Detroit born Mary Demroske moved
to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan at age 34.
She studied art at
Lake
Superior State University
And continues to teach herself and take an occasional workshop from noted
Artists when convenient. She spends the long Michigan winters at the easel
and her summers are spent doing juried shows almost every weekend.
Mary is a veteran
of over four hundred juried, combined and one person shows. She has taken
many awards for her paintings of Great Lakes Freighters, tugs and
Lighthouses.
"I'm not a history
expert but I have learned a great deal about the Great Lakes shipping.
It's a fascinating subject and I enjoy painting the calm scenes as well as
using my imagination to create a believable shipwreck and sinking."
Mary is an invited professional member of the
International
Society of Marine Painters.
"Oil is my
favorite medium, but I have worked extensively in pen and ink and also
enjoy switching to water color from time to time."
Mary feels that
she has been blessed in meeting and knowing some of the best people in the
world, not just her customers but also from the Great Lakes Shipping
business. Owners, Captains, Mates or Crewmen, Retired or still active.
USCG personnel retired or still active. The list is endless. " I have been
fortunate to be invited aboard a Great Lakes Freighter for a couple of
trips, these have been the highlights of my career. Being on board gives
you a whole new perspective and hopefully gives more feeling to the
paintings that I produce."
Mary presently
lives in Brimley, Michigan with her husband.
