About the Artist
Mary Rose was born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She currently resides in Central Florida, having lived in the Tallahassee Panhandle region for 21 years. The artist considered drawing to be her favorite avocation since early childhood. After marrying and with a daughter, she began her studies with respected Portrait Artist Edward Gordon in Tallahassee, Florida. Mr. Gordon was a former student of Haddon Sundbloom of Chicago. Mary benefitted from portrait critiques by Ed Jonas of Tallahassee, and was privileged to attend live portrait painting sessions at Mr. Jonas' studio residence. From there she earned her Bachelor’s Degree at Florida State University and her Masters of Fine Art with the Academy of Art University. The artist enjoys teaching children and adults, having taught painting classes at the Thomasville Cultural Center in Georgia, and acting as visiting art teacher to various underserved schools in the South Georgia area. In addition she has taught children's mural workshops in Tallahassee and painting and arts and crafts at Gilda's House for Gilda's Club through the Broward Arts Guild while in South Florida.
Mary’s work can be found in public and private collections throughout the northwest Florida/Georgia region, and was represented by Meridian Gallery of Thomasville, Georgia during its five years of business. She has won both regional and national awards, including second place with the Portrait Society of Atlanta in 2012 as well as the Member's Choice Award 2015. She placed as a finalist in Ray Mar’s Seventh Annual Painting Competition and as well placed twice as a finalist in FASO’s Boldbrush competition. Her work was featured in the Salon International Fine Art Group Exhibition of San Antonio, Texas in 2013.
Mary employs a painterly somewhat impressionistic approach to her portraits with high refinement of her subjects as focal points. A spirit of appreciation of the uniqueness of each individual depicted sets the stage for a quality work of portraiture whether in an outdoor or indoor setting. The subject's demeanor and sense of presence along with their environment work together to comprise the elements of a successful heirloom painting.
Education
2015 MFA Drawing and Painting Academy of Art University
2010 BS Studio Art Florida State University
Workshops In addition to quality instruction with Carrie Anne Baade, Zack Zrdale,
Warren Chang, Cathy Locke, Lillian Garcia-Roig, Tae Park, Albert Ramos
Cortes, Xenia Schmidt, Kim Jung Han, Kevin Moore, and Jarett Fajardo
Daniel Greene workshops in both Florida and the artist's NY studio.
Steve Assael, Old Master's Atelier, North Miami, Florida
David Gray, Old Master's Atelier, North Miami, Florida
Awards
2017
FASO Boldbrush, Fav 15%, June, July, August, September, November
2016
Summer Exhibition, Merit Award, Portrait Society of Atlanta, Juror Jennifer Welty.
2015
Summer Portrait Exhibit, Member's Choice Award, Portrait Society of Atlanta.
FASO BoldBrush, Fav15%, May, June, September, October.
2014
9th Biennial National Art Exhibition, Judge’s Award, Juror Carl Samson.
Figurative Art Exhibition, Light Space and Time, 4th Place Painting Category.
All Women Art Competition, Light Space and Time, Special Merit Award.
FASO BoldBrush, Fav15%, January, August, November.
2013
Ray Mar 7th Annual Painting Competition, Finalist, Juror Linda Tracey Brandon.
FASO BoldBrush, February Finalist, Juror Carrie Ann Baade.
FASO BoldBrush, Fav15%, January.
Figurative Art Exhibition, Light Space and Time, Certificate of Merit.
2012
Portrait Society of Atlanta National Exhibit, 2nd Place, Juror James B. Schell.
FASO BoldBrush, December Finalist, Juror David Cheifetz
FASO Boldbrush, Fav15%, June, July, October
Figurative Art Exhibition, Light Space and Time, 3rd Place Painting Category.
Figurative Art Exhibition, Light Space and Time, Special Recognition Award.
Countryside Competition, Light Space and Time, Honorable Mention.
2009
Thomasville Cultural Center 20th Tri-State Showcase, 3rd Place, $1500 purchase.
2008
Thomasville Cultural Center 19th Tri-State Showcase,Purchase Award $1700 Permanent Collection, as well as 3rd Place.
2006
Thomasville Cultural Center 17th Tri-State Showcase, 4th Place.
Group Exhibitions
2018
Visual Arts Center's 11th Biennial National Art Exhibition, Punta Gorda, Florida, February - March. Juror Steven J. Levin.
2016
National Art Exhibit, Visual Arts Center, Punta Gorda, Florida , Juror Jeffrey T. Larson.
2015
Fall Exhibition, Portrait Society of Atlanta, Juror Edward Jonas.
Summer Portrait Exhibit, Portrait Society of Atlanta, Juror Igor Babilov.
2014
9th Biennial National Art Exhibition, Visual Arts Center, Punta Gorda, Florida.
2013
Salon International Fine Art Group Exhibition, San Antonio, Texas.
Portrait Society of Atlanta Winter Members Only Exhibit, Acworth, Georgia.
Faces and Figures National Exhibit, Visual Arts Center, Punta Gorda, Florida.
2012
Portrait Society of Atlanta Summer National Juried Exhibit, Lawrenceville, Georgia.
2009
Florida State University Group Exhibit, Offices of the Attorney General, Bill McCullum, Tallahassee, Florida.
2008
Museum of Fine Art, Artist League Regional Group Exhibit, Tallahassee, Florida.
Collections
Thomasville Cultural Center Permanent Collection, Thomasville, Georgia.
HomeSafe, Lake Worth, Florida.
Covenant Presbyterian Church, Tallahassee, Florida.
Mr. and Mrs. William Pflug
Mrs. Judith Temple
Homes in Thomasville, GA., Tallahassee, FL area.
Professional Experience
Artist in Residence, Thomasville Cultural Center, Thomasville, Georgia, 2007-2008.
Painting instruction Thomasville Cultural Center, Thomasville, Georgia.
Volunteer teaching at Gilda's House for Gilda's Club through the Broward Arts Guild.
Solo Exhibitions
2007
Mary Rose Landscapes, Thomasville Cultural Center Main Gallery, Georgia.
2005
Paintings and Prints, Tallahassee City Hall, Tallahassee, Florida
Gallery Representation
Meridian Gallery, Thomasville, Georgia 2006-2011.
South of Soho, Tallahassee, Florida 2004-2008.
