Meet Mary Hamilton…
Mary and I have been chatting back and forth for a couple weeks now. I think she is a fabulous artist, so we decided to exchange Etsy minis and questionnaires. You can read my answers to the questions in her blog.
| Etsy Buy Handmade DreamON |
I notice that you are in Florida and wondered how long you have lived there?
My husband, Bob, and I have lived in Florida for 10 years.
Are you in a rural area or city?
We live in the metro area of Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater which is also known as Tampa Bay. There is no city of Tampa Bay, but many people think that is its name.
What do you like about it, and what do you dislike?
I love the natural beauty of the area. It is an absolute feast of artistic subjects.
I love the beach - sitting on it, walking on it, driving along it.
I love the slowed-down feel of being on the beach.
I love watching the shore birds.
I love the things you find at the beach, and it’s always something new, at least to me.
I love the weather in the late Fall, Winter and Spring when the temperatures have moderated.
I love that the people are friendly.
I love the art groups I have been involved with.
I love the variety of good restaurants and eating outdoors.
I love going to Anna Maria Island and sitting in the gallery there.
I dislike the traffic, especially in the winter when there are more people who are unfamiliar with the area.
I’m not so fond of the worries that hurricane season brings.
Are you involved with any art groups, or do you show in a gallery?
I’m way involved, and sometimes I think too involved. I belong to three groups, two of those have galleries and the responsibilities that go along with that. The third group also has a lot of involvement with showing artwork in local sidewalk shows and in venues such as shops and restaurants. All of them have websites: www.studio1212.org, www.amiartistsguildgallery.com, and www.creative-artists-guild.com.
How long have you been painting?
I was an Art major in college, but then I had to earn a living and raise a family, so I didn’t paint for a lot of years. Now I’ve been back to painting for about 12 years and don’t see how I ever did without it.
What time of day do you find is best for you to paint?
I usually find I get most serious about painting between 2 and 8 pm. It varies, but life usually interferes with errands and running around in the mornings.
What do you like about your workspace, and what do you dislike?
I have a beautiful room here with a wonderful view of the lake we live on, and I could sit there and just look at that view forever. We moved here two years ago, and I’ve been able to have my own room for the first time.
What I dislike is me, and my inability to organize my beautiful space. When you make art, you collect “stuff” from everywhere, and there’s never anywhere to put it all. Also, I’m always putting something down in the middle of a project and then not being able to find the thing I just had 30 seconds ago. Makes me crazy.
Do you listen to any music while you paint and what kind?
I listen to Country. Ha Ha! The Country music of today is nothing like the twangy stuff it used to be, and it’s the most like good old Rock n Roll used to be.
How did your style evolve?
It “just did”, is the best answer I can come up with. I have taken many classes and workshops, and I think you probably come away from each of them with something you make your own over time. I’ve enjoyed a lot of experimental techniques, and trying new things, because it’s the most like true “playing” an adult can do. When I paint and really get into it, time passes, and before I’m aware of it I have to turn on the lights, because it has gotten dark.
