By Bella Erakko
Some of us remember, as children, dancing around a Maypole, weaving our ribbon over and under the other children’s streamers. Alliance Art Gallery May guest artist Mary Drastal weaves art, teaching, and community enrichment into one life.
This weaving began early in her life...“I was fascinated by images, drawing all the time, but I had no skill set yet.” Born into a supportive family, she absorbed everything she could from school curriculum to private lessons to college degrees in art education. For 30 years, she taught—“becoming a jack of all trades and master of none,” giving students access to art via drawing, watercolor, oil, print making, sculpture, collage. She won prestigious awards for her teaching at the local and state level. Then she retired.
Today she certainly excels in her chosen skill set—watercolor and oil—in the setting she loves most, outdoors. A plein air enthusiast, she tackles each season with absolute enthusiasm. “St. Louis County has the strongest park district. The first signs of spring and I’m out the door.” She often goes to Queeny Park, with its vast acreage, hills, gardens, forests, meadows, and creek. Summer brings her outdoors, armed with a ground tarp (to keep ticks from crawling up her legs) and lavender for the winged pests, as she participates in several plein air events.
She notes that outdoor light influences her palette. Bringing her oil paintings indoors, she adjusts the image to reflect the softer more nuanced lighting. After all, the painting will reside, once bought, in an interior setting.
Winter brings out the camera, alpaca socks, and finger-free gloves. “I use oil paints because they’re not affected by weather. Watercolor doesn’t work so well in Missouri. It’s either too humid or the paint freezes in 20 degree weather.” Regardless of season and temperature, her soft warm style invites one outdoors to see nature garbed in a mesmerizing beauty.
She wraps the Maypole of her artistic life with more than one ribbon-of-passion. “I really want to support community art councils and alliances,” she enthuses. Currently president of the Heartland Art Club in Kirkwood with about 100 members, she has a rich association also with Best Of Missouri Hands, a well-established organization. She loves nothing more than to be back in the classroom, encouraging the art in all of us, talking about the life of an artist. As she says, ready to head out the door for Queeny Park, “I’m a sucker for looking down a creek or riverbed or a path.” She wants us to come with her.
An Open House will be held on Saturday. May 8 from 1 until 6:00.
