Watercolor & Alcohol Ink / Landscape, Still Life

Mary Wojciechowski "pushes the envelope" to explore new ways of painting. With a professional background as an art teacher and traditional watercolorist whose tendency is to take representational art toward abstraction, Mary has grown to embrace painting watercolors on non-porous surfaces, painting with alcohol inks, and creating monotypes. She explores techniques through experimenting with new paints, new surfaces, and new ways of framing her art. Mary's journey as an artist has further evolved as she also brings her discoveries to others, teaching art workshops.

Mary's love of painting in watercolor began in college after two semesters in oils. It was as if a new world had opened up, one in which spontaneity and immediacy prevailed. She would escape what she found sometimes to be a confining, indoor studio to paint outdoors, taking in the light and colors surrounding her as she painted. The fluidity and the chance opportunities for intermingling colors kept her approach fresh with each painting. Often she paints the same subject more than once just to experiment with the diversity that this medium offers.

Over time Mary’s award-winning art styles have grown. A few years ago, she dared to be different by taking her watercolor paintings, previously painted on traditional, absorbent watercolor artist’s paper, to "yupo," a polymer-type surface which lends itself to loose edges and unexpected formations. Oftentimes the look of watercolor on yupo is as if the paper is still wet, although as a finished painting it is dry. The look is intriguing; the journey is more unpredictable, and Mary thrives on that!

Alcohol Ink is another adventure in Mary's artistic pursuits. It is a highly pigmented and quick-drying medium applied by pouring, brushing or stamping on a non-porous surface (such as “yupo.” ) The vibrant colors of alcohol inks intermingle, creating unique textural effects, often leading to serendipitous, unexpected results.  Exploring their properties has become her current passion. Mary finds these translucent surfaces to be gorgeous when the rich colors and loose techniques interplay, often framed in lucite and lit from behind on a windowsill.  Many of her alcohol ink paintings are more traditionally framed, both with and without mats.

Mary’s creative side moves her to stretch beyond realistic boundaries.  Expressive color, and the play of strong lights against darks, often take more importance than the direct interpretation of subjects in front of her. 

Mary studied with some very talented watercolorists, including William Ternes, Peter Spataro, and Judi Wagner. Mary believes that her membership in the Rhode Island Watercolor Society has had the greatest impact on her as an artist; she currently holds a seat on their Board of Directors. Painting and exhibiting with fellow members has motivated her to strive not only for increased skill in the handling of this medium but has helped her to develop her own personal voice as an artist.

A retired visual arts teacher, Mary earned her BA degree in Fine Arts from the University of Connecticut. She is a signature member of the Rhode Island Watercolor Society, a juried artist member of the Cape Cod Art Center, the Attleboro Arts Museum and the New England Monotype Guild. Her award-winning art has been juried into many national, regional, and local exhibitions, including those of the New England Watercolor Society. She is a popular workshop instructor through Gallery 31 Fine Art. Sign up for the gallery newsletter to stay up-to-date on her upcoming workshop schedule.

The strongest influence on this growth has been my introduction to alcohol inks as an alternative fluid painting medium used on non-porous surfaces. These highly pigmented and quick drying inks may be poured, brushed or sprayed, creating distinctive textural effects and frequently leading to unexpected results. Because of the unique properties, my alcohol ink paintings are more explorative and experimental, often with a sense of creative playfulness. My goal is to continue working with both mediums and allow the experiences in each to influence the other.