Excited to hold our office open again on First Friday January the 6th!
Please join us as we celebrate the night in our new downtown office and come meet our featured artist. You can purchase her works. We’ll have refreshments, swag, and friendly faces.
Stop by our Downtown Bend office to see some amazing art by Mary Medrano!
Mary Medrano
WEST + MAIN HOMES
750 NW Lava Rd. Bend, OR 97703
1.6.2022, 5-9pm
Meet Mary!
A memory from childhood is where all of these paintings begin. It may be the house I grew up in; a clapboard-sided bungalow, it may be our kitchen table or the maple tree in the backyard. I enjoy creating scenes that lead the viewer into my world of make-believe.
Sometimes I try to paint as a child would paint. If an idea pops into my head I try it out; sometimes those ideas work, sometimes they get painted over. It’s an ongoing give and take.
I primarily use acrylic paint but have no objection to using other materials as well. Multiple materials are interesting and keep the work fresh.
Learn more about Mary in our Q+A!
How did your business come to exist?
In 2001 I was working as an Art Director for an Ad Agency in San José, California. We had many high tech companies from Silicon Valley. It was fast-paced, demanding and very rewarding. When the dot com bust happened my job fizzled out. I decided to take an online painting class through Quilt University with my new spare time. The class was called Painting on Fabric. I really liked it so took a second painting class. From that point on I was hooked and never looked back. I started my own business of showing my work in galleries, art fairs, teaching painting and drawing lessons and accepting commissions.
What are you known for?
I am probably most known for my paintings of dogs and of birds. When I moved to Bend ten years ago I was painting dogs. I had no idea how crazy people were for their dogs here in Bend. That led to commissions and painting parties in my downtown studio. There were many years of helping people learn to paint by instructing them on how to paint their animals. At the same time I was making large abstract mixed-media paintings of birds. These were part of many wonderful show around Bend and beyond.
What are you working on right now?
I am currently working on the series of paintings that I am showing at West and Main in January. The series began several months ago when I made a small painting of my childhood home. It was abstract and it felt good to reminisce. That painting led to another painting of my childhood home with a swing set in the backyard. Each painting has inspired me on to the next as I spend time thinking about memories and objects, both real and imagined.
What is the best piece of advice you ever received?
Do what you say you’re going to do. Be fair. Be kind. All life lessons from my parents a long time ago.
Where do you find inspiration?
Everywhere! The world is a beautiful place and it is filled with an incredible amount of talented artists. It is all inspiring.
If you are a local artist/crafter/maker/indie business owner and would like to be featured on our blog, please fill out this form or contact Greg Fischer at greg@westandmainoregon.com with questions...we can't wait to learn all about you!
