"With  my style of painting; American Realism, my subject matter may vary, but I have always strived to capture the essence of the subject; whether it be the inexplicable "magic" in the soul of a horse, or the ambient glow of the Hawaiian landscape."   That "intangible something" fascinates me.  In my artwork, I attempt to portray that feeling, as well as the physical beauty and personality of the subject to the viewer.

Mary Cornish will tell you her art and creative spirit have always been a determining factor in her approach to life. She was raised in the Puget Sound area of Washington state and received her early art training through Grace Wagner, and Classical painter William Tartaglia.  As a Senior in high school, she was awarded the National Scholastic Art Award in Painting.  Following high school, her art education was put on hold,  while she married, and raised her 2 children.  After a disabling horseback riding accident, and open heart surgery with complications, she returned to school; receiving her degrees in Visual Communication and Graphic Design from Northwest College of Art.  She began painting professionally in 1992.

Mary slowly built her following through word of mouth, then later, wider audiences through National and  International  exhibitions and shows.  She has won numerous awards for her artwork.  She has had solo exhibits throughout the United States, including Seattle, Washington,  Honolulu, Hawaii, and  Warrenton,Virginia.  Mary's equine art has been selected for such shows as Art at the Classic, the Western States Horse Expo, California, and the American Academy of Equine Art, Lexington, Kentucky.  Her artwork has also been included in traveling exhibitions such as Very Special Arts  "No Boundaries", and the Wyoming Wildlife Federation Touring  Exhibit.

Her paintings are included in private and corporate collections in the United States and worldwide including Australia, Estonia, and Italy.  She counts among her collectors and publishers: the Washington State's Arts Commission Collection; Royal Hawaiian Hotel in Honolulu, Hawaii; Christopher Reeve's Spinal Foundation; and  private collectors throughout the US and abroad.

Mary can be found working in her studio near the Blue Ridge Mountains in Warrenton, Virginia, where she resides with her husband, Mark Hicks. 

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AMERICAN REALIST MARY CORNISH

Biography