When I was in graduate school almost every one of my teachers was either doing conceptual art or abstract art. I wanted to do realistic painting. My teachers thought I was nuts!

It was around the time that Philip Pearlstein was coming on the art scene, and I just loved his art work. Over my teachers objections I painted realistic paintings.

My teachers were very surprised that in the student art show, not only did I get picked to get in, but I also got an honorable mention.

Realistic Painting–first art gallery bite

Just for the heck of it I decided to send out slides of the series of realistic paintings I had done to galleries in Chicago, the area where I was going to graduate school. And I got a bite. One of the leading galleries asked me to bring in my realistic artwork.

My art teachers were amazed, they hadn’t been able to get any response from galleries in Chicago and here I was with an art gallery bite!

Realistic Painting–first art gallery response

I brought in the paintings to show the gallery director, and I’ll never forget it. He said, “Great paintings, I love them, come back when you know how to paint!” Oh.

Realistic Painting–Artist Steve Hawley

The gallery director was right. I didn’t know how to paint realistic paintings, but neither did my teachers. But what to do??

When I moved to Massachusetts I was “lucky” enough to meet nationally renowned realistic painter Steve Hawley, who invited me to study with him. I couldn’t believe it–who was going to turn that one down. It was like having Michelangelo inviting you to study with him! Wow!

So I studied with Steve Hawley for seven years, and everything I know about realistic painting I owe to Steve. Visit Steve Hawley’s website (www. stevehawley.com), you are in for an incredible treat!

And you can see some of the results of my years of studying with Steve at my Website , Mary Baker Art (www.marybakerart.com).