“Mary, if you put effort into this, you could be really good.” This is what a teacher told Mary Benson the artist during a required art class in high school. For Benson, who had never considered herself artistic, gravitating instead toward athletics, it kicked off a radical shift in perspective. “That moment really inspired me. And I gained a love for it that has become my greatest passion since,” said Benson.
Benson continued to take art classes throughout high school, exploring a wide range of styles and mediums without the pressure to be good at or specialize in any particular one. Her studies continued at Clemson, where she earned a degree in graphic communications with a minor in art. She landed a job as a graphic designer and spent the first four years of her professional life focusing her career efforts here. All the while, she continued creating. She sold her work via social media and expanded her side hustle through word of mouth, until it was no longer a side hustle. “I got to the point where I thought, ‘I could really do this!’ I am now working as an artist full-time, pursuing my dream and my biggest passion,” says Benson.
These days, her style draws heavily from post-impressionism and fauvism. She layers textured oil paint over acrylic somewhat unevenly, allowing deeper layers to surface for the viewer. Then, she introduces bold lines and vibrant colors. This results in a stained-glass effect that adds an extra layer of visual interest to her work.
When Potential Meets Passion
For inspiration, Benson heads outdoors. In true North Carolina native fashion, she looks to both the mountains and the sea, recreating the live oaks of the Lowcountry and the rhododendron blooms of the Blue Ridge in her signature vibrant style. She drinks in sweeping horizons and breathtaking vistas. But she dwells in the details—the curve of a flower petal or the filtering of light through a cloud. “I hope that my art brings the joy and peace of spending time outdoors into people’s homes and lives,” says Benson, whose hobbies include hiking and mountain biking.
Additionally, she finds inspiration and support from her family. Benson’s sister is also an artist and her mom is an interior designer. Together, they bounce creative ideas around and swap stories. Similarly, Benson’s husband has his own creative outlets. He ties his own flies for use when fly fishing in the winding mountain rivers, and he creates surfboards. The pull toward creative expression is something that binds them all. It cinches them tighter just as a compelling piece of art can bring together creator and viewer.
Benson’s original pieces, as well as prints, are available for purchase through the Mary Benson artist website marybensonart.com. Her work is also on view and available for purchase at Anne Neilson Fine Art, a gallery near SouthPark in Charlotte.
