MaryJo Clark - Mixed Media and Pastel

My artwork is an invitation to pause and look deeper—to engage with the distinctions of surface and space, and to feel a sense of curiosity.

When creating mixed media collage pieces, I am drawn to the process of arranging textures, colors, and forms through the layering process to create abstract compositions in which familiar elements evolve into new and ambiguous imagery, inviting viewers to make their own connections with each piece.

When choosing to work more representationally, I create pastel paintings, as the medium provides the perfect blending of drawing and painting. The rich, vibrant colors allow for blending and layering, and the stick form of pastel allows for the same qualities of mark making that I so enjoy about the drawing process.

 Whether my process is deliberate or intuitive, it involves layering, assessing, and reworking until a composition achieves both balance and harmony no matter the subject matter.