Mary Sobolik Petersen

I am a retired art teacher living in Luverne, MN. I taught art to grades 1 though 12 for a total 0f 20 plus years at Hills- Beaver Creek Schools. Since my retirement, I joined the Great Plains Watercolor Society based in the Sioux Falls area. I have taken watercolor workshops from several known watercolor artists such as Frank Webb, Jan Fabian Walleke, Jan Hart, Andy Evenson, Raleigh Kinney, Dan Mondloch and others. The brightest feather in my cap came when I had a painting accepted in the Transparent Watercolor Society of America’s 28th Annual Juried Exhibit in 2004. The show was juried by Mel Stabin. It even won a Merchandise award of $500.00! I hope to enter more watercolor shows in the future as they give credibility to my work. Mostly though, I want to continue my passion for learning and participating in art. I have had a few solo shows in SW Minnesota including Mn West Worthington Campus, Nobles County Art Center, Marshall Area Art Gallery, Dunn Bros. Coffee in Sioux Falls. I participate in group shows with GPWS and locally in Luverne. I have graciously won grants from SMAC at both the emerging and established categories that have helped me buy equipment and framing supplies to continue advancing as an artist. The past few summers I have enjoyed painting en plein air in watercolor mostly and a few tries at oils. My first love is watercolor for it’s transparent qualities and it’s challenging ways.