A native of Idaho, Mary Maxam finds inspiration for her paintings in the beautiful scenery and gardens of the Northwest. She is a graduate of Boise State University and has studied in many professional workshops, teaching art for many years herself. Mary works in watercolor, acrylic and oil for her landscape and still life works. Her paintings are a response to familiar subjects, seen daily and discoveries that take place through the painting process. She has, since fall of '09 begun posting small works at her daily paintings site http://www.marymaxam.blogspot.com . 'My subject might be wildflowers, a garden, or a fly fisherman, but in looking closer, you'll see that the subjects I paint are really light and color. Something draws my eye and initially, my work is abstract driven. I search for the visual spark that I want to convey in the work. Then, I look at the formal aspects of painting, composition, etc. And, finally, I move in closer developing subject personality.' Mary's work has shown in many juried national exhibitions, including Oil Painters of America, the Midwest and National Watercolor Societies. She has won signature membership in the National, Northwest and Montana Watercolor Societies, and has contributed both painting and written work for book and magazine articles on painting and design. Publications include "Watercolor Magic","Gray's Sporting Journal", and "Paint Mixing, the 12-Hue Method" by Rockport Press.