About my recent art

This new series of paintings were inspired from prior paintings that included images of my childhood home. Significant events, scary moments, or wonderful recollections are all part of my memories. Looking back, how do I now feel about that time and my childhood?
 
I lived in that home for the first eighteen years of my life. The floor plan is easy to remember. Our neighborhood was comprised of nearly identical housing that was built for the GI’s returning from WWII. The differences were subtle and minimal. Some homes had shutters while others did not. Owners would paint their shutters or their front doors in an attempt to personalize their home. Others changed the configuration of their sidewalk or added awnings to customize their look. To an outsider, all of the houses still looked the same. My neighbors recognized the small changes and thought each house was distinct. My family painted their awning green with white stripes. I can only say that we were unique!
 
Because so much of my childhood revolved around music and crafts, it was natural for me to make these mixed media paintings. As I painted them, I felt as if I were re-creating part of my past. I was briefly transported back in time when art was playful and make believe was real. I could vividly recall how I felt about each room that I painted.

Although these paintings are created from my memories of home, many of the feelings conveyed in each painting are universal; the center of the home, joy, learning, funny, scarry, freedom, faith, love.

About me

Mary Medrano is an award-winning artist maintaining a full time studio and gallery in Campbell, California, USA. Her formal art training includes degrees from Western Michigan University and the University of California, Santa Cruz. She has also studied art at Instituto Allende in San Miguel de Allende, México.

Her work has been shown in the United States and Italy. She has had solo shows at Gallery Blu in Santa Clara, CA, Maturango Museum in Ridgecrest, CA, Ameriprise Financial in San José, CA and Bank of America in Sunnyvale, CA. She was also invited to show her art at the 2007 Florence Biennale in Florence, Italy. Mary is currently represented by Amsterdam Whitney Gallery in New York.

Mary's work can be seen at her studio gallery in Campbell at 305 E. Campbell Ave.