Call to the Wild Print

My name is Mary DeLave. Thank you for visiting my portfolio. I have been mesmerized by creating images as long as I can remember. I was given my first sketch book when I was about 10 years old. Many of my painting ideas come from sketchbooks that I have filled with drawings, dreams and scenes from everyday life. I work in layers of color and imagery and let the story unfold as I explore. Throughout the process of creating images I become witness, critic and disbeliever at various points during a painting’s progress. Often a variety of mediums are used to create layers of texture to give physical depth to the multiple layers in my finished paintings. My paintings draw on the rich traditions of Surrealism and Expressionism with elements of Cubism. These styles use transmutation, exaggeration and fantasy to express feelings, dreams and unconscious thoughts. It is our nature to be multidimensional, so I like to depict multiple views in my work. I like it when people are inspired to connect to the Mystery and Magic in life through the images I create.