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)