Mary Elizabeth Peterson | COOL. CALM. very COLLECTED.™ All art © Mary Elizabeth Peterson.
New Haven, CT
"Art by Mary Elizabeth Peterson. COOL. CALM. very COLLECTED.™"
Mary Elizabeth Peterson's meditative paintings combine dynamic colors, natural shapes, and fluid line work. Having undergone two life-threatening brain surgeries in her 20s, she found her true calling in her art. In 2021, she launched Abstract Fabulous, a curated selection of fine-art reproductions of her original paintings. Peterson, who has current collaborations with luxury home lines such as Pottery Barn and Williams Sonoma Home, saw the need for an art reproduction buying resource for interior designers and early collectors.
Actively Selling
Filter Items
Category
All
Paintings
Art
Q&A
What is your favorite material to work with?
"I am most comfortable with a brush in my hand. I draw well but it's not something I love. I love moving paint around!"
Mary Elizabeth Peterson | COOL. CALM. very COLLECTED.™ All art © Mary Elizabeth Peterson.Q&A
What do you want people to do or feel when they encounter your creations?
"Modern day life produces fatigue, stress, and over stimulation. I think we all need to get away from our usual routine and allow ourselves to feel a part of something greater. My art focuses on deliberately drawing you in to improve your mental state and overall well-being. My paintings are like a re-set button."
Mary Elizabeth Peterson | COOL. CALM. very COLLECTED.™ All art © Mary Elizabeth Peterson.Q&A
What motivates and inspires you?
"I’ve probably learned the most from the artist Chuck Close. I keep a copy of a magazine interview he gave in it he said “you have to deal with your fear. The part of you that says, “I can’t do it.” You have to rely on the part of you that says, “well, it doesn’t look that bad.” And you have to keep going even though there are no guarantees. I’ve found a way to work for myself by breaking everything down to the smallest pieces. I just keep working at each little unit of the painting. Today I’ll do what I did yesterday, and tomorrow I’ll do what I did today, the same thing in pieces small enough for me to handle.” I’ve put that philosophy into practice in my art and my daily life. Another thing I learned from Chuck Close is to purge your mind of references to other people. You have to put yourself into the position to be you on the canvas. That’s vitally important."
Mary Elizabeth Peterson | COOL. CALM. very COLLECTED.™ All art © Mary Elizabeth Peterson.