Mary Alvernaz

I make narrative drawings in soft pastel that are inspired by personal stories. Specifically, my experiences of close family interactions and growing up on a sweet potato farm surrounded by the beauty of the Central Valley. I am drawn to pastel because of the rich tones and soft transitions it creates. The lush texture and velvety blends of soft pastels enhance the warmth and beauty of the narratives. My work is very whimsical in both content and line quality. Moving away from true realism, the drawings become playfully stylized in the mark making and strokes. This stylization adds visual interest which helps to engage the viewer. Pulling imagery related to my own memories, the drawings usually capture the wonder of childhood or the beauty of living a rural lifestyle. Going further, some probe what it means to be connected to the land. These themes are closely tied with my own legacy and family traditions. The work strives to deeply connect with others through introspection and shared nostalgia. In this way, the work aims to elevate themes of the joys of childhood, family, and the imagination as worth encouraging and pursuing. As a result, the nature of beauty is implicated in my work, for what it seeks to illustrate as true, noble, wholesome, and good.