About the Artist Mary Weldy
Mary Weldy has been in-love with horses as far back as she can remember.
From the kitchen broom to the banister on the staircase of the farm house in
Maine, where she lived as a child they were all pseudo horses. In the
winters, growing up in New England, Mary would craft a snow horse. The snow
sculpture would be the size of a shetland pony with an intricately chiseled
head, mane and saddle. She would ride her snow pony all winter until the
spring sun and rain would melt the sculpture away.
It was only natural that this passion would flow through her artistic
fingers. Today her horses are real and her media are more permanent. Growing
up, Mary drew horses on everything from book covers to shirt sleeves. At the
age of 15, someone gave her a shoe box full of paint-by-number, oil paints
and a well-used brush. Using nail polish for thinner and pebble board for
canvas, Mary painted the neighbor's dog. She was ecstatic when the neighbor
bought the dogs portrait. She used the money to buy her first tubes of oil
paints and a good brush. Thus spurred her journey as a fine artist.
When her family moved to Southern California, the dream of owning her own
horse became reality. Mary trained, rode and showed horses for many years.
After marrying, raising a family and moving to Arizona, Nevada and Texas,
all the while riding, training and painting horses, she feels her art has
only recently blossomed.
Mary studied art at the U of A in Tucson and at Southwestern College in
Southern California. She claims "Training the eye to see is the key. If you
don't know what you're looking at how can you draw it?" She has taught
others in private drawing classes both techniques and secrets to getting it
right. She enjoys drawing and painting, not only horses and dogs but,
children in unassuming poses, to capture those most precious moments.
Due to the need for good working photographs she has added photography to
her skills. And recently Mary has begun sculpting. Her present career as
publisher and creative director of a national equine art magazine, Horses in
Art, along with her deep faith in Christ keep Mary constantly inspired.
Her work has exhibited throughout the Southwest and has won her awards on
both the national and local levels. She works mainly in oil on canvas but
feels equally adept at pencil and pastel. Mary offers originals, prints and
note cards for sale. She is available for commissions to capture your
loved one. For a free brochure and details about Mary's work or art classes
contact her at her studio in Jamul, California, 619/669-1305 or toll free
877-220-5966.
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