Mary Ann Stafford Dr. Mary Ann Stafford is a pastel and watermedia artist who resides in Maumelle, Arkansas. She was not able to pursue a serious career in the fine arts until her retirement from the field of education in 1993. Her education credentials include a BSE and an MA degree in English; art hours from Kansas City Art Institute and the University of Arkansas, and an EdD in Secondary Education with an emphasis in art education from the University of Arkansas. She began the high school art program at Pine Bluff High School where she taught English, humanities, and art for sixteen years and later became the school’s assistant principal. In 1990, she became Staff Development Coordinator at the Arkansas Department of Education. In addition to her formal art training, Dr. Stafford has studied with several nationally recognized artists, including Doug Dawson, Daniel E. Greene, Sally Strand, Richard McKinley, Carol Katchen, Bob Rohm, Larry Blovits, Alan Flattman, Maggie Price, and Skip Lawrence. Still an educator, she conducts pastel painting and drawing workshops throughout Arkansas, and also teaches drawing classes in her Maumelle studio. She is a faculty member of the Museum School of the Arkansas Arts Center, where she teaches Advanced Pastel and Advanced Drawing Techniques. 2009 exhibits include a solo show at the Christ Episcopal Church in Little Rock, a group show of drawings from her drawing classes at the Arkansas Arts Center Museum School, the Mid Southern Watercolorists Annual Juried Competition at the Terry House, and group shows in Hot Springs, El Dorado, and Little Rock. 2008 exhibits included the AAC Faculty Show at the Terry House, MSW Annual Juried Competition at the Historic Arkansas Museum, the Diamond National Juried Competition in Hot Springs (receiving a 3rd-place award), solo exhibits at the Arkansas River Valley Arts Center in Russellville and at St. James Methodist Church, the “Prodigal Son” Competition at Fellowship Bible Church, and the WRI Arts in the Air Juried Exhibition. In 2007 she received the Jet Letter Award from the MidSouthern Watercolorists and also received the Pastel Award in the NLR Mayor’s Show. Signature membership status has been awarded in the Pastel Society of the Southwest and Mid Southern Watercolorists. In 2008, Dr. Stafford published a book of poetry and artwork titled, Then and Now: Poems and Prayers From a Lifetime. An article “How To Build Your Own Portfolio,” was published in the February 2002 issue of the Pastel Journal. One of her paintings was featured in the 2007 publication, The Best of America, Pastel Artists and Artisans, HYPERLINK "http://www.KennedyPublishing.biz" Kennedy Publishing Co. Her paintings are in private collections in Arkansas, South Carolina, Maryland, Montana, California, and Texas. Other artworks can be seen at Frameworks in Conway and Eurekan Art in Eureka Springs, Arkansas, and Cheers Restaurant in Maumelle. www.staffordart.com