ARTS & EDUCATION
Artist
An Accidental
w ritte n by SHERIL BE NNE T T TURNER photo g raphed by KRIS DECKER
G
rowing up, contemporary
“There’s a saying I like that goes, ‘It’s not
multi-media artist Monita
what you look at, it’s what you see.’ That’s
Mahoney didn’t have a clue
what I hope I can give people with my art
about the art world. “I never took art in
— another way to see things.” Focusing
school, never had any interest in it at all.
primarily on “watermedia,” a general term
I didn’t even know where the art room
that describes art that uses water-based
was,” she laughs. That all changed when
products and techniques, Monita’s eclectic
this Dallas, Texas native took her first
work includes a mixture of papermaking,
painting class.
marbling, collage, and fiber art.
“I was in my 30s at the time, a stayat-home wife and mom,” she remembers.
Papermaking can be traced back to China where it has been excavated and
“My church in Dallas offered a weekly
dated at around the second century BC.
craft class, and were trying to fill an oil
Today, although most paper is mass-pro-
painting class and I reluctantly agreed
duced, making paper by hand is consid-
to participate. I couldn’t even draw a
ered an art. “I started making my own
straight line, and I had no desire to
paper back in the early 1970s because you
learn to paint.” But from that initial class
couldn’t easily find quality art papers,”
Monita not only discovered her natural
Monita says. “I like to use natural fibers
artistic talent, she knew she had acciden-
like cotton linters or linen thread. Some-
tally begun the ride of her life.
times I’ll add flower petals, grasses, and
“It was truly a gift at a time in my life when I needed it because I had
other textures.” Marbling, so named for the patterns
the time to study and learn,” Monita
created that are similar to marble and
explains. “Later, my husband James,
stone, originated in ancient Japan. “They
who was a college music professor, had
marbled paper,” Monita explains, “because
a massive heart attack. After that we
they didn’t want important documents
decided that there was more to life than
copied. For this reason, the technique
what we’d been doing. In 1990, Monita
was closely guarded for centuries; only
and her husband moved to Greer to be
the guild master knew all of the steps
near their oldest daughter and her fam-
involved.” As people started traveling,
ily. Today, Monita’s whole family, includ-
though, secrets were learned and shared
ing her younger daughter and her family,
and marbled paper became popular around
call Greer home.
the world as stationery, book covers, and
Progressing from oils to water-
endpapers in bookbinding. “To marble, the
colors and acrylics, Monita developed her own style
paints are floated on water or a viscous solution in a tray,
of mixing mediums to create unique blends of color,
then transferred to the paper where it creates a unique
texture, and design. “There are no boundaries,” she says.
one-of-a-kind monoprint.”
60 GreerNow JULY 2007
ARTS & EDUCATION
GreerNow JULY 2007
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ARTS & EDUCATION
Collage — from the French word coller which means
to paint on the fabric or sometimes take the color out. I
to glue, join, or attach — is a mixed media that involves
make my own little beads and buttons and use these in
putting layers together. The term collage, as well as the
conjunction with paper and fabric.”
art form itself, stems from the cooperative work of two
Monita’s future works will include fabric art inspired
famous artists, Picasso and Braque, during the early twen-
by her recent visits to Choco Canyon in New Mexico.
tieth century.
“Choco was built by the Anasazi around 700 AD,” she
“For my collages,” Monita says, “I may use paper or
reveals. “All of the pueblo people claim to come from this
cloth, but everything I use starts out either white or natu-
civilization. This place really has such an amazing energy.
ral. I like to color it myself using artist pigments so that
There’s enough material and colors swirling around in my
they will last throughout the years.” Monita may also use
mind to keep me busy this year with this series.”
small objects, words, or stamps. “I’ll use whatever allows
After 35 years as an artist, studying with some of
me to tell a story. I may use transparent watercolor if I
the best artists in the world, Monita is no longer clueless
want to say it softly. It might be oil, acrylic, watercolor, or
about art. She not only knows where the art room is, you
monotype or any combination of mediums.”
may just find her teaching there herself at local art muse-
Monita’s foray into fiber art began about two years
ums and studios. “I treasure the time I have to paint,” she
ago when she started looking at the scraps of material
acknowledges. “It’s nice to be able to finally paint for me,
thrown out at fabric stores. “I was fascinated with the
paint what I want to. It continues to be a fun ride.” d
little bits of material and decided to experiment with art quilts. These are very loose, fun, wall hangings that don’t have to be perfectly aligned like traditional quilts. I like
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62 GreerNow JULY 2007
For more information on Monita Mahoney’s art or classes, please call her at (864) 848-1235.