Meet Mary Cheung

We had the good fortune of connecting with Mary Cheung and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.

I’m an artist who works in more than 1 medium to create art. Sometimes my art will be expressed through dance and the story that lies within. Sometimes it’ll be through Digital Photography, then painting and manipulating the images digitally to get what I want. Other times it might be through painting or writing a poem to express an idea. It’s whatever I feel is the best medium to use for each specific idea.

Often when I create art through Digital Photography, I make the outfits for my models to wear and I build the sets that I will be using. I try to control as much of the details for my art.

I am most proud of the fact that I’ll take on and tackle a challenge regardless of whether or not I know how to do it. That is a quality I can say that I have proudly inherited from my dad. His “can do” attitude and fearlessness to learn new skills.
That doesn’t mean that it comes easy to me. Some things are hard for me and it takes effort to learn. But I’m not the kind of person to back down from a challenge.
I do know my limitations and will seek help when a skill set is beyond my capability to do it well.
I’ve learned that sometimes you do need to swallow your pride and know your strengths and weaknesses.
It hasn’t been an easy road and I am still learning and making mistakes. However I’m out there giving it my all and not giving up.
You overcome your challenges by not giving up and surrounding yourself with a supportive group of friends and family.
I’m super proud of the results when my tenacity pays off and my art is either published or exhibited somewhere.
I want the world to know that it is never too late to do something that you love in life.
And to not let your fear of failing stop you from even trying. The best way to do that is to show by example and actions not just words.

You have to take risks in life in order to succeed. I firmly believe that if you don’t at least try, then you won’t have any chance of succeeding. Yes it can be very daunting. It can be very scary and it can be very painful when you take risks.
But it’s so true that saying, “Nothing ventured, nothing gained.”
So I try to remember that and make myself face the things I don’t want to do.
However, having said that, I find that I have to manage my risk taking in increments.
Because having to constantly put yourself out there without knowing if there will be a gain can be really hard on your psyche. Not to mention a huge blow to your confidence. So I take as much risk as I can process at a time. Allow myself time to recover from disappointments than when I am ready again…try again and put myself out there! Don’t give up I say! Don’t lose hope!

Our society has such twisted ideals of everything. And it’s a disservice to our children who are the future.
So I’m just trying to do my part however I can, to show different points of views and different ways of thinking.

Success to me is measured in the “Consequences” of our actions and seeing how my piece of art has affected someone. It doesn’t matter whether they loved what I did or hated it; If I’ve made them “feel” something, then I’ve accomplished what I set out to do.

For me, as an artist, that is the golden chalice; being able to connect people to each other. Reminding people of their humanity and creating fewer strangers in the world, beating back the loneliness that comes from being disconnected.

The biggest joy for me is when someone reaches out and tells me how they felt about a certain piece. I don’t care if we don’t have the same perspective for a piece of art. I care that they have an opinion and that they are sharing it with me. How cool is that?
That to me is success, that I’ve had an impact on their lives.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?

So many cool and fav spots in L.a.!!! I would start their morning off with having breakfast at a local burger diner joint. I love being supportive of the local mom and pop business and it’s usually great for your pocket book as well.
– Cypress best has a great selection of breakfast that won’t take you to the cleaners. It’s a tasty no frills burger joint diner.
– Then off for a hike to Debs park up to the top where the pond is. Even if it’s a hot day there’ll be plenty of shade there.
– Highland park has become quite the trendy hip place to go with lots of interesting eateries and a bowling alley that has been restored and has a bar and restaurant that serves up tasty brussel sprouts.
– Silverlake area to explore and shop funky unique shops and than grab a bite to eat at
Some fav sites to see:
– Glendale Forever Museum
– Hauser Wirth Museum
– The Broad
– Moca
– Little Tokyo
– Arts District downtown and Murals
– Broadway St Downtown, old theaters and shops
– Olvera St.
– Griffith Park
– Venice Beach
– Echo Park lake and peddle boats
– The Observatory

Some other fav eateries:
– Be U, a Vietnamese street food eatery in Silver Lake
– The Kitchen, in Silver lake
– Akbar, in Downtown L.A.
– Tibet Nepal House, in Pasadena
– Curry King , in Atwater
– Pho Café, in Silverlake
– Café Stella, in Silverlake
– Thai Patio, in Hollywood
– Classic Thai, in Eagle Rock
– Café Beaujolais, in Eagle Rock
– Vegan Glory, West Hollywood
– Sunset Grill, Hollywood
– Korean BBQ, in Little Tokyo

The Oracle for night time live entertainment

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My Kids, Riley and Samantha Wood, They are the reason I do what I do and how I approach things. My mom and dad for always believing in me and knowing that I could do whatever I had set my mind on.

And finally, The Arroyo Arts Collective for their support and belief in me. For my first paid piece of artwork and always standing behind me pushing me forward!

Website: https://notjusttheordinary.wixsite.com/marycheungartist

Instagram: notjusttheordinary

Facebook: marycheungartist

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9OKRvNyrdZIEJUGtLVj2tA

Image Credits for MODELS:
Malik Pope: I’M HOME

Melanie Howard for : SIZE MATTERS 1

Sydney Cassatta for: DONE 2

Jazmin De Luna for: INTO THE WOODS (and) SALVATION #2

Selma for: LA FLEUR

Alice Carson for : CYBERGIRL