Mary McCaffrey
Artist Statement
I remember, as a very young child, sitting at the dining room table drawing, as my siblings were engrossed in their homework. And I remember my structured elementary school art experiences. It was during my high school and college years that my interest in the application of art blossomed and not until I took a History of Art class at San Francisco College for Women (now a part of USF) that I fell in love with the masters and the history, political and religious, that enveloped them. Madame duCasse opened my eyes to the elements of light and dark, intensity of color, and composition of subject matter and I was hooked!!
As an elementary school teacher, in addition to the weekly art lessons, I incorporated art into the curriculum and took advantage of the wonderful art programs offered for my students by the Marin Arts Council, SFMOMA, the Legion of Art and De Young Museums. It was not until retirement loomed in the future that I was encouraged to participate in art lessons and so began my affiliation with Northbay ArtWorks.
In 1999, first taught by Carol Somers, my eyes were opened and everything in nature seemed alive: the hills and valleys, trees and foliage of Marin County took on different colors, light and intensities, “green was no longer solely green.” With the help of Denise Lucchesi, I began painting from the core of who I am, from the love for and emotion of my Irish heritage. Using my photos and those of an Irish friend as a focus, I painted my ancestral homes, towns, lakes and hills, valleys and streams, monasteries and castles. My subject matter expanded as I traveled through the countries of France and Italy. During the last two years, I have been focusing on the beauty of California, the landscapes and towns of West Main, the coasts of Mendocino and Rio del Mar and also the beauty of the Lake Tahoe basin.
Painting takes me to a level where I can lose myself in what I am doing. It is a spiritual experience as well as completely therapeutic. At times it is a struggle but I find I am on a journey and attempt to be open to all experiences life has to offer and apply these to my art.
Over the years I have participated in the Jenny Fund for Cancer Research,
the Annika Kelly Strain Foundation, UCSF, the Pain Foundation, Timothy Murphy School – St. Vincent’s, the Marin Irish- American Club, and the Alpha Delta Kappa Teacher’s Sorority/Marin Scholarship Benefit. I have shown at the fall/ winter shows at Northbay ArtWorks, 2006 – 2009, and at St. Isabella Parish, San Rafael, 2006 - 2009 and St. Cecilia Parish, Lagunitas, 2007 – 2009. My affiliation has expanded to the Marin Art Council.
My thanks to my family for their ongoing support, my husband Jack, children Katie (Dan), Johnny (Kate). To my dear friend Sharon Grant who encouraged me to begin this journey, to friends and mentors artist Patricia Phillips and photographer Fr. Cyril O’Sullivan and to all my colleagues here at Northbay ArtWorks.
As an elementary school teacher, in addition to the weekly art lessons, I incorporated art into the curriculum and took advantage of the wonderful art programs offered for my students by the Marin Arts Council, SFMOMA, the Legion of Art and De Young Museums. It was not until retirement loomed in the future that I was encouraged to participate in art lessons and so began my affiliation with Northbay ArtWorks.
In 1999, first taught by Carol Somers, my eyes were opened and everything in nature seemed alive: the hills and valleys, trees and foliage of Marin County took on different colors, light and intensities, “green was no longer solely green.” With the help of Denise Lucchesi, I began painting from the core of who I am, from the love for and emotion of my Irish heritage. Using my photos and those of an Irish friend as a focus, I painted my ancestral homes, towns, lakes and hills, valleys and streams, monasteries and castles. My subject matter expanded as I traveled through the countries of France and Italy. During the last two years, I have been focusing on the beauty of California, the landscapes and towns of West Main, the coasts of Mendocino and Rio del Mar and also the beauty of the Lake Tahoe basin.
Painting takes me to a level where I can lose myself in what I am doing. It is a spiritual experience as well as completely therapeutic. At times it is a struggle but I find I am on a journey and attempt to be open to all experiences life has to offer and apply these to my art.
Over the years I have participated in the Jenny Fund for Cancer Research,
the Annika Kelly Strain Foundation, UCSF, the Pain Foundation, Timothy Murphy School – St. Vincent’s, the Marin Irish- American Club, and the Alpha Delta Kappa Teacher’s Sorority/Marin Scholarship Benefit. I have shown at the fall/ winter shows at Northbay ArtWorks, 2006 – 2009, and at St. Isabella Parish, San Rafael, 2006 - 2009 and St. Cecilia Parish, Lagunitas, 2007 – 2009. My affiliation has expanded to the Marin Art Council.
My thanks to my family for their ongoing support, my husband Jack, children Katie (Dan), Johnny (Kate). To my dear friend Sharon Grant who encouraged me to begin this journey, to friends and mentors artist Patricia Phillips and photographer Fr. Cyril O’Sullivan and to all my colleagues here at Northbay ArtWorks.
