Interview
Maria Gropp
A New Mexican native, Maria Gropp was born in Sapello, New Mexico, where she lived until she was six years old. It was then that her father moved the family to Denver, Colorado, so his kids could receive a better education. Maria discovered her natural talent for visual art after winning a drawing contest in the second grade at Lucy Auld Elementary in Denver and has gone on to attend art classes in color media at Metropolitan State University in Denver and the Colorado Institute of Art in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Maria’s favorite medium is acrylic, but her work includes pieces in colored chalk and pencil as well as pen and ink. She specializes in paintings of wildlife, scenery, native American subjects and has done some abstract work by request. Her drive to continually improve has led to using inanimate objects in her work. Her goal is to make visual art that fits a person’s personality and, at the same time provides warmth to that individual’s home.
What is your background and how did you start your journey in the art world?
“I started my journey in the world of art, I guess you can say as "a gift from God." My first recognition was at the age of seven when I won a contest in second grade at Lucy Auld Elementary school in Denver, Colorado. That inspired me to paint a mural of Canadian geese on my bedroom wall and a mountain lion on my dad's camper. I'm a self taught artist, but I have attended color media classes at Metropolitan State University in Denver, Colorado and the Colorado Institute of Art in Colorado Springs Colorado. I didn't get serious about my art work until a year ago, at a much older age, when I did a showing at the Hispanic Cultural Center In Albuquerque, New Mexico. Until now I did paintings strictly for my home. People would see the paintings in my home and ask if I could do a painting for them. I am now a member of the Rio Rancho Art Association in Rio Rancho, New Mexico and display my work at various different venues.”
What inspires you?
“The energy of life and what it holds for those who take the time to see beauty in everything that exists. I want to paint my feelings and at the same time understand what someone else is inspired by. I want to be nostalgic like Norman Rockwell, but yet capture the beauty of a landscape and the power of American Indians and wildlife.”
What themes do you pursue? Is there an underlying message in your work?
“There is no underlying message other then to enjoy life. I don't want my work to be social or politically motivated. As stated before my message is to see beauty and power.”
“The energy of life and what it holds for those who take the time to see beauty in everything that exists. I want to paint my feelings and at the same time understand what someone else is inspired by.”
How would you describe your work?
“My work is spontaneous. I take a drive and I see a tree that speaks to me. I see old missions that have a history that I feel would look good in a painting and perhaps someone else sees that mission and it says something different to them. I see the different shades and layers of a landscape. In my drawings of older individuals I try to capture their life and emotions. In my mind I have a vision of all my work.”
Which artists influence you most?
“I found some of the earlier artist influence me the most. Being native American myself, I like the style and subjects of R.C Gorman and Frank Howell. I like Norman Rockwell for his nostalgic work and the portrayal of Americana. My influence for wildlife paintings comes from Robert Bateman. Leonardo da Vinci's use of color and shading in his landscape work really inspire me. I'm not an abstract artist so I have not really study anyone who does strictly abstract work.”
What is your creative process like?
“During day trips around New Mexico and longer road trips around the country I see a scene and I vision what it would look like on canvass. I take that vision and draw it out first. Then, when I put the work on canvas I make changes such as color, texture, shading and dimension. Sometimes, there are many changes. The mind is constantly working.”
What is an artist’s role in society and how do you see that evolving?
“So you take R.C. Gorman and Frank Howell who show the power and the pride of our American Indians. Those artist who paint the suffering of other cultures. Norman Rockwell who showed the peace and serenity of small town America. I believe, just my opinion, that artists should complete work that shows peace and harmony and not the violence we see everywhere in the world today. Maybe we shouldn't evolve.”
Have you had any noteworthy exhibitions you'd like to share?
“I have exhibited my work at the Hispanic Cultural Center in Albuquerque New Mexico, Jemez Fine Art Gallery in Jemez Springs New Mexico, Lovelace Westside Hospital in Albuquerque, numerous coffee shops and restaurants and I have a scheduled showing and lecture at the Lomas Colorado Library in Rio Rancho New Mexico.”
Website: newmexico-art.com
Instagram: @heartofnm
