Mary O’Brien
SNAPSHOT
Based in: Brisbane / Caboolture region, Queensland
Medium: Oil Painting
Style: Observational, light-focused
Favourite Subjects: Native flowers, animals, ducks, still life
Years Making: Since teenage years
Known For: Painting from life and photos with a focus on light and contrast
Animals, Still Life & Everyday Moments
Mary O’Brien’s artistic journey began as a teenager living on a farm, where she would take her sketchbook and pencil out into the paddocks to draw the native flowers around her.
A couple of years later, she completed an Art Course by Correspondence. One of her neighbours, who was an artist, invited her to take lessons, which she continued for around two years.
After moving to Brisbane, Mary took art lessons with Frank De Silva. She stepped away from oil painting for a few years while raising her children, returning to her art once they started school. She then joined classes with Helen Barchard, who was a member of the Artisans’ Guild. Through this connection, Mary also became a member, at a time when the Guild was based at the Old Fire Station in Caboolture.
Mary also joined Dawn Gallagher’s group, where artists would gather in different locations to paint together. Dawn would choose interesting places, and the group would spend hours painting on site.
Today, Mary mainly paints in her art room at home. She works from photos she has taken of different scenes, particularly animals and ducks. She also creates still life arrangements using produce from her garden as inspiration for her paintings.
While she paints, Mary usually listens to the radio or CDs, most often bagpipe bands.
Her advice to aspiring artists is simple: check where the light is coming from so the contrast of light and dark is consistent—but most importantly, just keep trying to improve.
