Mary Burke
There are two aspects to how I approach my art; first, the inspiration but also the medium itself; I view it as a joint journey. I begin with an idea, but then as the medium and process unfold, it develops different aspects that drive the image and sentiment in different ways, often uncovering memories and feelings buried deep within my conscience. As an artist, I realize more and more I am working in partnership with the medium itself.
The primary influence of my work comes from the landscapes and coastal regions of Ireland and Maine, but especially Ireland. There is a raw beauty to the Irish landscape that never fails to touch me at a deep level, and it is almost a mystical or spiritual experience.
Each piece starts from a combination of images from sketches, drawings, and photographs. These are starting points as I am not trying to capture the physical image precisely but trying to express the mystical experience and the essence of a landscape or the mesmerizing quality of the sea.
In many ways, though, the creative process is becoming increasingly more important in my work. Depending on what mood or image I am trying to convey, that influences the materials, medium, and colors I use to reflect the inspiration. Recently I have begun working more and more with watercolor, not in a traditional realistic style but in a very fluid and experimental way, which I find to be a very freeing and different creative process. I also use many non-traditional tools, as this forces me to relinquish control and let the medium itself flow naturally. Watercolor is a beautiful and incredibly unique medium; it almost has a mind of its own; the less you try to control it, the greater the impact or image.
Lately, I have also begun experimenting using different mediums combined with watercolor. This way of working has been very liberating and exciting, where the process of painting itself is becoming as important as the idea. It is a combination of spontaneity and control.
My art has become a lot more abstract, often combining elements of abstraction with realism. Because my new work is so recent, I am still exploring and striving towards the final direction. I desire to create simple beauty where the medium itself becomes both the focus and co-creator of my art.