As an ARTIST...

Born in Ohio, Mary grew up with a love of two things: animals and art. From an early age she began drawing creatures of all types. In an effort to keep up with their budding artist her parents enrolled her in private art lessons with a commercial cartoonist as well as lessons at the Dayton Art Institute. As a high school student her illustrations and creations frequently took top honors. Always finding new ways to incorporate her passions, she combined her love of pets and imagery with a short stop-action animation film, “Jungle Beasties in Jeopardy.”

She attended Marian University and majored in Fine Art. When she wasn’t busy drawing human figures, creating ceramic sculptures, setting stained glass or silk screening the latest posters for campus theater productions she could be found in the painting studio, working in oils. During her summers she worked at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. The area commander noticed her creative skills and commissioned her to do a large plate glass painting for the entry to International Logistics Headquarters. Her diversity and dedication to the artistic craft were recognized when she was awarded the All Department Art Award, Outstanding Senior, during her final year of college.

After graduating, Mary turned her flair for design into a career as an interior and retail designer, working for several private design studios, department stores and retail fixture design and manufacturing firms.

She volunteered her knowledge of liturgical art by serving as the head of liturgical art at her church. When the parish undertook construction of a new, multi-million-dollar sanctuary, Mary was asked to serve on the design committee. Her illustrations and patterns were turned into fifteen-foot etched glass panels that illuminated the Blessed Sacrament Chapel (St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church, Indianapolis, IN).

Over the years she enjoyed various creative outlets, including illustrations, murals, design and marketing materials, and a number of crafts. In 2011, The Adventures of Frissle the Bear, a children’s story written and illustrated by her, was published; once again combining her love of animals and art.

In 2013 Mary returned to her love of painting, this time exploring the medium of watercolor. She has studied extensively under the tutelage of noted watercolorist, Sandy Ezell. Always looking to explore new avenues in the world of watercolor, Mary is an active member of the Watercolor Society of Indiana and has attended a number of workshops, including an intensive workshop with renowned international watercolorist, Frank Francese. She exhibits her work in the Midwest region and her paintings have won numerous awards and entries to juried shows such as the Watercolor Society of Indiana Show (Indianapolis Museum of Art), Hoosier Salon Good Old Summertime Exhibition, Indiana State Fair and Riley Festival, including a first and second place sweep (Professional Division) in 2018. In 2019 Mary had two paintings featured in the juried Art of the Land exhibition at Minnestrista Center in Muncie.

Mary continues to explore new methods and techniques in painting with recent additions of alcohol inks, cast epoxy and watercolor, as well as media mixing with the aforementioned.

For more information about her work or to discuss commissioning a fine art project, please call or email Mary.

As an ANIMAL COMMUNICATOR...

Since 2000, Mary has worked with professional racehorse trainers, veterinarians and pet owners in helping them understand their animals. She has assisted in determining the causes of behavior and performance problems, worked with law enforcement officials on crime cases, aided veterinarians in pinpointing health problems in all types of animals, facilitated emotional healing in animals and their human companions, and provided messages from deceased pets to grieving owners.

Mary has taught beginner- and advanced-level workshops both locally and nationally. She has been featured on “Across Indiana” on WFYI, which showcased her, her work, and Natalie the Medicine Horse—a segment nominated for an Emmy. She has been a guest on WIBC in Indianapolis and WLW in Cincinnati, as well as appeared on a segment of Fox 59’s “Pet Nanny 911” with Joni Michaels. She has been featured in Indianapolis Monthly Magazine, Indianapolis Pet Quarterly, and The Missourian magazines. She is a frequent public speaker and headliner for pet events throughout the country and assists shelters and rescue groups with fundraising.

Mary is the author of Medicine Horse Woman: Lessons on Spirituality and Healing from an Animal Communicator, as well as a semi-monthly e-newsletter, Animal Wisdom, children’s book, The Adventures of Frissle the Bear. Her work has been published by the Central Indiana Kennel Club and the American Bashkir Curly Registry.