"Mary GrandPre: Conjuring the Backstory" at Art Center Sarasota

"Wing and a Prayer" (2022)

Odds are that you're familiar with Mary GrandPre's work even if her name doesn't ring any bells. After all, GrandPre illustrated the American editions of the Harry Potter books. While the Sarasota resident enjoyed creating those illustrations, her real love is abstract art. And so she conjured up some abstract paintings for her recent exhibit at Art Center Sarasota. But first, her Harry Potter story, something people always want to know. 

GrandPre started her career as an illustrator and found herself creating images for medical magazines. Who knew that was even a thing? She gave an example of her work -- a drawing not of a kidney but of what it feels like to have a kidney disorder. Probably not the kind of work she had imagined when she dreamt about becoming an artist. 

Mary GrandPre with "Memory Pour" (2022)

Eventually, she segued into the much happier world of illustrating children's books. She loved the storytelling component of her work. One day a call came from Scholastic about creating the cover for a book about a boy with magical powers. "Sorry, too busy," she told them. But they were persistent, and when she looked at the manuscript she found herself relating to Harry, a somewhat awkward magical kid finding his way. She decided it would be interesting to illustrate his world. The rest, as they say, is history. 

After 30 years as an illustrator, it was time to turn to a different type of art. But what? While abstract art had never resonated with her when she was younger, GrandPre decided to explore the style. It was about as far away as she could get from illustration. She took an online course and got back to basics. She said she "enjoyed stripping away all the stuff and finding the soul of a picture." Over time she recognized that, while abstract, her paintings have a narrative quality as they evoke a memory or thought or feeling. What is life, after all, without stories to define us? 

"Theatre Mom" (2022)

She shared the story behind "Theatre Mom," a work she had originally called "Bad Theatre Mom." When GrandPre started the work, the image had the feel of a vase with flowers. It wasn't what she had in mind, so she turned the painting upside down. What had seemed like a vase suddenly looked more like a figure. In fact, she realized it might actually be a self-portrait of sorts. It's all a matter of perspective.

But what about the title? GrandPre's daughter was a theater kid, so the artist spent an inordinate amount of time shuffling her daughter back and forth to rehearsals and sitting in darkened auditoriums. What mother doesn't occasionally feel put upon by the constant (and generally unacknowledged) support required by a child? GrandPre felt that having a bit of resentment made her a bad theater mom. Looking at the time in the rear window view, though, she's realized she was just a theater mom like any other with the natural range of emotions about the responsibilities that came with the "job." She did what needed to be done to support her daughter, including becoming one of the faceless people sitting in the audience. And so the work was retitled to omit the negative feelings she'd placed on herself. 

"Becoming" (2022) 

GrandPre's paintings have many layers of paint and other materials. She often starts with a collage despite knowing what she's laid down will be covered up. Occasionally you might get a glimpse of what's there, though, just as you sometimes get a peek into a part of someone they usually keep under wraps. 

GrandPre generally doesn't have a specific idea in mind when she starts a painting. Her illustration work required enough planning to last a lifetime. She calls her work a dance as she strips paint off and then adds it back. As to her color choices, GrandPre said, "Color is like a kid. It behaves differently in different situations." I love that. 

GrandPre works on multiple paintings at a time and said they seem to inform each other. Sitting a room full of her work, I could understand what she means. I saw ghost-like images of people in many of her works, and it's easy to imagine them having a conversation once GrandPre had put her brushes away for the day (or after Art Center Sarasota had locked the doors for the night). If walls could only talk. 

While "Mary GrandPre: Conjuring the Backstory" is no longer on display, you can see more of GrandPre's work by going to her website. And for more info about Art Center Sarasota, click here.  

Next up: Art Basel Miami 2022!