Tribute

Mari Conneen entered this world on what was probably a cold winter morning in Allentown, Pennsylvania, an early Christmas present for her parents on December 21, 1946. It’s often said that all children are artists, and Mari was no exception, although she was lucky enough to never “grow out” of it.  Eventually she became a professional as a commercial artist in textile design and as a free-lance illustrator. But those endeavors, although executed at a high level, were the “day job”. Mari’s real love was fine art and her achievements in this field fill several pages on a resume.

Her work was eclectic, as she honed her skills in watercolor, pen & ink, graphite, gouache, pastel and stone & plate lithography. Mainly self taught, she also studied original Stone & Plate Lithography with Julio Juristo and Patrick Lyndhardt of Tampa, FL., and Jerry Raddiger of Maitland, FL.

The hard work paid off, with Mari being the recipient of more than 500 awards and honors since 1979. She was also listed in “Who’s Who In American Art.”  Her one-person exhibitions were presented around the country, in galleries and institutions across Florida, to as far as Arkansas and Maine. Group exhibitions that celebrated her work took place in Florida, North Carolina, New York, Missouri and many more.

Her paintings can be seen in corporate, public and private collections throughout the world, including:  Cities of Orlando, Winter Park, Miami and Miami Beach, FL.; Orlando Museum of Art, Orlando, FL.; Lowe Art Museum, Coral Gables, FL.; IBM Corp., NC; Walt Disney World, Fl; Southern Progress (Time, Inc.), Birmingham, AL.

Mari was a signature member of the National Watercolor Society, along with many other State and National Watercolor Societies.

It’s an impressive list, but perhaps the most important detail is that Mari was not just an artist but a working artist and a successful artist. She was judged by professionals and experts and her work was exhibited time and again. Her peers also recognized her skill and many were proud to call her a friend.