About Us
This is a collaborative body of work. Collaborative with a capital C from point zero to the finish line. We each have our areas of expertise and focus, with everything feeding into the one.
It all begins with our travels. We love going on long drives down roads never before taken, or returning to favorite spots in different seasons and times of day. We go on walks and hikes and stop for picnics, exploring and taking everything in. Lou Ann drives the car and plots the course while Mary watches patiently, with camera at the ready to capture the inspirational sites that will become the source material for drawings. It is a precious time filled with lots of pointing and “oooh, look at…”
This process of travel, discovery and acquisition is the foundation of our work both as the activity that inspires us to create and the ideas we aim to share. In our work, we strive to create spaces of contemplation and quiet. A place where the viewer can take a long, deep exhale. We focus on 3 primary themes; Resilience, Reflection and Expansion. The Resilience theme is explored in images of flowers and plants growing straight out of rock or cliffs or dessert sands making their beauty and presence known and thriving in seemingly impossible circumstances. We work with the Reflection theme in the many scenes of nature being displayed on the glassy surface of ponds, streams and rivers. The ‘mirroring back’ can only happen in perfect detail when the air is still, and there is nothing to disturb the surface of the water. The theme of Expansion is expressed in the big open skies, fluffy white clouds or clouds dropping rain or snow, and the vastness of mountains, canyons and fields. Open space in its many forms, with clean air, making room for whatever is needed.
The physical process of making the work begins with Lou Ann. Using acrylic paint, she lays in the composition, establishes the color palette, and paints in the foundational stripes. Then she hands the piece off to Mary who adds texture, details and gives form to Lou Ann’s shapes using graphite pencils, colored pencils and pastels. Our substrate is either cradled wood panels or 300lb watercolor paper.
Selected Awards
Featured Artist - Des Moines Arts Festival - 2026 (fine art)
Invitational Award - Plaza Art Fair - 2024 (fine art)
Featured Artist - Garden of the Gods-2024 (fine art)
Award of Merit - Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival - 2023 (fine art)
Award of Distinction - Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival - 2022 (fine art)
Invitational Award - Madison Art Fair on the Square - 2021 (fine art)
WDCC Award of Merit - Morning Glory Art Fair - 2019 (fine art)
Best in Show - Madison Art Fair on the Square - 2018 (jewelry)
Award of Excellence - Piedmont Craftsmen - 2016 (jewelry)
Featured Artist - Madison Art Fair on the Square - 2016 (jewelry)
Award of Excellence – Wisconsin Designer Crafts Council –2015(jewelry)
Invitational Award – Madison Art Fair on the Square – 2014 (jewelry)
Regional Artist Project Grant - Cabarrus County NC - 2011-2012 (jewelry)
Second Place Jewelry - Sausalito Art Festival - 2010 (jewelry)
Jewelry Third Place - Scottsdale Arts Festival - 2009 (jewelry)
Best of Jewelry - Des Moines Arts Festival - 2006 (jewelry)
Award of Excellence - American Craft Council - St. Paul - 2006 (jewelry)
Best of Open Category - Brookside Art Annual - 2006 (jewelry)
2nd Place - St. Louis Artfair - 2005 (jewelry)
Award of Excellence - Piedmont Craftsmen - 2005 (jewelry)
Selected Publications
Masters: Polymer Clay – 2010
– Curated by Rachel Carren, PhD, Published by Lark Books
1,000 Rings, Inspiring Adornments for the Hand – 2004
– Edited by Marthe Le Van, Published by Lark Books
400 Polymer Clay Designs, A Collection of Dynamic and Colorful Contemporary Work
– 2004 – Edited by Suzanne J. Tourtillott, Published by Lark Books