“Like Alice, I stepped onto a path destination unknown. 
Then awoke VanWinkle to find myself full-grown.”
from A Life’s Work  by Mary Thorn

In my mid-twenties, I moved from the gray winters of Chicago to the light-infused beauty of the Virgin Islands. It was an experience that established a new direction for my life. I longed to capture the intoxicating beauty and vivid colors I saw around me—to hold them forever. That was the original inspiration for my photography which became my primary passion and the occupation of most of my free time. It was a wonderful experience to later have my work featured in books and magazines because it meant others also responded to the amazing beauty I had been trying to capture. 

When I returned to the U.S. several years later, I decided to study graphic design at Parsons School of Design. And--because of my love of cooking and earlier education in Home Economics --I also studied food styling at New York University. This seemingly odd combination of interests—photography, graphic design and food--led to my successful career as a Food Stylist, preparing food for photography, commercials, packaging and advertisements. The exactitude of creating an alluring food presentation seemed a perfect match for my detail orientation and love of color. As I honed my skills, I struck out on my own as a commercial photographer specializing in enticing table top presentations of products and food. I feel confident that you would recognize some of the resulting product packaging that I created.

As an artist, I have always been drawn to the perfect clarity of vision represented in the work of the Old Masters and in today’s photo-realistic style. I can’t explain the why of it, but when I look at an object or scene, my eye is naturally drawn to the intricate detail and fascinating complexity that creates the whole. It is the faithful capturing of that beautiful intricacy that I have always strived for and loved both as a photographer and now as a painter of still life and miniatures.

In retrospect, all of my earlier artistic experiences have been a path leading to my current work in oils. I truly hope you appreciate the beauty of the world as seen through my eyes.