BAY LAKE — Sometimes life takes us in a direction we never would have imagined.
For Marian Adcock, a love of nature helped her make the transition from medical center executive and CEO to botanical artist. Adcock’s work in colored pencil will be featured May 17 through June 11 at Ripple River Gallery near Bay Lake. An opening reception is set for 3-5 p.m. Saturday, May 20.
When Adcock’s husband died just as she was retiring from her career as a medical center top executive, followed by serving as CEO of the American Red Cross, Greater Minneapolis Area Chapter/executive director of Minnesota’s 48 ARC chapter consortium, she sought new meaning in her life.
“My love of nature became my inspiration,” she stated in a news release.
Adcock pursued formal art training at the Minnesota School of Botanical Art. Since then, she has completed over 120 paintings.
Using wax and oil-based colored pencil on an archival quality surface, Adcock strives to transform nature’s vibrant colors into detailed works of botanical art, creating scientifically accurate depictions of plant life imbued with artistic acumen. In keeping with the tradition of botanical art, all of Adcock’s subjects are painted on a light background or in their original place.
“I use these same techniques to depict lifelike portraits of wildlife as well as zoo animals and pets,” she stated.
Adcock, who lives and works in Roseville, is an award-winning artist who shows her work at juried arts events and has been included in international arts publications. Recognition has led to commissions, including the opportunity to paint baby animals at Como Park Zoo in St. Paul.
“All of my botanical and animal subjects are ‘real’ subjects,” she stated. “Each of my paintings has a story about why I painted it.”
Ripple River Gallery is open from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday and 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sundays. The gallery is located 5 miles south of Deerwood on Highway 6, then 3 miles east of Ruttger’s Bay Lake Lodge on County Road 14 to Partridge Avenue.
For more information call 218-678-2575 or e-mail ripplerivergallery@gmail.com.
