Mary Ann Onstott has been retired for several years. During that time she has evolved from a quilter who made over 140 items (wall hangings, bed quilts, purses, wallets and art pieces) to an accomplished oil painter. During her quilting years she was frustrated by the length of time it took to design appliquéd pieces. She had a keen imagination and wanted her vision first on paper and then on cloth. She had great results; but the journey was slow. To solve the problem she started taking drawing classes at Santa Fe Community College. She found that figure drawing and painting gave her the thrill of her life. She spent seven years taking classes to improve her painting. She still loves the idea of combining her quilting and painting skills. Her soul is full when she paints children and adults.
Mary Cassatt and James August Tissot of the turn of the century are her favorite painters. Tissot was a very detailed French realistic painter spanning many years. One of her favorite paintings is a copy she painted of Katherine Newton, the love of Tissot's life. Mary Cassatt is an American artist of the early 1900's. Cassatt's style changed from painting to painting; some were very detailed and some were sketchy and rough. In this tradition Mary Ann's paintings range from portraiture to loose renditions. She loves them all. Mary Ann's tradition is not to leave half finished projects in fabric, or incomplete paintings. Eventually they all get done.