About the artist
   
Maria Elena is a prolific artist who captures on canvas the colorful splendor of Mexico's street scenes, markets and traditions. Her paintings are simultaneously realistic, impressionistic and naive, while portraying the distinct flavor of Latin America.

Completely self-taught, she has had numerous one-artist shows in Mexico, Central America and the United States. Her paintings hang in prominent private collections, museums and galleries throughout the world. Famous for her renditions of the charming windows and textured walls of Mexico's streets, Maria Elena paints in strong, happy, vibrant colors. She works primarily with oil or acrylic on canvas and watercolor on D'Arches paper.

For thirty-six years Maria Elena painted on-the-scene in Mexico. She lived in places like the beautiful provincial city of Cuernavaca and the exotic port-city of Acapulco, where she always found plenty of material from which to draw inspiration. She is one of the leading women painters of Mexico, particularly in the field of Hispanic Popular Art.

Some of the images you will see here are digital scans from Maria Elena's newest project, her Mexican greeting card collection. These cards are reproductions of some of Maria Elena's paintings. They depict various "Piñata" scenes, which is the traditional and popular way of celebrating Christmas in Mexico. The Piñata has now passed over into birthday celebrations too. The note cards also depict some of Maria Elena's famous street and market scenes.

You will also see digitally scanned images of several of her paintings and limited edition prints and posters.
   
Mexican paintings, greeting cards and limited edition prints are available for sale. A newsletter with current information about the artist and her work, and a full-color brochure is available online, at no cost. Her studio's phone number is: (541) 942-0371

Maria Elena
1955 W. Harrison Ave.
Cottage Grove, OR 97424-1971
USA


email:
maria.elena@juno.com

She would be very interested in reading your comments or suggestions. Please use the email link above.
   
This page was last updated: 4 July 1999
Copyright ©1999 by Maria Elena - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED WORLDWIDE
Return to Homepage