About Mary Calengor

Born in Duluth, Minnesota, Mary has been a practicing artist for most of her life. Under the tutelage of her artist father she developed her talent and passion for creative expression. Having worked in multiple mediums, oil is her predominant medium of choice. A graduate of the University of Minnesota with degrees in Graphic Design and Fine Art, Mary went on to pursue a career in marketing and design as well as teaching art for six years at a private high school. She raised a family of four and upon retirement is now focused on her career as a professional artist.

Portfolio

DRAGON BOX (2020) Oil on Canvas (30X40), framed (32.5×42.5). I acquired this antique Chinese box a few years back. I believe its original use was for tea but this painting leaves me wondering what treasures are inside. The Jerusalem Cross was found in Santa Fe and I thought it was a beautiful and dramatic addition to this already mysterious painting.
Original painting, price available upon request.
THREE GENERATIONS (2020) Oil on Canvas (24×36), framed (26.5×38.5). These Spode birds belonged to my Grandmother and the French tureen belonged to my mother, two incredible women in my life. Now I am fortunate enough to have them both, hence the title.
Original painting, price available upon request.
JERUSALEM CROSS (2020) Oil on Canvas (36×36), framed (38.5×38.5). On my last trip to Santa Fe I purchased this beautiful necklace from a lovely artist. I love wearing it and thought what an interesting piece of subject matter it would make. Seeing this painting in person, it is quite dramatic with the lighting and the colors.
Original painting, price available upon request.
IRISH IVY (2020) Oil on Canvas (40×40), framed (42.5×42.5). A unique flowering ivy native to Europe but does grow in the United States along the coastal regions. This subject matter is quite sculptural and beautifully captured in this dramatic light.
Original painting, price available upon request.
BLACKBIRD (2019) Oil on Canvas (30×24), framed (32.5×26.5). This beautiful covered bowl by Matthew Metz was given to me years ago by an old friend. It has always had a place in my home and remains very special to me.
Original painting, price available upon request.
RED WILLOW (2019) Oil on Canvas (36×24). I was at an estate sale years ago and found this red willow covered dish. It’s porcelain finish shows its age adding beauty and interest to the actual piece and the painting.
Original painting, price available upon request.
INNOCENCE (2019) Oil on Canvas (30×40), framed (32.5×42.5). I love orchids and most of the time I have many throughout my home. This one was particularly large and beautiful so I decided to capture it for enjoyment long after its blooms have fallen.
Original painting, price available upon request.
GRACE (2019) Oil on Canvas (36×36), framed (38.5×38.5). I purchased this 1910 antique bowl through an auction dealer a few years ago and thought it would be a lovely painting. Capturing light in any painting is so critical to its success. I set this up with very dramatic theatrical lighting and I think it really makes the details sing.
Original painting, price available upon request.
THE BIG EIGHT (2019) Oil on Canvas (30×30), framed (33×33). I wanted to paint these billiard balls in a dramatic light as opposed to the other painting “The Ball Jar”. I like the colors against the black background and the simplicity of the composition.
Original painting, price available upon request.
THE FOOD FIXER (2019) Oil on Canvas (30×24), framed (33×27). This mixer was purchased at an antique market for $1. I love painting these objects from the past. As I work, I cannot help but wonder who the previous owners were, a farmer’s wife, someone’s Grandmother, a young bride…
Original painting, price available upon request.
THE BALL JAR (2019) Oil on Canvas (24×24), framed (27×27). I stopped at an antique store in Frontenac, MN, located along highway 61 and the Mississippi River. The old billiard balls caught my eye as I was closing the door to leave. I knew immediately that I wanted to paint them. This won’t be the last painting I will do using these billiard balls as subject matter. The antique Ball mason jar seemed the perfect vessel, hence the name for this painting.
Original painting, price available upon request.
SUMMER HYDRANGEA (2019) Oil on Wood Panel (12 x 12), framed (18 x 18).
Stories of Time Series
Original painting, price available upon request.
BIRDS OF A FEATHER (2019) Oil on Wood Panel (12 x 12), framed (18 x 18).
Stories of Time Series
Original painting, price available upon request.
Still life, oil painting, wood panel
SHELLS UNDER GLASS (2019) Oil on Wood Panel (12 x 12), framed (18 x 18).
Stories of Time Series
Original painting, price available upon request.
ROOTS (2019) Oil on Wood Panel (12 x 12), framed (18 x 18).
Stories of Time Series
Original painting, price available upon request.
RUBY GOBLET (2019) Oil on Wood Panel (12 x 12), framed (18 x 18).
Stories of Time Series
Original painting, price available upon request.
ANTIQUE CLOCK (2019) Oil on Wood Panel (12 x 12), framed (18 x 18).
Stories of Time Series
Original painting, price available upon request.
RIVER RELECTIONS (2019) Oil on Canvas(20×20), framed (27×27). We live along the Mississippi River and this painting is a very familiar scene in the backwaters of this great river.
Original painting, price available upon request.
#architecturalart#oilpainting#industrialart#landscapepainting#impressionism#manufactoring#warehouse#automobilepainting#carpainting
THE MOTOR LODGE (2019) Oil on Canvas (24 x 24), framed (25.5 x 25.5) While traveling through Colorado my husband and I stayed at this retro, refurbished motor lodge in Salida. The woman in the window is quite mysterious, is she waiting for someone that is not going to come? I really liked the red chairs outside each room so I knew I had to paint this.
Original painting, price available upon request.
#oilpainting#impressionism#cowpainting#pastoralpainting#france#artist#painting
FRENCH COWS (2019), Oil on Canvas (12×16), with gold frame (15×19) My husband and I came upon these lazy cows as we rolled along through the hillside of Burgundy, France. I have a love for pastoral paintings so I knew there was a painting in that shot as we drove by.
Original painting, price available upon request.
#architecturalart#oilpainting#industrialart#landscapepainting#impressionism#manufactoring#warehouse#automobilepaintings#carpaintings
EL CAMINO (2019), Oil on Canvas (6×8), framed (10×12) I came across this El Camino in Santa Fe one afternoon. The aqua paint was so great and worked so well with the warm terra cotta color of the Southwest.
SOLD
#oilpainting#floralart#stilllifepainting#floralpainting#impressionism
SPRING TULIPS (2019), Oil on Canvas (8×10), with black frame (11.5×13.5) Painted on a cold, damp day wishing spring would tease us with a few glimpses of sun and warmth. I find the view looking down upon the subject matter interesting and the lights and darks of the painting provide all the beauty.
Original painting, price available upon request.
#architecturalart#oilpainting#industrialart#landscapepainting#impressionism#manufactoring#warehouse
DAYS OF BLUE (2019), Oil on Canvas (24×36) with black frame (27×39) This painting reminds me of another time when American industry employed the masses and we were a proud nation leading the world in manufacturing. The light and shadows on the buildings is both warm and austere, that late daytime glow before dusk starts to fall.
Original painting, price available upon request.
France, Paris, Red, woman, hotel, Le Chambre, Evening Light, bed, boudoir, chinese, wallpaper
LA CHAMBRE (2019), Oil on Wood Panel (24×24), with gold frame (30×30) A wonderful study of light, color, and mystery located on the Rue de Buci, Paris. The viewers eye goes from the illuminated bed to the shadowed image of a woman standing pensively near the door. One wonders what she is thinking.
Original painting, price available upon request.
Koi Pond, oil painting, water, leaves, fish swimming
HIDDEN KOI (2017), Oil on Canvas (36×36) with black and gold shadow box frame (39×39)  Walking through our university campus I stopped at the Koi pond. The fall light was incredible that day making the ripples in the water and the colors more vivid than usual. I took time to photograph it and started the work several months later.
Original painting, price available upon request.
#fuelstation #gasstation #texaco #cadillac #antiqueauto #gaspump #landscape-painting #sunset #gas-oil
THE STATION (2018), Oil on Canvas (24×48), with black frame (27×51) I pass this fuel station every year when driving to and from summer holiday. It always conjures up that feeling of another time in the country where we live so I decided to paint it as a reminder of days gone by.
SOLD
landscape, farm, corn field, clouds, farmhouse, Wisconsin, sky, white house, green trees
AUGUST CORN (2018), Oil on Canvas (36×36), with black and gold frame shadow box frame (39×39)  Driving back from northern Wisconsin I was caught by this old farmhouse just outside of Independence, WI. It was a beautiful day and I loved the corn growing right up to the front porch. The farm country we live in always makes me think about all the hard work and natural obstacles that farming life faces.
Original painting, price available upon request.
flowers, peonies, still life, oil painting, vase with flowers
JUNE PEONIES (2017), Oil on Canvas (30×30) with black and gold frame (36×36)  I was inspired by my June wedding and a love for peonies when I painted this. While traveling in France for my honeymoon I photographed this bouquet. The combination of textures in this painting create interest; rough wood, smooth glass, and sumptuous flowers.
Original painting, price available upon request.
still life, chinese plate, bar, wine bottles,
CHINESE PLATE (2018), Oil on Canvas (16×20), with gold frame (22×26) Deep colors and a mix of textures create an interesting composition highlighting the crisp blue and white plate. The light and reflections provide foreground detail that balances the subtle pattern in the wallpaper.
SOLD
landscape painting, water, river art, sunrise, oil painting, plein air, plein air painting, Colorado, Mountains, shadows
COLORADO MORNING (2019), Oil on Canvas (12×12), with gold frame (18×18) My husband and I visit Golden, Colorado frequently. It is a favorite place of ours and when we are there we always walk along Clearwater Creek in the morning.
Original painting, price available upon request.
France, Seine River, Ile St. Louis, landscape painting, water, river art, bridge, Notre Dame, sunset, dusk, twilight, plein air, plein air painting
ILE SAINT LOUIS DUSK (2019), Oil on Canvas (9×12), with gold frame (15×18) The evening I arrived in Paris it was 100 degrees and I went out onto the Seine River as the sun was going down. The air was heavy and the color was very muted. This is the rear view of Notre Dame with its grand buttresses.
Original painting, price available upon request.
#santafe #sunset #oilpainting # landscape #landscapepainting #pleinair #pleinairpainting
SANTA FE SUNSET (2018), Oil on Canvas (11×14), with gold frame (17×20) I visited Santa Fe for the first time last fall. Such an artists paradise with amazing sunsets and captivating landscape. Capturing the rich color and luminosity of this fleeting moment was such fun to paint.
Original painting, price available upon request.
#france #impressionism #landscape #frenchvillage #oilpainting
VAULT DE LUGNY BRIDGE, France (2018), Oil on Canvas (16×20), with black and gold frame (22×26) Another shot of this small French town in the Burgundy region as the sun was dropping on a beautiful day.
Original painting, price available upon request.
#france #impressionism #landscape #frenchvillage #oilpainting
VAULT DE LUGNY, France (2018), Oil on Canvas (11×14), with gold frame (17×20) I took this photograph upon arrival in the small village of Vault de Lugny where I was staying.  It was late afternoon and the sun brought out the colors in each of the small houses.
Original painting, price available upon request.
ANNIE’S DAFFODILS (2018), Oil on Canvas (22×28) with gold frame (27×33)  My sister Anne keeps this white pedestal bowl filled with daffodil bulbs in the window of her kitchen. They bring sunshine during the rainy days of spring in Minnesota.
Original painting, price available upon request.
THE TUILERIES, France (2017), Oil on Canvas (24×24), with gold frame (27×27) While my husband and I sat in the Tuileries Gardens on a very hot Paris day people moved in and out of the shadows of the trees. The lush canopy was beautiful and I wanted to capture it on canvas.
Original painting, price available upon request.
FLORIDA MORNING (2018), Oil on Canvas (8×10), with gold frame (14×16) My son is living in Florida and this dramatic shot was taken on the beach in the early morning hours.  I enjoyed working in the small format for this subject.
Original painting, price available upon request.
river, landscape, clouds, water, Mississippi, reflections, sky, blue
ALMOST HOME (2018), Oil on Canvas (24×24), framed in gold floater frame (25×25) I call this Almost Home because it is on my drive to and from Minneapolis along the Mississippi River. Once I arrive at this spot the comforts of home are just a few minutes away.
Original painting, price available upon request.
#Jamaica #sunset-bar #bartender #tropical #water #landscapepainting #eveninglight #bar
THE BARTENDER (2018), Oil on Canvas (12×16), with black and gold frame (18×22) The sunset bar in Jamaica. Mixed amongst all the vacationers in their light summer clothing the bartender in his black vest stands out under the glow of the lights and the beautiful sunset.
Original painting, price available upon request.
oil painting, trees, Mexico, Plaza San Jacinto, San Angel, park, green, landscape
PLAZA SAN JACINTO (2018), Oil on Canvas (30×40) with black and gold frame (36×46)  While visiting Mexico City a friend took me to San Angel, home to this wonderful plaza with its unique metal fence. An artist community, I enjoyed the beautiful and creative spirit of the neighborhood.
Original painting, price available upon request.
CALIFORNIA LANDSCAPE (2003), Oil on Canvas (14×18) with gold frame (17.75×21.75)  I made several trips to the Ojai, California area and that is what inspired this painting. Even though I have not been back in many years this painting captures the light and feeling of my trips and provides a fond reminder.
Original painting, price available upon request.
landscape, farm, trees, oil painting, clouds, barn, marycalengor
SHORTER DAYS (2017), Oil on Canvas (24×48) with black and gold frame (30×54)  My husband and I drive through northern Wisconsin frequently and the farmland is beautiful in all seasons. This painting captures that window of time between summer and fall as the colors slowly slip from lush green to gold.
 Original painting, price available upon request.
France, Provence, landscape, green, trees, leaves, light, shadows, oil painting, marycalengor
WANDERING PROVENCE (2003), Oil on Canvas (24×30) with gold frame (28×34) Traveling through Provence in 2000 I came upon this road leading to a large old farmhouse. The shadows and light were at the perfect time of day and I captured that dramatic contrast in this painting.
SOLD
The Little Owl, New York, NYC, restaurant, cafe, city, bistro, red
THE LITTLE OWL (2018) Oil on Canvas (22×28), with black and gold frame (28×34) I was walking the New York City one hot summer day and stopped at this wonderful spot for a break from the heat. I love NYC and decided to preserve that memory of The Little Owl and the kind staff.
Original painting, price available upon request.
E-mail marycalengorfineart@gmail.com
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