Hi, my name is Mary Karcher. I am an artist who works in a wide variety of mediums, including acrylic paint, pen, ink, and digital media. I completed my BA in studio art in 2022, and now work as a freelance designer and commission artist. I make art for the glory of God and to showcase the beauty of creation.

Within creation there is an intimate tie between the natural, material world and our inner emotional landscape. Emotions—being fluid and organic—are well represented by shapes inspired by nature. From growing branches to angry seas, there are many forms in nature that I pull from to express this relationship. I have always found beauty in the repeating forms found in water ripples, tree rings, and fingerprints. Their order and repetition can be used to invoke a sense of tranquility, or—alternatively—great joy. Often, these organic forms take shape in more abstract ways with bright, unnatural colors. This helps to emphasize the forms and reveal some internal phenomenon.

I use many forms of media to convey this message, and I find the learning curve of new mediums to bring out new ideas about the human experience. Acrylic paint allows the artist to paint over previous work and revise it. This is an important element because as one learns about themselves through the artmaking process, that new discovery can renew the painting. Ink and pen drawing, conversely, is not so forgiving. It forces us to live with our mistakes and work them into the bigger picture. It makes us choose to work with the flaws and turn them into the strength of the piece. Each piece of art I make and each new medium is an opportunity for a deeper understanding of self.