Artist Spotlight: Mary E. Carter

Mary E. Carter is an artist based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. “I have been making art for as long as I can remember. I am retired after teaching art for twenty eight years in the Grand Rapids, Michigan public schools.” 

"Harmony 2" by Mary E. Carter pictured above.

Mary was inspired to begin creating art full-time after retiring. “Now that I am retired I have the time to pursue my own vision.  My work is generally inspired by nature, whether it comes intuitively or en plein air.” As an artist, she enjoys letting the art and her inner self guide her. “I love working intuitively. I like to begin a painting or an ink drawing without any conscious idea of what the finished image will be, letting my inner thoughts be expressed.” 

"Autumn Maple Leaves" by Mary E. Carter pictured above.

Mary admires the work of Boston based scientist and artist Nathalie Mieback. “She bases her designs on advanced weather data and turns the phenomena of complex natural rhythms into 3 dimensional works of art about the connections of wind, precipitation, tides, and temperatures.” Within her own work, Mary enjoys creating art depicting living things. “Whether real or imaginary, my plants and animals convey the interconnections of all life.”

"Melon Man" by Mary E. Carter pictured above.

When starting a new project or piece, Mary is often inspired by the colors of nature. “Sometimes a color in nature will spark a thought that becomes a painting. Other times it might be a piece of music (often Chopin), a line in a poem, or an interesting shape in an intuitive exercise.” To aspiring artists, Mary encourages discovering and learning your chosen medium thoroughly. “Learn the basics of handling the medium(s) you prefer to use. When those are internalized, let them go, turn off that critic in your head, and let your inner self guide you. Remember that we have cameras to make things look real, and artists to make things look interesting.” 

"Bunnies and Birds" by Mary E. Carter pictured above.

Mary found Golden State Art through Amazon, and then began shopping via our website for a wider selection of products. “I've had to do a lot of framing lately, as I have 3 exhibits coming up, two solo and one as part of a group. Your mats help my pieces look professional and appealing to buyers. The mat/back/bag sets allow me to organize and protect unframed art.” Mary's latest project will be on display at the East Grand Rapids Public Library soon. "I am currently working on a series of one-line ink drawings for an upcoming exhibit. Each drawing is done in ink, no pencil work first. The single line connects each plant and animal to the others. The positive and negative spaces make the line clear. A viewer can start at the entrance/exit at the edge and trace the line all the way around the image. The exhibit will be up for three months at the East Grand Rapids Public Library, dates TBA."