Mari Manning

Artist Statement

As a mid-career artist, I face memories and history with ever growing frequency. I would like to think I learn more about people every day. Perhaps this is why portraits interest me in this point of my art practice. My portraits represent physical qualities but even more so, the psychology of the sitter. Paints, mixed media, and printmaking are techniques I use to describe my model. My portraits yield a style which reflect the sitter’s personal history and being.
My paintings transcend observation, history, and fact. My goal with all my portraits is to provide the viewer with a dialogue about and with the sitter. These variables merge with my reaction to the model. Therein lies the essence of my work.