Although Mayer was born and raised in the rural community of Spirit Lake, Iowa and earned her bachelor’s of fine arts at the University of South Dakota, she has easily transitioned from painting snow scenes and red barns to cactus filled arroyos and rustic adobes. Her change in subject matter was smoothed by the fact she made trips to Mexico with her high school Spanish class, journeys which helped familiarize her with this region's visual heritage. As further proof of the degree to which she and her husband, Charlie, have adapted, their home has become an eclectic showcase of the Hispanic culture.

“When we came to look at houses, we didn't want to feel like we were still living in the Midwest so we chose Santa Fe Style architecture,” says Mayer. “In the beginning, everything - carpets, woodwork and walls - was done in a sterile white. Now each room is painted in its own distinctive hue, and our décor is made up of keepsakes from our trips to Mexico.” Loving the azure blue they saw at Frida Kahlo's house in Mexico City, they also painted the rear exterior wall of the house in the same brilliant shade, enhancing its appeal with tile mosaics and red and yellow terracotta suns.

When it comes to describing the subject matter and medium of Mayer's distinctive imagery, eclectic is also the adjective of choice. “I guess that's the blessing and the curse of being an artist,” she says. “There is a painting in everything I see. Most often, it is the subject which dictates the medium I choose. For instance, when I do an architectural piece such as a church or a historic building, I draw with pen and ink because this allows me to get the detail. Conversely, a subject that is bright and big is rendered in acrylic. If I had a favorite, it would be soft pastels because they are a drawing medium, and that is what I am best at. I'm especially fond of pastel when I'm painting plein air because I can work quickly and acrylic simply dries too fast.”
She says she also enjoys the fun of creating collages using a variety of textures and techniques. “I start with a background of handmade paper which can be applied either to board or canvas. Then I layer on original drawings, fabric and trim and maybe even old photographs. Everything is put on with acrylic matte medium which is a combination varnish and glue which dries clear. Once that dries, I go back in with pencils and paints to add details and shadows to make it more three dimensional.”

Mayer has quickly become a recognized fixture in the local arts community by participating in a wide variety of exhibitions and fundraising events including those of the El Paso Art Association, Pastel Society, International Museum of Art and Binational Exhibition in Paquime, Mexico. This summer, she received a first time invitation to show with “Mujeres Sin Fronteras” (Women without Borders). For this and the Paquime exhibition, she departed from her usual landscapes and still-life paintings by creating two figurative pieces.

She has been the poster artist for the “La Viña Wine Festival” and KCOS-TV, has donated work for non-profit causes such as Avance and Buena Vida Adult Care Centers, and frequently serves as an art commentator for the KCOS Art Auctions. "I'm just one of those people who can't say ‘No’,” she laughs. “Actually, I have been blessed with a talent which I want to share by giving back to the community. In reality, it's a win/win situation. The organization gets a monetary return and the artist's work is exposed to an entirely new audience.” As an added benefit, these types of events also became a stepping stone to being noticed by venues such as Studio W and the Hal Marcus Gallery.

And notice Marcus did. Not only has Mayer been showing her work with the Hal Marcus Gallery for the past seven years, but as one of the gallery's featured artists, she has been honored with two one-woman shows, “Images of Italy”(2004) inspired by time spent in Florence, Venice and Rome, and “Travels to Mexico” (2006) based on a road trip to Chiapas in southern Mexico. One of her most poignant shows came this summer when she returned to her hometown for a one-woman exhibition at the Lakes Art Center in Okoboji, Iowa.

Always vivacious and upbeat, Mayer even responds with a smile to a bit of friendly razzing about her first name. It seems that Charlie just happens to make his living turning out candy canes at the Spangler Candy Company facility in Juarez. Candy just takes the teasing in stride remembering it was this job assignment that brought the couple to El Paso and opened their lives to a plethora of “sweet” new experiences.