New Mexico is a beautiful state in the Southwestern United States. With approximately two million residents, New Mexico is the 5th least densely populated of the fifty states while also being the 5th largest. The state has an incredibly diverse landscape with warm arid areas in most of the southern part of the state while the north is a colder climate in the base of the Rocky Mountains with the highest peak (Wheeler Peak) reaching 13,167 feet. New Mexico is the 47th state (admitted to the US January 6th, 1912) but has a far older history having some of the earliest occupants (native Americans) in North America then later being colonized by the Spanish in 1598.
Maria Elena Theye
Artist Statement
As a native New Mexican who holds a passionate love for the land I call home, I primarily choose to paint various scenes from our great state of New Mexico. This may include animal, landscapes, or people that capture my artist’s eye as I enjoy the culture and scenery that New Mexico offers. I find I can appreciate the marvel of God’s creation through painting what God has spoken into existence.
Bio
Maria Elena first fell in love with southwestern art as a young girl growing up in the quintessential central Rio Grande valley with towering cottonwood trees and the crisp Rio Grande waters. Her passion for New Mexico culture and landscape continued to cultivate as she obtained her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Southern New Mexico and raised her family in Northern New Mexico. Her journey through her homeland is reflected in her brushstrokes as she paints iconic New Mexico scenes.
Having the opportunity to live in geographically diverse areas of New Mexico has afforded Maria Elena the opportunity to find and capture various unique and picturesque scenes from all over the state. She has served as a gallery shop manager of the great and historic Fuller Lodge Art Center in Los Alamos, New Mexico. While there, she also practiced watercolor with the “Picnic Painters” of Los Alamos where she was able to further her study and understanding of various artistic media. Throughout her impressive artistic career, she has learned collage, mixed media, weaving, and fiber arts before settling on her favorite pastime, oil painting. She ultimately chose to focus her works on oil paintings due to the unprecedented vibrancy and energy that oil paintings radiate. This diverse background has given Maria Elena the privilege to be a lifelong learner as she has studied under several mentors including her current mentor, Kandy Tate from Placitas.
Maria Elena is also a Licensed Masters Social Worker (LMSW) and has had the honor of working in the field many years; however, she now enjoys dividing her time between her painting studio, traveling with her husband, and enjoying her family- especially her five energetic grandchildren.