Meet Mary K McDonald | Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Mary K McDonald and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Mary K, any advice for those thinking about whether to keep going or to give up?
I think that being an artist you have times of setting things down and abandoning your work. Personally, I always have about 5 different ideas circulating which can make it difficult to focus on one project. Did you know it takes anywhere from 10-30 minutes to get in the creative “zone.” I recently became a mother and I quit my job, I was an art teaching in Durango, Colorado. (That’s why I know the timing behind getting into ” the flow” and into “the zone” because I implemented that in my lesson structure as an art educator) Now that I have this element of being a parent my life, I’m going through an adjustment period ( I hope) and finding it so much harder to get into the zone and to create my work. As an artist, you don’t really have a choice of giving up; it is who you are. Now the part that is the hardest is getting your work out there and putting yourself out there in order to share your view to others. In my experience, it comes in waves like the seasons. There is a season for creation and ideas forming, and than a season for production and finally a season to share with the community. And sometimes that is all happening at once. How to know whether to keep going or to give up?… Keep going if it serves you, my art is cathartic and therapeutic (to me) When a series or a work becomes not that than it’s time to abandon it.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I use recycled canvases that I find at the thrift store or at yard sales. I use these canvases as a chance to have a conversation with the previous artist and add my layers. Like a mystery person collaboration. I started this because I went from interacting with 60 plus people per day as an educator to becoming isolated during the big shut down. My work using lines to camouflaged images, I also include things I’m passionate about such as the rivers and mountains of Colorado, my home. I’m proud of how my art has progressed and developed the last 3 years. The professional part of this journey is still very much in progress, but what I’m learning is to keep going, keep learning, keep trying. Someone once told me that I will be denied one hundred times before being accepted (for galleries, artist-in-residencies, etc). So I try to keep that in mind and keep trying! The challenges are balancing being a parent and finding time to do the business side of the art thing! Doing the art is the easy task because it’s who I am. My work is shaped by my experiences; conversations with strangers, rivers and the topography of mountains.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I live in Mancos, Colorado, pronounced Main-kiss. Our common phrases are “Meet me in Mancos” and ” Life is what you Mancos” but I’ve started to say “Hope you can Mancos!” because it is a 7 hour drive from where my family and friends live. And to get here you must choose what mountain pass you are going to brave! When my friends visit, we go hiking, in the La Platas, camping there too. Grab ciders at either Fenceline cidery or Esoterra in Dolores. We also would spend a day visiting Mesa Verde and another day exploring the Canyon of the Ancients. d

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Shoutout to all of the teachers in my life! Actual educators that have shaped the artist that I am from High School to College: Susan Lange, Joyce Centofanti, Gene Schilling, Kris Gosar, Crow Medina, Elizabeth Powis, Caroline Dyes and Hannah Britt. Thank you for your encouragement and guidance. Other teachers such as experience: without the pandemic I wouldn’t have dived off of the deep end into my painting. The reason why I have a series right now is because I needed this outlet during that disruption.

Website: https://mkmcdonald22.wixsite.com/spacekate-studios

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