Local artist’s portraits make a memorable gift for any occasion

“One of my customers came to me and wanted a picture of her grandson and when she saw it she cried,” said Owner of Memorable Creations, Mary Ann Long. “It’s inspirational but it’s also creating a different persona in what is going on in that person’s life.”

Long opened her personal portrait and art business, Memorable Creations in 1987. She holds a master’s in science in art education from Buffalo State, where thereafter she became a teacher at several local schools. One day her son came up with a great idea during the Buffalo Bills playoffs and the rest is history.

“I created a Buffalo Bills wreath and I had so many orders I could not keep up and that’s how my business started up believe it or not,” said Long.

Following the wreaths Long began making more creations to represent Buffalo’s culture by designing t-shirts, sweatshirts, and coffee mugs. Yet now her main focus is drawing and painting portraits that make others happy. Long can recreate any meaningful picture or dozens of pictures and paint a beautiful portrait to hang on any wall. It’s a unique gift that brings meaning and thoughtfulness to any recipient.

“I’ve been doing portraits for people for holiday occasions, events, putting different pictures together. I do everything in different mediums. It could be pastel, color pencil, creating something more dimensional depending on what people want,” said Long.

To begin the process Long asks her clients for a 50 percent deposit and the guarantee is that she will sketch a line drawing of the portrait first. Then the client okay’s it or not, so he or she will always know what they are getting beforehand. Her most memorable illustration was one she painted on a bedroom wall for a newly adopted boy and his mother.

“I did a tree of life and only the branches were on the tree but she chose different characters that I created to be on the ground for her kids room and this was in conjunction with this little boy who was just adopted and his family was having his first special day. They have all of their names on the leaves and it was put on the branches of the tree and she just loved it,” said Long.

To contact Long regarding a portrait call 634-3286 or visit www.memorablecreations.biz to view some of her work.