Mary Verrandeaux: Sunlit Forest

I'm very close to finishing a large painting of the setting sun piercing through the Florida forest. At 36" x 48", this is one of the largest paintings I have done. I've really had the desire to work large lately, I really loved how the sun is seeping through the forest and the trees, the colors and the way it affects the leaves are fascinating to me.

I'm also working on a series of still life paintings. Fruits, vegetables, bottles, flowers, I am just moving to a place where I feel that I must experiment and expand my portfolio.

Artist Statement

I cannot remember a time when I didn't draw, sketch, or doodle on every school paper, homework or note pad available to me. As a child, I was involved in showing horses and taking care of our family farm in upstate New York. But any time I sat still, a bale of hay or a warm summer day, I was drawing and creating. Although I remember being encouraged in grade school, it really wasn't until I moved to Florida in 1979 and took art with fine artist Jack Thursby. Jack was instrumental in encouraging me that I truly had a future in art. I was accepted to Ringling College of Art & Design and graduated as an illustrator, with honors in 1983.

In 1985, I founded Verrandeaux Visual Communications, Inc. A full-service marketing and advertising firm in Ocala, Florida. The firm grew to become a million + business. But I always knew I wanted to pursue a fine arts career later. After 21 years, that later came in April of 2006, when I sold the business and devoted my time to painting full-time.

I had began to pursue commissioned portrait work around 1999. It is a discipline that is very fitting for my style. I absolutely love animals and love being able to capture not just the resemblance of someone, but the true character.

I absolutely love pursuing my portrait career. I love the people I meet and working with them. My collectors (clients) have turned into great friends and the joy I receive from delivering the finished portrait to my collectors can't be described with words. Growing up showing hunters and jumpers, I feel right at home among the trainers, exhibitors and the sounds of the horseshows.

Mary Verrandeaux

Saturday, February 9, 2008

Sunlit Forest

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