Mary Kamerer

A: How long have you been a member of the guild and on the guild board?
M: There’s a funny story about that. I joined around 2015 but somehow my information was never passed to the newsletter chair. Because of that, I never knew about monthly meetings and presentations at the Mint. I was wondering what exactly a member got for their money??
Someone encouraged me to call Kathy Collins. She somehow talked me into taking over the newsletter chair position even though I had never seen one!  And then she called me back and said, “By the way, you’re on the Board now, too!”  So I guess you could say I jumped in with both feet.

A: What do you do/ have done in your role?
M: I immediately joined and was the Newsletter Chair.  Then I was President for three years. But you know, all our board members often work beyond our assigned roles, and I found myself helping to restructure our website, finding presenters, putting on ZOOM meetings during COVID, handling our PayPal and Gmail accounts, and writing grants.  I do plan on stepping aside entirely to let the great new people on our board decide on what happens going forward.

A: Why did you join the guild?  
M: I think it’s very important to not only connect with your peers through professional memberships but to support art non-profit groups like the Guild.

A: When and how did you realize that you are an artist?
M: That fluctuates daily!  I’d have to say the first time my art was accepted into a group show. That’s why it’s so important for artists to enter shows—it encourages and inspires you in so many ways!  I also remember my very first art sale—I was so nervous—I had no studio so I had to bring a friend and meet the buyer in a coffee shop!  But I couldn’t believe someone would PAY me for my work!

A: What is your medium?
M: Right now I use mostly oils, but I love to try new things. I recently took a clay sculpting class and plan on offering a little monotype print class to some friends.  

A: What is your art about?
M: I feel my role as an impressionist painter is to capture how the light falls on a subject. And having my creative start with black and white photography, I like to put an emphasis on light and shadows where I can.

A: What is your method of producing artwork?   
M: Again, with my black-and-white photography roots, I learned the value of good composition and range of values, from white to black. So, I always start my paintings with a value study. Then from there I start blocking in dark shapes first.

A: Do you have a studio space?
M: I’m blessed to call Studio 29 at Dilworth Artisan Station my art home for about 4 years now. I love it there!

A: How much time do you spend creating art?
M: I try to put in full-time hours. It’s not unusual to find me there till 6:30 pm if I get a late start.

A: What are some of the things you do to promote your art?
M: Social media, of course. It can be the most aggravating, but they are free. I also enter shows. I look for opportunities to publish my work in print (lots of periodicals need art). I also donate about three pieces a year to organizations that are meaningful to me because I believe in karma.  If I’ve been given a talent, I feel I’m meant to share it and bless others with it if I can.

A: What advice would you like to share about the creative process, selling art in Charlotte or anything else?
M: Be secure in your own talents. No one can do what you do—I try to find opportunities for artists around me, because if they succeed, we all succeed.  Over the years, I have met the most amazing people through art. I’m always incredulous at the pure talent and creativity that’s out there. And artists are generally a lot of fun to be around.  Selling art is great, but just being a part of the creative community has been the most rewarding thing!