Springfield Art Guild
Springfield, Virginia

MARY EXLINE

My goal is to communicate the emotions of the abstract through representational painting. The challenge is to take the viewer beyond the subject depicted and bring them into an emotional response to the elements of shape, form, texture, value and color expressed through heavy layers of textured paint and glazes to connote movement and a spirit of spontaneity. I often choose colors that are not in the natural environment, and I call this expression abstract color. Recently, my expressions in paint are the creative strokes of color and mark-making that leads to freeing up the imagination. Then I am led intuitively to create something purely from my imagination. This is an exciting way to paint. My subjects are the wild hidden places not trod by many feet, places of solitude and peacefulness, seeing light through the trees and leafy boughs, the wetlands and forests warmed by the sun casting long shadows upon the earth, and kissed in the evening twilight in the moment of mystery between day and night as the light hovers just at the horizon before traveling to distant lands. I like to capture the varying moods of the atmosphere, weather, and times of the day. My work in color is influenced by Wolf Kahn and abstract artist, Brian Rutenberg.

Schools:

Marietta College, Marietta, Ohio: 2 years watercolor painting
National Art Academy, Washington, DC: interior design, graduated w/BFA
NVA Art League: 3 years watercolor w/Marge Alderson
Creative Brush, Manassas, VA: one year oil painting w/Linda Parker
Vander Zee School of Painting, Old Town Alexandria, VA: 3 years oil/acrylic painting w/Rob Vander Zee
 
I currently exhibit work at Kelly's Art and Frame, Old Town Alexandria, VA.

My recent juried work:
2010 Green Springs Garden, Annandale, VA
2011 Green Springs Garden, Annandale, VA
2010 Gallery West, Old Town Alexandria, VA
2011 Gallery West, Old Town Alexandria, VA

P.O.P. Show, Springfield, VA for February 13 through March 13, 2011 2/3
I have won ribbons in first second, third, and honorable mention.

Other accomplishments:
Publications:
Ink floral drawings for the monthly publication were used in the "Gardenline" at Green Springs Garden of the Fairfax Park Authority.
The Arts Council of Fairfax County asked me to design a pin of the Bluebird that was used as an award to be given to volunteers working for Fairfax County.
The Fairfax Audubon Society of Vienna, VA: ink drawings of birds in the "Potomac Flyer."  One of the drawings was used as the headline banner of one of the monthly articles.

My work can be viewed at: www.artid.com/maryexline

Links
www.springfieldartguild.com www.fallschurcharts.com www.artallianceassociation.com