate glass painting for the entry to International Logistics Headquarters. Her diversity and dedication to the artistic craft were recognized when she was awarded the All Department Art Award, Outstanding Senior, during her final year of college.

After graduating, Mary turned her flair for design into a career as an interior and retail designer, working for several private design studios, department stores and retail fixture design and manufacturing firms.

She volunteered her knowledge of liturgical art by serving as the head of liturgical art at her church. When the parish undertook construction of a new, multi-million dollar sanctuary, Mary was asked to serve on the design committee. Her illustrations and patterns were turned into fifteen foot etched glass panels that illuminated the Blessed Sacrament Chapel (St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church, Indianapolis, IN).

Over the years she enjoyed various creative outlets, including illustrations, murals, design and marketing materials, and a number of crafts. In 2011, The Adventures of Frissle the Bear, a children’s story written and illustrated by her, was published; once again combining her love of animals and art.

In 2013 Mary returned to her love of painting, this time exploring the medium of watercolor. She has studied extensively under the tutelage of noted watercolorist, Sandy Ezell. Always looking to explore new avenues in the world of watercolor, Mary is an active member of the Watercolor Society of Indiana and has attended a number of workshops, including an intensive workshop with renowned international watercolorist, Frank Francese. She exhibits her work in the Midwest region and her paintings have won numerous awards and entries to juried shows such as the Watercolor Society of Indiana Show (Indianapolis Museum of Art), Indiana Heritage Arts Exhibition, Hoosier Salon Good Old Summertime Exhibition, Indiana State Fair and Riley Festival, including a first and second place sweep (Professional Division).

Mary continues to explore new methods and techniques in painting with recent additions of alcohol inks, cast epoxy and watercolor, as well as media mixing with the aforementioned.

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Drink the Sun

MORE ABOUT THIS ARTIST

Artist Style: Visual : Collage , Contemporary , Dream Imagery/Ethereal , Expressionistic , Illustrative , Impressionistic , Nature/Wildlife , Sacred/Liturgical Art , Symbolic

Artist Medium: Visual Arts : Mixed Media , Watercolor

More Info

About My Work:

My greatest passions, outside of my two-legged family, are my animals and art. From the time I could pick up a crayon I was busy drawing pictures of all sorts of creatures, horses, dogs, bunnies, birds, dragons; pretty much anything that moved!

Today that apple hasn’t fallen too far from the tree, I still love to include animals–even tiny ladybugs–in my art. Watercolor is my preferred medium because it is alive and a co-creative experience. One never knows how the water, paper and pigment will react together and I love that element of surprise in my work. I find my best work is done when I let go and allow that collaboration between artist and elements to occur. I especially enjoy working with different types of paper that really expand on that interactive experience, papers such as Masa (Japanese rice paper) and Yupo (plasticized paper), in addition to the more traditional paper surfaces.

I find the use of symbols–even artifacts—in my paintings is very important. To me, art should tell a story, but sometimes the storyline isn’t always apparent; that’s where archetypes come into play. The curve of a line isn’t just a design element, it may represent the breath of God, a Reiki symbol or a change in time. I draw many of my symbols from traditional Jungian interpretation as well as New Age and Native American lore.

I prefer brilliant colors, whether jewel tone or pastel and my brushstrokes are also quite strong. I think the choice of color palette and hand the artist uses are somewhat indicative of the individual’s personality.

My goal in creating art is take the viewer to a new place, one where color, shape, life and elements combine to form a different reality, and a fresh story.

Upcoming Events:

One-Woman Exhibition by Mary Clouse, at the Southside Art League, Nov. 2 – 26. Regular gallery hours 11am – 3pm. Opening reception Friday, Nov. 4 from 6-8:00pm; free.

Education:

Bachelor of Arts, Marian University, 1980

Affiliations:

Watercolor Society of Indiana, Signature Member

Indiana Wildlife Artists

American Impressionists Society

American Watercolor Society

Awards:

2014 – Riley Festival: 1^st place, 3^rd place, adult beginner painting

2015 – Riley Festival: 3^rd place, adult intermediate painting

2016 – Indiana State Fair: 3^rd place, non-professional watercolor

2016 – Riley Festival: 1^st place, 3^rd place, adult advanced

2017 – Hoosier Salon New Harmony show, merit award

2016 – 2017 – Art exhibited/for sale, Gallery 42

2018 – Riley Festival: 1^st place, 2^nd place, professional division

2018 – Watercolor Society of Indiana Annual Juried Exhibition at Newfields; finalist

2018-2019 Art exhibited for sale at Art Bank Gallery

2019 – Minnetrista – Open Space, Art About the Land – two pieces accepted in juried exhibition

2019-2020 Art exhibited for sale at Rogue Art in the Alley Gallery and Shelby Artists Guild Association Gallery

2020 – Watercolor Society of Indiana Annual Juried Exhibition at Newfields; awarded WSI Signature status

2020 – International Women in Watercolor; finalist

2020 – Hoosier Women Artists – finalist

2020 – Indiana Wildlife Artists Annual Juried Exhibition – Honorable Mention

2021 – present Art exhibited for sale at Southside Art League Gallery

2021 – Watercolor Society of Indiana Annual Juried Exhibition at Newfields; finalist

2021 – Indiana Heritage Arts – winner of Ronald O. Elkins Memorial Award

2022 – Art exhibited for sale at Anderson Museum of Art

2022 – Indiana Wildlife Artists Annual Juried Exhibition – Second place, Honorable Mention

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