Mary Sullivan's Gallery

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  The “spirit of nature” for Mary Sullivan is boundless creativity and variety.  According to Sullivan, “creating in its spirit is a fascinating journey,” partly inspired by Edvard Munch’s quote, “Nature is not only all that is visible to the eye . . . it also includes the inner pictures of the soul.”  Also visit:   http://marysullivan.artistwebsites.com/

In Sullivan’s exploration of abstract painting, she kept finding that natural, organic forms emerged as she pursued abstract images. She used water media with a limited palette of permanent lightfast inks, some fluid acrylics and metallic water color.  She applied pouring and staining techniques relying in large part on forces of gravity, capillary action, and evaporation for the final result. In addition she also reworked surfaces with some brush and pen application, as well as with rubbing, sanding and occasional glazing.

Sullivan works intuitively, responding to what is happening before her eyes and in her spirit, where feelings, forgotten memories and impressions are stored.  The abstract nature of the images allows each viewer to form their own associations. “I love the openness of the process of abstract painting, the flow of the paint, what happens with color, the always surprising evocations.

In 2010 Sullivan was awarded a grant by the Arts Council of Beaufort County with funds from the City of Beaufort and the SC Arts Commission through the NEA with additional funding from the John & Susan Bennett Memorial Arts Fund of the Coastal Community Foundation of SC; in 2011 she was awarded an Expansion Arts Fund grant from the Community Foundation of the Low Country.

 In 2011 she was awarded an Expansion Arts Fund grant from the Coastal Community Foundation of South Carolina.