We had the good fortune of connecting with Mary Giacomini and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Mary, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I earned a BFA in fine art in 1983. I always wanted to be an artist
although the university I attended taught us nothing on how to go about
that. When I moved to Loveland, CO in 1997 I decided to ‘Go for it’ and
become a professional artist. I started taking some art classes at our
local art academy, joined the Ft Collins and Loveland art leagues and
galleries, volunteered to paint a huge mural and met artists in the
area.
Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
With a BFA in studio arts I was required to learn some about many
mediums. I have shifted from favorite mediums of acrylic, to watercolor,
then pastel and now mostly oil. I paint in an Impressionistic Realism
style with traditional oils. Growing up in Minnesota I always yearned to
paint the mountains of Colorado. I moved here in 1989 and never looked
back. One thing I learned as a beginning artist is that you have to be
willing to try many different ways to make money and get your name out
there while continuing to improve as an artist. I painted one of the
Loveland ‘hearts’ and a transformer box.
I quickly learned that you never stop learning. I continue to learn new
styles and techniques by taking workshops, studying the masters I
appreciate and painting with peers. I am now part of an oil painting
group with 10 other artists I admire.
I started teaching kids art classes at our local Rec (Chilson) center
then at the Loveland Museum where I have been 20 years now.. I continue
to teach adults at the Loveland Museum in a variety of mediums. I also
teach ongoing oils out of my home studio to a small group of adults that
have been with me for many years. We continue to learn together.
If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Since I live west of Loveland, I can get to Estes Park in 30 minutes. I
would drive them up to Rocky Mountain National Park and take them on an
uncrowded hike (not one of the popular ones) Another day I would take
them up to Cameron Pass along the Poudre River and hike there. On the
Front Range I like to take guests to the Pearl Street Mall. The live
entertainment is fun. Downtown Ft Collins is always lively with lots of
choices of restaurants. In Loveland I’d take them to the Benson
Sculpture park, lunch or dinner at Henry’s downtown and maybe a hike on
the Devil’s Backbone.
If it was the 2nd weekend of August, I would take them to Art in the Park and the Sculpture show.
Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I joined the Thompson Valley Art League (Loveland) after being accepted
into one of their Regional Art Shows. At one of their meetings I
volunteered to help paint a 70′ mural along with Mary Landis, Pat
Saunders-White and Sherry Allerheiligen. We were all starting our ‘art
journey’ and soon became life long friends.
Website: https://www.marygiacomini.com/
Instagram: @marygiacominifineart
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marygiacomini/
Twitter: @artbymary
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MGiacominiArt
Other: https://mary-giacomini.pixels.com/
