Candy Mayer is a full time artist, using many media. Her greatest love is drawing in any medium. "There is nothing more beautiful than an expressive, fluid line on a piece of paper." Her love of detail and color adds life to her drawings, pastels and paintings.

Candy began her career at an early age and earned a BFA in Art and Art Education at the University of South Dakota. Continuing her education, she has taken workshops from leading artists in the Southwest, including Camille Pryzewodek, Ben Konis, Jerry Seagle, and Carolyn Bunch. Before settling in El Paso in 1999, she was the sole proprietor of her own business for twenty years, specializing in decorative arts and crafts.

Since moving to the border from Iowa, Candy has been inspired by the history and culture of the area, using the colors and the light that the desert and the surrounding mountains are famous for throughout the art world. Many of her works originate from trips to Mexico and other locales taken with her photographer husband, Charlie.

 In addition to her work in the studio, Candy is a member of the Plein Air Painters of El Paso and paints regularly outdoors at many sites in the area. Three of her works traveled to the Department of the Interior Gallery in Washington, D.C. as part of a larger plein air show. She is also active in the El Paso Art Association and the Pastel Society of El Paso.

Candy has exhibited and won recognition in shows and competitions including the Sierra Providence Arts International Show, the Sun Bowl Show, the Paquime Festival in Casas Grandes, MX. and many El Paso Art Association events.  She participated in an international show, "Mujeres sin Fronteras/Women without Borders," sponsored by the Mexican Consulate in El Paso. Her work is currently on display in many galleries and businesses in the El Paso area and sites throughout the United States and Mexico, including the Hal Marcus Gallery, the Sunland Art Gallery and the Sasahara Gallery. She has been the poster artist for the La Vina Wine Festival, The United Way, KCOS-TV and her work has appeared on several covers of the El Paso Scene.  She has been a guest lecturer for The University of Texas El Paso for Womens History Month.  Candy has also used her talents to better the community, donating work to causes such as Avance, Buena Vida Adult Care Centers, Hospice El Paso, and serving as art commentator for the Art Auction at KCOS-TV.

Candy has held two one woman shows at the prestigious Hal Marcus Gallery: in 2004, "Images of Italy," inspired by a trip to Florence, Venice and Rome; and in 2006, "Travels in Mexico," based on a road trip to Chiapas in southern Mexico. In July, 2007, she returned to her hometown in Iowa for a one-woman show, "Borders, at the Lakes Art Center, Okoboji, Iowa.

In March, 2008, Candy and her husband, Charlie, had their first joint show at The Chamizal National Memorial.  Entitled "Alma de Mexico-Caras y Paisajes/The Soul of Mexico-Faces & Landscapes," featured paintings and photos of the beautiful people and land of Mexico that they have encountered on their many trips there.  In April, 2009, The Rose and Crown Gallery hosted their second joint show, "The Yucatan."

Two of her drawings were included in a national book, "Strokes of Genius 2," a drawing anthology book in 2009.

Candy was inducted into the Spirit Lake School's Hall of Achievement as the Outstanding Graduate of 2008 in her hometown in Iowa on October 5, 2008.

Exhibits & Awards

2010

• Pastel demos at Pastel Society, Westside Art Guild, Sunland Art Gallery and El Paso Art Association.
• Toma Mi Corazon- "Heart of El Paso" award on the cover of th El Paso Scene.
• El Paso Art Association Spring Show.  First Place.
• Buena Vida House Auction.  "Home Sweet El Paso" award, Thrid Place.
• El Paso Artists Studio Tour.
• Pastel Society of El Paso show.  Honorable Mention.
• Mission Art Markets, The First Thanksgiving and Billy the Kid Festivals.
• Ysleta Cultural Market.
• Ruidoso Art Festival.
• "Drawings:The Essence of Art."  Hal Marcus Gallery.

2009

• Donated paintings and painted a mural for the home for ABC-TV's Extreme Makeover Home Edition.
• Toma Mi Corazon- My heart appeared on invitation, thank you certificate, publicity and live auction.
• Mission Trail Art Markets.
• "Home Sweet El Paso" award from El Paso, Inc.
• Guest lecturer and poster artist at UTEP as part of Womens History Month.
• "The Yucatan," jont show with Charlie at The Rose & Crown Gallery.
• Downtown the Beautiful on the cover of the El Paso Scene.
• My collage was used for the backdrop at the Civic Center for the ELCA Lutheran Rocky Mountain Synod Assembly.
• El Paso Art Association yearbook cover.
• Ruidoso Art Festival.
• Bi-National Painting Exhibition, Paquime Festival, Casas Grandes, MX.  Honorable Mention.
• Book signing at Barnes & Nobles for "Strokes of Genius 2."  Two of my drawings were chosen for the drawing anthology book.
• Our Lady of Guadalupe Show, La Galerie de la Mision de Senecu.  Second Place.

Organizations

• El  Paso Art Association
• Pastel Society of El Paso
• Plein Air Painters of El Paso
• Juntos Art Association