About the Artist

ars causa pecuniae

About The Artist:

About The Artist:

I was born Mary Ann Vander Weele in Kalamazoo, Michigan. My parents and extended family totally supported and encouraged my artistic gift. Nearing the end of High School, I wanted to study art and design in Europe but ended up forty-five miles north of Kalamazoo Michigan in Grand Rapids and graduated from Kendall Collage of Art and Design.

After graduation I worked as a freelance artist/designer for a few different companies. A friend in Michigan an Architect asked me to do some design and drawings for a job he was doing. Those drawings ended up on display in New York for the Cabinet Co. whose cabinets we were working with. The drawings were seen by the head of the design department for General Electric/ Hotpoint. I was contacted and offered a wonderful job in a city that i love. Louisville Kentucky.

After working at GE/Hotpoint for a time, I thought I would like to learn to fly and maybe pursue aerobatics. Something I could do after work and on the weekends. I had thought about flying for several years and now I could finally afford it and fulfill a dream. I did and bought an aerobatic airplane. The numbers on my plane were N1620G. The Air Traffic Controllers called me “20 girl”. I loved that part of my life. Jerris Wise was my instructor for aerobatics, and an Air Traffic Controller. After a few years we were married. We did lots of flying and eventually flew Aerobatics in Air Shows, and we were called "the Wise Aces"

We have four children Angela, Scott, Jennifer and Jacqueline. We had two dogs Aileron and Tony. We also have nine grandchildren.

The next chapter of my life was to pursue fine arts.

I needed instruction in oil painting and was pointed in the direction of Schrodt Art Studio. I started in September of 2000 and was very fortunate to study under the direction of the late Mary Louise Schrodt. Oils would be new to me. But here we go…..

My first canvas was a copy of an apple, it uncovered a real passion I had for painting. The apple had a profound effect on me that was electrifying. It was a physical feeling, and I knew it was part of my soul. It was an incredible, flowing through my heart to my hand, into my paint brush. I realized I could feel the texture of the apple and the crackle of the dried leaves coming from the paint brush I was holding. That passion remains today. I believe that it is God’s gift for me.

I now study oil painting under the direction of Judy Warren, the daughter of Mary Louise Schrodt. I have studied David Schuster a world-renowned artist. Gabor Svagrik of Tucson Art Academy and several others. Thank you very much for taking time to read my story. Sincerely, Mary

Mary

I have shown paintings at;

The Schrodt Art Gallery,

The David O. Schuster Art Gallery,

The St. Meinrad Archabbey in the Library Gallery in Indiana,

the Jane Morgan Gallery Inc, The Plein Air Painters of KY

Was juried into the Collage at Jasper, Indiana,

Shown at The Women's Club of Louisville

Awards;

The Kentucky State Fair. First Place for "Lunch at the Harbor",

Schrodt Art Studio. For the public.
Third Place for "Franks Beach"

Third Place and "Best of Show" by the voting public for "Cinnamon Beach”