Signed lower right, 'Schwark' for Mary Beth Schwark (American, 1954-2001) and painted circa 1990. Additionally signed, verso, and titled, 'A Curious Pair' The daughter of professional musicians, Mary-Beth Schwark was born in Michigan and grew up surrounded by music. She attended Macomb Community College where she studied Graphic and Commercial Art with Ray Vinella, John Asaro and Milt Kobayashi, among others. She then served 14 months as an apprentice at McNamara art studio in Detroit and subsequently worked as a fine artist and freelance illustrator. Both a studio and plein-air painter, her preferred mediums were oils and graphite. Schwark exhibited widely and with success and was the recipient of numerous prizes, medals and juried awards, including at the Oil Painters of America, National Juried Exhibit, 1993. She focused on Southwestern scenes, including Native American subjects, and was also a highly-regarded landscape and animal painter. A gifted teacher, she conducted annual workshops at Valdes Studio, Santa Fe, New Mexico from 1992 to 2000. Partial List of Awards and Exhibitions: 1985 F.A.C.E.T., Taos, NM, best of show and first place, oils 1985; Grasslands Rendezvous, Greeley, CO, Rocky Mountain patrons award. 1986; ART USA, Grand Junction, CO 1988, 1989; New Mexico State Fair, professional competition 1990, 1991; "Best and Brightest," Scottsdale Artists' School, 3rd place, oils 1990, 1991; Mountain Oyster Club Art Show invitational, Tucson, AZ 1992, 1993, Oil Painters of America, National Juried Exhibit 1993, Poudre Valley 32nd Art Exhibition, Fort Collins, CO 1993, Two person show, Finley Gallery, Mountain Brook, AL 1993, 1994, One person show, La Paloma Gallery, Taos, NM.