Mary Storms

My passion is abstract mixed-media; a collage of torn or cut recycled magazines, handmade paper, various kinds of paint, and often a few found objects tossed in for good measure. My objective with paint and paper is to provide movement and depth, a sense of calm within calamity, a glimpse into the diversity and dichotomy of the natural elements around us.

Though I've experimented with different styles and subject matter, I am continually drawn to landscapes; the relationship between ancient layers of stones, sand and soil and the life it nurtures. Whether its a distant sun-drenched butte in the Painted Desert or a twisted, gnarly clump of roots underfoot at Umstead Park, nature's own works of art take my breath away. For me, there is nothing more stunning on Earth than the very earth itself. And earth, in all its myriad forms, is what inspires my work.

With the majority of my work, color and texture is applied in layers, using a combination of paper, acrylic and/or watercolor paint and sculpting paste. To add additional depth and texture, portions of some layers are literally scrubbed off with water before the paint, glue or sculpting paste has completely set. Some of these scrubbed portions are left "raw", while others are repainted and/or papered over. Once the piece is complete, I apply a combination of glossy and matte medium for both color enhancement and protection.

I have recently started experimenting with abstract landscape photography and am having a lot of fun in the process. I can get the same sense of color, depth, and texture that I strive for with my paper and paint collages. The only difference is that I create the "landscape" composition by how I position the frame of my camera lens, not via my imagination.