Interview: Artist Mary Roberson: Wildlife and Landscape Painter Talks About Her Inspirations

Alina Bradford: How did you start as an artist?
Mary Roberson: I started painting at age 10 after my dad had taken me to a museum in Los Angeles to see an exhibit. Upon seeing the paintings I told my dad that I knew the process by which each artist had done the painting and my dad immediately bought me some art supplies. I was soon commissioned (on behalf of my mom’s generous offer) to paint a mural, a landscape, for our local church. It was my first painting – a 14 foot mural – by the age of 10.
Looking back, I thought nothing of the endeavor and hadn’t a clue why the adults thought it was a big deal. It was as natural as breathing for me. Prior to that mural I had done hundreds of sketches from age 6, mostly during class and fortunately for me none of my teachers suggested that they were creative or for that matter even acknowledged them, but they mostly allowed me to sketch during class time as long as I did my class work, too. The point is, I do believe, had they pointed out my creativity, I wouldn’t have continued sketching. I had a fear that came with my talent, which I’ve spent many years overcoming.
AB: Where is your art shown?
MR: My art is represented by Kneeland Gallery, Ketchum, Idaho.
AB: What is your inspiration?
MR: My inspiration is non-stop. I am inspired by animals and water mostly and 99% of my paintings depict one or the other. I am inspired by knowledge and experimenting with different compositions and techniques and I am inspired by viewing other artists’ works, thus I go to galleries quite often of which I prefer the contemporary look. But I am also inspired by the run-of-the-mill “everybody paints like this” stuff. It inspires me to not paint like that-To be unique, which is in each of us—So perhaps my greatest inspiration is just listening to my heart – yes, that’s it! – I knew I”d eventually get around to it – …