Mary K. Forshagen grew up in Texas and attended Texas A&M University. She is a signature member of the Oil Painters of America.

She has always loved art. In the early 1990’s, after a career as a CPA and raising a family, she decided to focus on painting.

A major turning point in her career came in 1993 at a plein-air painting workshop in Taos, New Mexico. “I had always painted primarily from life - now I paint primarily en plein air. There is a unique relationship between the artist and nature that I love. I am stimulated by the challenges of outdoor painting: a quickly changing light source, the scent of wildflowers in the air and even those pesky little bugs that inevitably fly into my wet painting. All of these factors contribute to the emotional feel of a painting. I try to recreate for my viewers the excitement and joy I experienced while painting a scene.”

Mary K. enjoys painting landscapes, still lifes and figures. “It does not matter what the subject is, if I love the color and light and it moves me emotionally, it usually finds its way to my canvas.”

Whether at home in Texas or Colorado, she can most often be found outside painting. “Nature gives me great joy and countless ideas for paintings. I hope to share my unique view of the world and its beauty with all who see my work.”

Selected National Juried Exhibitions, Awards and Honors:

2009   Salon International 2009, San Antonio, Texas
2008   Salon International 2008, San Antonio, Texas
2008   Guest Artist, Plein Air Texas 2008, Dallas, Texas  
2007   Salon International 2007, San Antonio, Texas
2007   Guest Artist, Plein Air Texas 2007, Dallas, Texas
2006   Guest Artist, Plein Air Texas 2006, Dallas, Texas
2006   Oil Painters of America National Exhibition, Missoula, Montana
2003   Oil Painters of America Midwest Regional Exhibition, Chicago, Illinois
2002   Finalist - Still Life Category, The Artists' Magazine's 2002 Annual Art Competition
2001   Finalist - Still Life Category, The Artists' Magazine's 2001 Annual Art Competition
2001   Oil Painters of America Tenth National Exhibition, Palm Desert, California
2000   Finalist – Landscape Category, The Artists' Magazine's 2000 Annual Art Competition
2000   Oil Painters of America Midwestern Regional Show, Arlington Heights, Illinois
2000   One Woman Show, Whistle Pik Galleries, Houston, Texas
1999   Finalist – Still Life Category, The Artist’s Magazine’s 1999 Annual Art Competition
1999   Oil Painters of America West & Southwest Regional Show, Pueblo, CO
1999   Oil Painters of America Eighth National Exhibition, Scottsdale, Arizona
1999   Scottsdale Artist’s School, The Best and Brightest, Scottsdale, Arizona
1998   Finalist - Landscape Category, The Artist’s Magazine’s 1998 Annual Art Competition 
1998   Plein Air Painters of America Scholarship Award, Scottsdale Artists’ School - 
           The Best and Brightest,  Scottsdale, Arizona
1998   Top 200 - National Park Academy of the Arts, “Arts for the Parks”, Jackson Hole, Wyoming
1998   Oil Painters of America Seventh National Exhibition, Washington, D. C.
1998   “Pastels USA” International Open Exhibition, Rosedale, California 
1998   Bosque County Conservatory of Fine Art, Clifton, Texas
1997   New Mexico Pastel Society, Albuquerque, New Mexico
1997    Scottsdale Artists’ School, The Best and Brightest, Scottsdale, Arizona
1996   Oil Painters of America Fifth National Exhibition, San Antonio, Texas
1996   Oil Painters of America Southwest Exhibition, Albuquerque, New Mexico
1995    Pastel Society of the Southwest Open Show, Dallas, Texas
1994   One Woman Show, St. Luke’s Rotunda Gallery, Houston, Texas

Selected Publications:

Plein Air Magazine, January, 2005
100 Ways to Paint flowers and Gardens, 2004, International Artist Books
The Artist's Magazine, 2003 Limited Edition Calendar
Theologia Magazine, Cover, Summer 2002
The Houston Chronicle, October, 2001
The Artist's Magazine, February, 2001 
Painting More Creatively, North Light Books
International Artist Magazine, The Showcase of U.S. Painters, Feb/March, 2000
Southwest Art Magazine, Artists to Watch, October, 1999
The Best of Flower Painting 2, North Light Publications
The Houston Chronicle, April, 1999
Art for Little Texans, Children’s Hospital of Austin  

MARY K. FORSHAGEN  2 DUCHESS COURT  HOUSTON,  TEXAS  77024  713-973-7353

Oil Paintings Artist

Mary K. Forshagen - Oil Paintings Artist