Mary Lee Mattison – Children’s Book Author and Illustrator.
Biography: Definitely the Artistic type: Shares a birthday with Elvis Presley, David Bowie and Stephen Hawking. (Now There’s an natal triad!) Witty, clever, confident, intelligent (wicked smart) and a constant stream of fascinating, random conversation. I can be fun and childlike or dark and brooding (I like a nice mix.)
I love any and all forms of Imagination and Creativity, in any conceivable medium- I, for one, thought the gargantuan, mashed potato sculpture that Richard Dreyfuss (Well, Stephen Spielberg, or his peons really) created for the movie ‘Close Encounters of the Third Kind’ made the whole obsessive/compulsive ‘I’ve got something stuck in my head’ Artist conundrum visual. Like I said ‘Imagination and Creativity in any conceivable medium’ ! I am an original flower child of the 1960′s. I still dance “Barefoot with Patti Smith” garlands of flowers in my hair; have my long diaphanous white lace dress, gigantic paisley shawl and self-loomed, beaded, Hippie jewelry.
My curiosity and wild Irish imagination are boundless. My walls are covered with Art of all genres; Including my own vivid, original, ultra-stylistic, watercolor and ink paintings- My son, at 10 years old, once described my paintings as my ‘Freakin’ Acid Hippie Pictures’. Bless him! He now 35 and an important Geek Prime. I also have a stunningly brilliant, gorgeous daughter, Melanie. Martha Stewart wishes she had her innate style and panache! And don’t even get me started talking about the blossom of my being, my Granddaughter sweet Miss Tessa Rhiannon. We’re gonna hear tons more about her in future…
Interests: I love to read and study EVERYTHING: Children’s literature, especially Fairy Tales, Myths and Legends, Neolithic Archeology, Science Fiction and Fact (I’m working my way through the entire Desmond Morris catalog of modern, cultural Anthropology at the present.) I embrace all Art through out the ages, particularly the Pre-Raphaelites, Impressionism, Abstract expressionism (I really do get Jackson Pollock) 60’s Psychedelic poster art and whatever I might happen upon tomorrow. I live across the street from a Library where I have acquired gabillions of frequent reader miles.
Profession: I am a full time Children’s Book Writer, Graphic Artist/Illustrator and impressive Computer genious? No, no now that’s not right…jean-yis? (Sound it out Mary…umm, ge-en-yus? Ya, that’s it genius! I was absent the day they taught spelling.)
Likes: Opalescent-blue French Art Glass, dazzling, vintage, pageant Crowns, Antique (very, very used) twisted Brooms, early Peter Max items-I have many 1970′s pots and pans (I’m still working on collecting up the complete 8 piece Peter Max Dinner set-Each 6 piece place setting is a different Peter Max design. Then I’ll invite my favorite 8 people to supper.) Original Dr. Seuss books and items I don’t, yet, have an original first edition of The Cat and the Hat, but I’m looking!) Frank Frazetta, the greatest Science Fiction Illustrator of all time! (He once asked his wife, concerned at current criticism, “Do I make my women’s butts too big? ” No Frank! We all aspire to be your, heroic, feminine visions). Did I mention I also collect antique Fairytale books? More on that later…