Mary Kiernan

As a longtime Northport resident who grew up in nearby Commack, I never fail to appreciate the natural beauty surrounding us here, from the rocky Northport north shore to the ocean on the south shore. Many of my paintings are landscapes inspired by these areas. I am especially drawn to water, and I am not even an Aquarius! I work in watercolor, pastel, and more recently, oil. I love the richness and forgiveness of oil. A teacher told me once, “dark makes light”, so I strive to have high contrast in my pieces.

 With a BFA from Syracuse in Illustration, I have had a very varied career including Fashion (assistant buyer for a junior sportswear chain), my own graphic design studio for industrial accounts, many years working for Thomas Register, once the world’s largest industrial directory later decimated by the internet, and ending the last 12 years of my career as a pharmaceutical representative.

Throughout all these careers, while we raised three wonderful children, I always found time here and there to pursue art. I studied watercolor with Andrew Stasky in the eighties, took various classes at the Art League of Long Island including portraiture with Nanette Fluhr, attended the Stevenson Academy of Fine Arts, an atelier with Atilla Heija, pastel workshop upstate with Alain Picard, and more recently studied oil painting with David Peikon at ALLI. Some Juried Shows I have participated in include Cape Cod Art Center, The Firefly Gallery,  Mills Pond Gallery, The Atelier at Flowerfield,  Cold Spring Harbor Whaling Museum,  Art League of Long Island,  Huntington Arts Council, and the Northport Historical Society.  In retirement I have found my joy with lots more time to paint!

@marykiernanart   (Instagram) Mkiernan1222@yahoo.com