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Mixed-media artist Maura Harvey has painted since grammar school, but as an adult, she initially chose to express herself through her poetry instead.
With a Ph.D. in Latin American studies, Harvey speaks fluent Spanish and published a book of her poems titled "Poemas" in both Spanish and English in1993.
"The major theme of the book is the connection between the Americas because of our living so close to the border," she said.
Harvey said that for a long time she wanted to just paint art for art's sake. Then six to eight years ago, she decided to start painting pieces for display. Harvey's been actively showing her work since the fall of 2005.
After deciding to start painting for display, Harvey hired an art agent and is glad she did.
"She wanted me to visualize what I wanted to do with my art, and I think that to have a person measure and advise you in that way is the way to go," Harvey said. "Artists have to realize that they need help."
Harvey often blends her poems with her paintings.
"Sometimes a poem is directly influenced by the painting or vice versa," Harvey said.
She currently has nine of her poems on display at Distinctions Gallery in Escondido.
Found objects from her travels to such exotic places as Mexico, Russia and Japan also play a large part in Harvey's paintings that often feature indigenous people.
"In Kyoto, people handed me things that I just couldn't throw away," Harvey said. "Even their little tickets are beautiful, so I saved them and began making little three-dimensional altars or tableaux on various themes that went together for a message."
Harvey's friends also contribute to her artistic efforts by giving her bits and pieces of beach glass that they find, as well as fabric, lace and broken jewelry, which she incorporates into her designs.
"A friend just gave me a collection of 10 or 12 odd, funky watches and I'll turn those into a story,"
she said. "When someone gives something to me, I always find that more inspiring than if I find it."
Harvey feels that artists give pieces of themselves when they create art.
"I like to include old jewelry, found objects or a piece of broken craft in my art because someone had given it a life, and it takes on that person's energy," she said.
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Harvey first became interested in indigenous cultures while she was an exchange student visiting Mexico. And over the years, while visiting many other colorful cultures, she began collecting their indigenous costumes. Her extensive collection of them now includes a Flamenco dress, a Russian country peasant costume, as well as clothing from Hungary, Peru and many other colorful locales.
The images of the women she saw in these countries made a strong impression on her.
"I started painting the women of such undervalued cultures as Ethiopia and Afghanistan," she said.
Harvey's recent Carmel Valley show, "Homage and Hope," reflected her interest in indigenous women.
She depicts the women of undervalued cultures as women of power, such as queens, saints and spiritual figures. In doing so, Harvey likes to use a lot of gold paint, beads, paper and ribbons in her paintings.
"I think gold brings a certain kind of radiance to the picture," she said. "I think of gold as a symbol of hope and peace, so I try to use to use these creations to get that message across."
Harvey draws her artistic inspiration from the old baroque Mexican churches she visited and the other spiritual centers that she's experienced while traveling.
"Those churches are very inspiring to me, and while I'm not going to be a Michelangelo" she said, "in my own way, each piece I make is a message of hope and the bringing of the world's best spiritual energy to the canvas or the piece that I'm making."
Harvey, who will visit Turkey in May to experience Islamic places of worship, said that while her theme isn't any particular religion, she tries to incorporate ideas from other cultures and shrines into her pieces.
Harvey finds that living near the beach in Carmel Valley also nourishes her art.
"We have beautiful light here," she said, "and even though I'm not really into painting landscapes, I started doing a few."
Harvey believes that everyone should make an effort to explore his or her artistic side.
"I believe that everyone should spend a little time trying to be artistic in some way in their lives if they have any inclination because it's so healing for anyone," Harvey said.
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