Inner Landscapes & Subtle Magic
- Mary Ancilla Martinez
- 9 hours ago
- 4 min read
Interview with Mary Ancilla Martinez
1. Please tell us something about your background and your art journey so far.
I’ve been creating art for as long as I can remember. My earliest memories are of drawing unicorns, dragons, Halloween and ocean scenes as a child. Drawing and painting has been an impulse that has never left me. Over the past 25 years, I’ve worked professionally across different creative jobs. After earning a B.A. in Art and a K–12 art teaching license, I briefly taught art in the public schools and at an art museum before life circumstances led me to step away. Art remained a constant, and I found opportunities assisting muralists, working in scenic art for local theater, and eventually moving into working in the scenic arts in television. The longest professional corporate job I have had has been in the apparel industry as a graphic artist, where I am still working today. These experiences shaped my skills, discipline, and understanding of design and composition, while allowing me to continue exploring my personal work and steadily develop my paintings.
Some of my personal work has been featured in the ARC (Art Renewal Center ) museum competition as well as Spectrum: The Best in Contemporary Fantastic Art. I have been featured in various magazines such as Imagine FX, WeMoon, The Witch’s Moon Magazine, Sage Woman, etc. My paintings have been used on several book covers for a variety of authors, and I have had the extreme privilege of creating the art for the 2023 Llewellyn Astrological Calendar. l also created the cover and all inside illustrations for the books Dark Goddess Magick, and the Ultimate Guide to Energy Healing. Through it all, art has been a steady companion, helping me reflect, imagine, and connect with the subtle magic of everyday life. My work continues to evolve with curiosity, patience, and a commitment to creating pieces that I hope invite wonder, meaning, and reflection.
2. Can you tell us more about the theme in your art and your inspiration?
My work tends to explore the inner landscape—the parts of ourselves that are quieter, symbolic, and often felt more than explained. I’m drawn to archetypes, the feminine in its many forms, and animals as companions or messengers. These elements show up naturally in my paintings as how I understand the world and move through it.
Inspiration comes from many places: nature, emotion, mythology, dreams, music, the flows of energy, and those moments when I feel something just beneath the surface, waiting to come out. I usually begin with a feeling, an image, or a mood and allow the piece to unfold slowly. I try not to force meaning onto the work, but instead I enjoy to let it reveal itself over time.
I hope my paintings feel like invitations—to pause, to reflect, and to connect with something familiar yet slightly mysterious. I don’t like to try to define what someone should feel when they see the work; I’m more interested in leaving space for their own interpretation and experience and love to hear how that unfolds.
3. Tell us about your best experience in the art world so far.
Truly, the most meaningful experiences I’ve had as an artist have come from the people who genuinely connect with my work—those who find personal meaning in a painting, recognize something of themselves in it, or feel a sense of empowerment through it. Hearing how the work has touched someone’s life or helped them see themselves more clearly is incredibly moving to me. There’s nothing that compares to that kind of connection.
I’ve also had some exciting moments along the way, like solo gallery shows, and I felt deeply honored when Llewellyn approached me to illustrate their calendar, especially since I’d been reading their publications since the 1990s. One of my absolute favorite projects was working on Dark Goddess Magick by Ara Campbell. The subject matter was already right up my alley, and the level of creative freedom made it a truly fulfilling experience.
4. What practical advice can you give to fellow artists?
Be gentle with yourself and remember that your life feeds your art, not just the hours you spend making it. Taking time to rest, to enjoy things, and to nurture yourself is part of the creative process—it fills the well in ways you may not notice right away. It’s also okay if your art isn’t your only source of income. That’s true for most artists, and it doesn’t lessen the value or importance of your work. And if you need to step away at times, that’s okay too. What matters is returning, again and again, with care and commitment over the long term.
5. What are you working on at the moment and are there any upcoming events you would like to talk about?
I’m super excited to be currently working on illustrative paintings for an oracle deck for hypnotherapist and author Kristin Dwan. I am in the midst of creating the paintings to accompany her amazing idea for a deck. I love this project ! I’m trusted with a great deal of creative freedom when it comes to how each card is approached and interpreted which is one of the main reasons I took the project on (in addition to the subject matter).
I also have some work that will be up in a brick and mortar gallery show called “Crows” at the Studio Door gallery that I’m excited about. As much as I like online galleries and having my online store, I love being a part of in person art shows and haven’t been involved in any for some time.
I have much enthusiasm for a new body of extra large works that I have started as well, but with my apparel graphic art position and the oracle deck illustration project, I’ve only had time to create one of the paintings. I’m hopeful to work on another soon though!
Website : https://www.maryancilla.com/
Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/maryancilla.art/
Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/maryancillaart/
