Mallory Marty Coffey

You will see themes of nature and identity through painting, printing, and figure drawing.  We all wear many hats, as some may say, and each one informs the other. Some we keep, some we leave behind like a costume, but they all help us grow. The newest part of my identity is mother, and I am forever changed. My hope with this start to my new series is to work through some of the pain, share in some of the pride, and hope that others can relate in their own ways to overcoming overwhelming emotions and feeling vulnerable and strong at the same time. It is a weird feeling, but it has taken time for me to understand that two things can be true. Through hard times, finding beautiful details in nature became crucial. I needed to find the silver lining in anything, no matter how small it might be. I found it by noticing the snowdrops popping up first, still surrounded by snow, or how beautifully the water trickles through a fountain or creek. Spring is a time of rebirth, a new beginning. During that dark time, I collected flowers and pressed them and am now using them in my artwork to add texture and meaning.