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By following artist, Mary Collar, down twists and turns in her home hallway, I come into a dazzling, light filled room - her special space - her art making place. Deep inside her lovely home is her studio. "Here 'It' is," she announces. 'It' looks marvelous to me.

'It' is set up for extreme functionality. "Since there is not a lot of room, the word of the day is small and compact," Mary explains. Central to this room in importance is her huge, wooden floor easel. Currently it holds a large painting with pink sky and dark trees standing in the distance. She is experimenting with colors, values and shapes. A pink sky? Why not!

The day I visit, she has moved several small tables, covered with plastic for protection, and has placed them around the easel. She is set up for acrylic painting. She is particularly enamored with one of her new additions to her set-up - her palette box. Inside a plastic multi-compartment box with a lid are acrylic paints. Each color has its own compartment which is labeled on the bottom. Mary is quick to explain that each color doesn't necessarily stay put in its assigned place. Colors intermingle. They all end up on the canvas eventually so no problem. She has borrowed the idea of the palette box from her instructor, Marla Baggetta, a well-known online tutor and artist from Portland, OR.

Mary's excitement and keen interest in the arts is catchy. She is enthralled with the lessons she is receiving from Baggetta. I long for the same time and commitment she has given to learning and creating in an art space that advances her desires and skills to paint.

Being a versatile artist, Mary also paints with dry, soft pastels. On the days she uses pastels, she rearranges the space and furniture to accommodate the special and unique qualities of this medium. Using different room configurations, she, very handily, creates flexibility in how this room works for her.

One big concern for visual artists is having good lighting in their studio. Mary's space receives a lot of natural light from a large north window which allows constant, soft, ambient light. There is a west facing patio door which provides beautiful, warm light in the afternoon. She explains that is the best time to paint. She also supplements her natural light with two floor lamps set on either side of her easel. One full spectrum lamp emits a cool white, almost blue, light. The other full spectrum floor lamp has a warmish hue.

Then Mary shows me down the hallway, again. This time our destination is the garage where Mary has a very efficient framing work shop located. Hanging above her work bench are empty frames, a hammer, screwdrivers and many other supplies and tools which are necessary for successfully framing her paintings.

Mary appreciates having her studio and framing work shop at her home. Not only are these work areas easy to get to and easy to keep clean, but it is easy to take breaks, particularly a break in her newly remodeled kitchen. I measured the steps to the refrigerator - only 12. Close enough for easy, plentiful grazing.

Mary is a delight to experience and a wonderful bundle of energy. Her beautiful acrylic paintings and pastel paintings are handsomely displayed at Gallery Moab. Visit the gallery to see her work as well as other works by many local artists. Stop by and say hi! Artists are on staff to greet and help you select an ideal art piece. Who knows? Mary may be working the same time you stop in. Gallery Moab is located at 59 S. Main St. #1, in downtown Moab, Utah.

Blog #7 by Helen Becker