About Me
"Creating beautiful art of Eastern Oregon Landscapes, Livestock, and more..."
My Bio
Mary Davies Kerns is an Eastern Oregon–based painter whose work is rooted in the expansive, rugged landscapes she calls home. Raised in Princeton, Oregon, she draws continual inspiration from the region’s wide-open skies, rimrock formations, sagebrush hills, and working ranch life. Painting primarily in acrylics on cradled board and canvas, her style blends elements of realism with an atmospheric, expressive quality that feels both grounded and evocative.
Kerns’ work often explores the relationship between land, light, and life in the high desert. Her use of texture reflects the grit and physicality of the terrain, while her color palette, ranging from sunburnt ambers to deep, shadowed contrasts and cool twilight blues, captures the shifting moods of the landscape. Her compositions can feel at once pastoral and abstract, offering a sense of familiarity alongside a subtle tension that invites closer attention.
Animals play a central role in her paintings, not merely as subjects but as carriers of narrative. Whether depicting newborn lambs or cattle moving across open range, her work reflects the rhythms, traditions, and quiet resilience of rural life. Each piece conveys a strong sense of place, emphasizing the balance between nature and human presence.
Mary Davies Kerns
Kerns’ paintings have been featured in regional exhibitions, including The Wild is Calling at the National Oregon Trail Interpretive Center in Baker City, Oregon. Her work continues to resonate with viewers for its confident mark-making, dynamic use of underpainting, and ability to evoke both stillness and emotional depth. Through her art, she invites viewers to slow down, observe, and experience the understated power of the high desert landscape.
Quaking Aspen with Sun Rise - 15" x 30" - Acrylic on Canvas
Find my art in Local Galleries
You can find my art locally at the Cheese Fairy and Copper Belt Winery, where many of my pieces are proudly showcased. I invite you to visit these venues during First Fridays each month to experience my new and updated works. It's a wonderful opportunity to immerse yourself in my creative journey while supporting local art. Don't miss out on the chance to find that perfect piece to take home!