Mary K. Forshagen grew up in Texas and attended Texas A&M University. She is a signature member of the Oil Painters of America.
She has always loved art. In the early 1990’s, after a career as a CPA and raising a family, she decided to focus on painting.
A major turning point in her career came in 1993 at a plein-air painting workshop in Taos, New Mexico. “I had always painted primarily from life – now I paint primarily en plein air. There is a unique relationship between the artist and nature that I love. I am stimulated by the challenges of outdoor painting: a quickly changing light source, the scent of wildflowers in the air and even those pesky little bugs that inevitably fly into my wet painting. All of these factors contribute to the emotional feel of a painting. I try to recreate for my viewers the excitement and joy I experience while painting a scene.”
Mary K. enjoys painting landscapes, still lifes and figures. “It does not matter what the subject is, if I love the color and light and it moves me emotionally, it usually finds its way to my canvas.”
Whether at home in Texas or Colorado, she can most often be found outside painting. “Nature gives me great joy and countless ideas for paintings. I hope to share my unique view of the world and its beauty with all who see my work.”
To view Mary’s work, click here.