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mary valesano 250

 

Mary Valesano
www.MaryValesanoStudio.com

Artist statement

I have always been drawn to the luminous effects created with watermedia. My choice of subject matter varies as I seek to express what inspires me at the moment. This can be the sweet gaze of a beloved pet, a fresh and innocent new cactus bloom, the play of light and shadow across an interesting face, or the challenge of taking a known subject and elevating the excitement level in some new way. I love to experiment, try new ideas and techniques.
HOW I paint these inspirations is all about the use of textures and luminous, juicy color, color, color! Did I say I love color? YES! I love color! I love to splash a fun and unexpected color or pigment into my paintings. I don’t always choose color based upon exactly what I see, but rather, what I feel will tell the story.
WHY I paint is to share some of the JOY I feel about the subject through my use of color. If my work brings a smile, I feel my goal has been accomplished.

 

Exhibitions/
Awards:

Exhibitions:
2015 - AWA Fall Membership Exhibition; Juror: Lian Quan Zhen
2106 - AWA Spring Membership Exhibition; Juror: Mel Stabin
2016 - AWA Fall Membership Exhibition; Juror: Robert Burridge
2017 - WFWS 42nd Annual Exhibition: Juror: Jeannie McGuire
2017 - AWA Spring Membership Exhibition; Juror: Birgit O'Connor
2017 - First Thursday Group Exhibition at Mesa Medical Complex; April 18th - June 30th
2017-2018 - Solo Exhibition - Russo Salon, Fountain Hills, AZ (July 2017 thru June 2018)
2017 - AWA Fall Membership Exhibition: Juror: Anne Abgott
2018 - AWA Spring Membership Exhibition: Juror: Michael Reardon
2018- WFWS 43rd Annual Exhibition: Juror: Ted Nuttall
2018 - Arizona Art Alliance, “A League of Their Own” - June 2018 (Holland Gallery, Cave Creek, AZ); Juror: Sherry Kimmel
2018 - AWA Fall Membership Exhibition: Juror: Jean Pedersen
2018 - CWA Fall Exhibition: Juror: Marty Gibson
2019 - WFWS 44th Annual Exhibition: Juror - Kathleen Conover
2019 - First Thursday Group Exhibition at ASU Gammage Theater, Tempe, Arizona. April 1 thru May21, 2019
2019 - AWA Spring Membership Exhibition: Juror : Joyce Hicks
2019 - Arizona Art Alliance “A League of Their Own” - June 2019 (Holland Gallery, Cave Creek, AZ) Juror: Sherry Kimmel
2019 - AWA Fall Membership Exhibition: Juror: Antonio Masi
2020 - CWA Painting Exhibition : Juror Andre Licardi
2020 - AWA Spring/Fall Membership Exhibition : Juror - Geri Medway
2020 - WFWS 45th Annual Exhibition: Juror - Stephen Quiller
2021 - Phoenix SkyHarbor Museum, Terminal 4 (February thru September) - “Sonoran Strata Gold”
2021 - AWA Spring Exhibition : Juror - Tom Lynch
2021 - CWA Exhibition- West Valley Art Museum; Juror - Kim Johnson-Nechtman
2021 - AWA Fall Exhibition - Scottsdale Civic Center: Juror David R Smith
2022- Experimental & Imaginative Water Media Exhibition - CWA/Sonoran Arts League - Center For the Arts

Awards:
2016 – Merchant Award - AWA Spring Exhibition - “Just Five More Minutes Please!”
2016 – Best of Show – AWA Fall Exhibition – “ Sweet Lucy”
2017 - Merchant Award - AWA Fall Exhibition - "Morning Coffee"
2018 - Award of Distinction - AWA Spring Exhibition - "December Morning Memories"
2018 - Awarded Signature Member Status in the Arizona Watercolor Association (AWA)
2018 - Merchant Award - AWA Fall Exhibition - “Waiting For Wild Turkey”
2019 - Merchant Award - AWA Spring Exhibition - “Festive Agave”
2019 - Awarded Signature Member Status in Western Federation Watercolor Society (WFWS)
2019 - Award of Distinction - AWA Fall Exhibition - “Joyful Reunion II”
2020 - Best of Show - AWA Spring/Fall Exhibition - “Love Poems”
2021 - Merchant Award - AWA Spring Exhibition - “DesertScape”
2021 - Merchant Award - CWA Exhibition - “Festive Palo Verde”
2021 - Awarded Signature Member Status in Contemporary Watermedia Artists (CWA)

 

 

 Hot Cha Cha
Hot Cha Cha

 


Love Over All
Love All Over

 

Lucy
Lucy IV



Prickly Blooms Entangled
Prickly Blooms Entangled

 


Saguaro Bloom Fest
Saguaro Bloom Fest




Saguaro Bloom Fest II
Saguaro Bloom Fest II