Meet the Artists

Explore the work and collaboration of Minnesota women artists Susan “Rennie” and Mary Lynn McPherson. Traditional and infrared photography and encaustic paintings of nature, abstracts, and social justice and intercultural themes.

Meet the Artists

Inspired by nature, the artwork of local Minnesota artists Susan and Mary Lynn McPherson seeks to bring the viewer to a peaceful place that calms the spirit.  

Female LGBTQ Minnesota artists Mary Lynn McPherson is wearing a gray sweater and smiling at the camera.


  • Artist

    Mary Lynn McPherson grew up with a passion for art and a love for the Chicago Art Institute.  She started college with the intention to complete a degree in textiles but found another passion in the field of political science, and graduated with a degree in that field.  Along her life’s journey, Mary Lynn started her own business training humans and dogs, but spent numerous hours studying and reading about art.  An avid cyclist, she completed the Montreal to Maine Aids Ride in the Fall of 2001.  It was on the ride that she met a friend who would introduce her to Rennie.  They were married in 2003.  Over the years, Mary Lynn began to explore mediums that would fulfill her dreams of becoming an artist.  In 2013, she had a piece of photo encaustic art made from one of Rennie’s photos for their 10th Wedding Anniversary.  It was then she knew that this was the art she wanted to create….and it just so happened, she was married to a photographer.  Along with Rennie, they created McP2Art in 2018 and Mary Lynn became a full-time artist in 2020 creating the works you see today. Learn how Mary Lynn creates her encaustic paintings using Susan’s photography.

  • Za joined our family in 2014. A native of Spring Valley, CA (like Rennie), Za enjoys running in the snow, taking long walks, and commenting on the art being created. She is particularly fond of the trees.

Minnesota woman photographer Susan McPherson holds her camera and smiles while wearing a red jacket.


  • Photographer

    Susan Rennie McPherson discovered photography her senior year in college while pursuing her Bachelor of Music degree in vocal performance. After purchasing a Nikon EM (with two lenses) for $100, she began to explore nature, particularly the beaches in Southern California.  Photography went by the wayside for many years while she completed a doctorate in Clinical Psychology and a residency in Neuropsychology and started her career.  Rennie’s love of photography was rekindled when Mary Lynn gifted her a digital camera for her birthday in 2006.  An avid hockey fan, Rennie photographed the Women’s Gold Medal game at the 2018 Olympics in South Korea for a local hockey magazine.  Her photography has branched out and she loves nothing better than being out in nature with her camera. Rennie has recently discovered woodworking and builds the boards on which Mary Lynn creates their art.

Mary Lynn paints a medium onto a wood block as she creates an encaustic work.

Mary Lynn’s Artist Statement

Inspired by nature, my art seeks to bring the viewer to a peaceful place that calms the spirit. Learn more about encaustic artwork.