Märī - Paintings, Prints & Illustration

Artist Biography & Art Statement

Märī Dieumegard (pronounced MAH-rye DOO-meh-gard) is a narrative artist and illustrator of two award-winning children’s books, The Old Mainer and the Sea and The Canoe Maker.

Born and raised in Alaska, Märī moved to Portland in 1994 to attend the Maine College of Art. Maine has been her home ever since. She now lives with her family on a quiet pond in Windham. Märī’s commissioned work can be found in private collections across the United States. She exhibits her work at Gallery 302 in Bridgton, Me. and online in her Etsy shop: MahRyeArt.

Märī's narrative paintings are meant to spark a story within the soul. They are a form of visual storytelling and personal journaling. She creates flowing compositions using symbolic imagery and rich colors in gouache, ink, oil pastel, and acrylic paints. Mining her memories and dissecting her dreams, she weaves her work with myth and metaphor. Märī's work reflects her experiences hiking, camping, stargazing, and swimming beneath the full moon.

While I continue to explore my personal experiences symbolically in my paintings and illustrations, I encourage people of diverse backgrounds to interpret my work in their own, unique way, celebrating our shared human experience.

As psychologist Carl R. Rogers said, "What is most personal is universal.”

~ Märī

Artist CV

EDUCATION

Maine College of Art, Portland, ME. — BFA, 1997, Recipient of a half tuition Merit Scholarship
Barnstone Studios, Coplay, PA. — Attended, 1993-1994, Recipient of the Studio Scholarship, worked as a teaching assistant.
Lewis and Clark College, Portland, OR. — Attended, 1990-1993

EXPERIENCE

Owner, Märī - Narrative Paintings and Illustration

Windham, ME. 2016 - current

Narrative Paintings, Prints, Cards, Commissions, and Book Illustration

Owner, Raven Roost Studio

Standish, ME. 2014 - 2017

Designed and taught Studio Workshops for Children and Adults

Illustrator, The Canoe Maker

Written by Jean Flahive & Donald Soctomah, Maine Authors Publishing, 2019

2020 Maine Literary Award Finalist

Illustrator, The Old Mainer and the Sea

Written by Jean Flahive, Islandport Press, 2017

2021 Winner of the Northern Lights Book Award, Best Illustrator Category

Arts & Crafts Director, Camp Nashoba North Raymond, ME. June - August 2017, Developed curriculum and taught five separate weekly art projects for residential summer camp. Supervised two assistant camp counselors.

Visiting Artist, The Canvas Community Studio Juneau, AK. July 2016, Developed curriculum and taught four weekly workshops for children in drawing and sculpture.

Art Teacher, Breakwater School Portland, ME. 2011 - 2014, Developed curriculum and taught PreK through 4th-grade students. Worked collaboratively with seven classroom teachers.

SELECTED EXHIBITIONS & AWARDS

2024 Artist Springboard Grant Recipient: Personal Narrative, Universal Experiences

Maine Arts Commission

2023 Norway Music & Arts Festival

Norway, ME.

Gallery 302 Art in the Park

Bridgton, ME.

Common Ground Fair

Unity, ME.

2022 Group Exhibition, Spring Benefit for Ukraine,

Earth & Soul Studio Gallery, Hollis, ME.

2019 Book Launch, The Canoe Maker,

Abbe Museum, Bar Harbor, ME.

2017 Book Launch, The Old Mainer and the Sea,

Thomas Memorial Library, South Portland, ME.

2016 Featured Artist Exhibit, Home

Annie Kaills Gallery, 244 Front St. Juneau, Alaska

2014 Group Exhibition, MECA Collect,

Maine College of Art, Portland, ME.

Group Exhibition, Cry of the Loon Gallery,

Casco, ME.

2014 Group Exhibition, “After Hours" Maine Art Education Association,

Saco Museum, Saco, ME.

Solo Exhibition, The Narrative Paintings of Mari Dieumegard,

Tree of Life, Yarmouth, ME.

Main Street Sidewalk Art Festival,

Awarded Best in Show, Saco, ME.

Solo Exhibition, Excavating your Family Story,

Birth Roots, Portland, ME.

Solo Exhibition, From the Heart,

Coffee by Design, Portland, ME.

2013 Juried Group Exhibition, Yarmouth Fine Art Festival,

St. Bartholomew’s Church, Yarmouth, ME.

Group Exhibition, Local Talent,

Spire 29, Gorham, ME.

2012 Group Exhibition, Annual Studio Show,

Sawyer St. Studio, South Portland, ME.

Juried Group Exhibition, Yarmouth Fine Art Festival,

St. Bartholomew’s Church, Yarmouth, ME.

Group Exhibition, Six Artists,

Isaac Dyer Gallery, Gorham, ME.

2011 Juried Group Exhibition, Yarmouth Fine Art Festival,

St. Bartholomew’s Church, Yarmouth, ME.

2010 Juried Group Exhibition, Yarmouth Fine Art Festival,

St. Bartholomew’s Church, Yarmouth, ME.

SELECTED LINKS

WCSH Newscenter 6 Interview, “The Old Mainer and the Sea”

Portland Press Herald, "Q and A with Illustrator, Mari Dieumegard"

In the News: "The Canoe Maker" Spanish Edition

OTHER WORK EXPERIENCE

Library Ed-Tech, Windham-Raymond School District RSU14

2015 - current

Library Media Specialist for grades 5 - 8

Lead Teacher, Breakwater School Portland, ME.

2009 - 2011

Early Childhood lead teacher. Planned and implemented a developmentally appropriate curriculum for a class of 14 students.

Assistant Teacher, Breakwater School Portland, ME.

2007 - 2009

Assisted lead teacher in a Reggio-inspired, multi-age early childhood classroom.

Aftercare Director, Breakwater School Portland, ME.

1998 - 2007

Designed and implemented an after-school program serving elementary-aged students in greater Portland.

Drawing Instructor, MECA Saturday School, Portland, ME.

1999 - 2000

Designed and implemented the curriculum for a Drawing 1 class, middle school-aged students.