Lively Landscapes
Read the full article here: Lively Landscapes
I am so honored to have been featured in the March 2023 edition of SouthPark Magazine! Below is an excerpt from the article, but the full article can be viewed on SouthPark Magazine's website or in the March print edition.
Mary Benson creates vibrant, mosaic-like paintings inspired by nature.
by Jennings Cool Roddey
Sunlight beams through the windows of a 1934 bungalow in Charlotte’s Elizabeth neighborhood as Mary Benson adds color to a blank canvas. The sounds of Jack Johnson, Tyler Childers and her other favorite musicians bounce off the tall ceilings as she brings her visions to life.
In her home studio, Benson, founder of Mary Benson Art, creates colorful oil paintings in a style she calls abstracted, contemporary impressionism. Her inspirations come from scenery she often finds herself surrounded by, such as mountain peaks, wildflowers or Spanish moss hanging off live oak trees.
“It makes me feel at peace, and it makes me feel very restored when I am spending time in those [outside] spaces,” she says. Benson strives to visually convey the emotions she experiences when spending time in nature through brushstrokes and pops of color. “Through my artwork, I want to be able to communicate and share those feelings and experiences I have had and hopefully bring other people a feeling of peace or joy,” she says.
