Bird Song

Bird Song--paper collage on board Bio/artist statement
In the tradition of self-taught artists, Mary Rollins Thomas is a keen observer of the world around her. People, places, color, shape, symmetry, line, light—all get her attention and become inspiration for her artwork. She is reluctant to admit she has a power to see what is not evident to the average mind, but it’s apparent in her art. She works all the time—practicing, experimenting, revising—until she is satisfied with a particular piece. “I’m pretty good at making something out of nothing,” she says.
Working mainly in collage, Mary has made a series of hand-made books, with page after page of found pictures, original illustration and a bit of text. Some of them are personal, like a visual diary; others offer the best of simple insight and an understanding of visual appeal. She’s recently taken her affinity for collage to canvas, creating large, complex pictures with a variety of materials and images.
“When the pandemic happened, there were lots of hours at home and I turned to the Internet for innovation and ideas,” she recalls. “I discovered teachers who taught me how to use new materials in making art. It was like finding my people and being given permission to make strange new things all at the same time.”
Fabric, paper, paint, found objects and recycled items are all fair game for her art. ”Who’s to say what I can or can’t use? Or can or can’t do?” she said. “I’d love to be able to get all the art ideas I have in my head out! Could that possibly ever happen?” she asks, laughing.