| About the Artist
Mara was born in Italy, grew up in Rhodesia, a
British Colony in Southern Africa now renamed Zimbabwe, and immigrated into the
USA in 1995, making Florida home for 12 years.
Mara has had no formal training in art except
for school art classes in her youth, but her passion for drawing, painting and
sculpting, has prompted her to take whatever workshops she could afford between
her busy career in travel and being a mom of three daughters. Mara’s greatest
inspiration since her move to the USA has been from watching art programs on
PBS. She now enjoys oil painting floral compositions in the style of Kathwren
and Gary Jenkins, landscapes as taught by Robert Butler in acrylics and Bob Ross
in oils, as well as folkloristic One-Stroke™ Painting “alla” Donna Dewberry in
which she is a Certified Instructor. Mara however values her individuality too
much to emulate any one style, and she often combines all these techniques into
one. Her love of art has also extended to learning the skills of hand-thrown
pottery and China painting.
Mara’s art works have been exhibited in
Johannesburg South Africa in 1995, at the Sarasota Visual Art Center in 1996,
Gulf Gate Artist Expo in 1997, Lake Placid Caladium Arts and Crafts since 2002,
and at the Mostra Artistica in Bolsena Italy in 2003 and 2004. At The 2005 Lake
Placid Country Fair, Mara took home 12 ribbons exhibiting her oil, acrylics,
pottery and China painting winning also a “Best of the Best” prize in pottery.
Each of her entries also won awards in the 2006 Fair.
In 2008 Mara and husband Robert decided to spend
their “Golden Years” in Tennessee, and built a Victorian home and art studio in
Rugby on the Cumberland Plateau. Here Mara continues to teach both “Wet-On-Wet”
oil technique and “One-Stroke”™ Acrylic Painting. Under the personal guidance of
Gary and Kathwren Jenkins, Mara is continuing her study of fine art to certify
as a Jenkins International Art Instructor, in the hope of assisting her mentors
with both domestic and overseas workshops. Mara enjoys sharing her love of art
and poetry not only with her students, but also with fellow artists as a member
of various local art associations.
Professional Services
Offered
- Teaches all levels, but loves the beginner student
- Enjoys teaching children
- Demonstrations of Art materials for Manufacturers
Also Offering
- Demonstrates manufacturers products and painting techniques
- Paints and teaches in oils, acrylics, glass painting, metal works, and
crafts
- Commissions accepted for portraits and animal portraits.
- Original works of Art in assorted subjects
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"Back Yard Visitor"
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"Antique Roses" |
"Seascape Lighthouse" |
"Tulips" |
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