Markers Making: Mary Ellen Gerster - Painting

The studio tour welcomes Mary Ellen Gerster, and her stunning watercolours. Mary Ellen employs vivid colour and dramatic perspective in her still life and wildlife creations.

Get to know more about Mary Ellen with this Q and A:

Why do you do what you do?

To tell a story to the world, to interpret what resonates with me.

What about this area inspires you?

I’m inspired by the possibilities of creating the second, third and the forth dimensions on my surface, where the viewer is drawn into the actual scene.

What is your most memorable experience with art?

I was awarded the Certified Decorative Artist status by the National Society of Decorative Painters, with 1500 artists in attendance, in Washington D.C. in 1986. At the time I was one of only 12 Certified Decorative Artists in Canada. This truly was a turning point in my art career.

Please describe the qualities of one of the materials you work with.

I love watercolour because it is an effective way of expressing myself and my unique style onto paper. Having worked for years in acrylics and then oils, experiencing watercolour opened up a whole new world for me. The pigments float in water, allowing it to shine through washes of hues, enabling me to achieve vivid colour with dramatic perspective.

Give us a fun fact about you not directly related to your art.