All People Have Art in Their Souls

A Feature on Visual Artist Mary Elliott

by Nancy Dafoe

Cortland Arts Connect Board Member and visual artist, Mary Elliott is a mixed media artist, graphic designer, crafter, scrap- booker, card maker, Zentangle teacher gardener, upcycler, in addition to being an organic farmer, educator, and photographer. She also happens to be an amazing woman who is a wife, mother, and “Mima” to her grandchildren.

Her career has been an eclectic and varied one, and she found expression in the arts later in her life. Art followed her interests, resulting in a wide-variety of different styles and product types.

Mixed media art was a natural outgrowth of her explorations as she combined layers of papers with paint and ink, stenciling found objects, and then adding her drawings.

“I’m happiest when I have a newly thrifted piece, art supplies and pens, a new tangle, and a design swimming through my brain.”

A number of years ago, she found Zentangle during a prolonged illness while looking for ways to alleviate pain. Mastering yet another pursuit, Mary became a Certified Zentangle meditation teacher. She teaches Zentangle and mixed media art at a number of locations, including local libraries, schools, senior centers, local colleges, thrift stores, and retail spaces.

Currently, Mary has artwork in several area art shows and exhibits, including a 6-month solo show running at Guthrie Cortland Hospital. Beginning at the end of April, she has a two-week solo show at the Mariea Brown and Raymond Loft Galleries, courtesy of the Chenango Arts Council in Norwich.

“I firmly believe that all people have art in their souls.”

She digitizes all of her work, so she can repurpose it to be used at any point on multiple projects. As to inspiration, Mary said, “my grandchildren are some of my favorite designers.”

“I firmly believe that all people have art in their souls. They just need to feel free enough to play in order to find it.”