Mary Roberson

“Creativity was, perhaps, the purpose for life itself.” 
— Mary Roberson

For Mary Roberson, art has never been a mere hobby or a simple career choice—it is a lifelong, turbulent, and ultimately triumphant relationship. Born in Fort Smith, Arkansas, in 1948 and raised along the shores of Redondo Beach, California, Roberson discovered her creative impulses at a remarkably early age. Yet, for many years, her immense talent was defined by a complex psychological tug-of-war: a deep-rooted struggle between surrender to her gift and a rebellious instinct to run from it.

Roberson’s artistic journey began with a profound intensity. At just ten years old, she was commissioned by the Guadalupe Church in Hermosa Beach to paint a massive fourteen-foot landscape mural. Recalling the experience, she describes herself not as a traditional painter, but as a medium through which the landscape simply appeared. This early brush with the mystical nature of creativity became the bedrock of her philosophy: that true art happens effortlessly when the ego goes on sabbatical.

Recognizing both her extraordinary raw talent and her fiercely independent spirit, Roberson’s high school mentors stepped in to offer crucial guidance. They cultivated her skills and anchored her through early personal turmoils, providing a safe harbor while she navigated her own inner demons.

By sixteen, Roberson had already developed a distinct, signature style. Fiercely protective of her inner vision, she actively shunned formal training, instinctively knowing that rigid art lessons might disrupt the complete, intuitive world already alive inside her. However, as awards and public recognition followed, the spotlight grew uncomfortable. Battling a negative self-image, Roberson entered a period of self-sabotage, eventually walking away from the canvas.

Yet, art never truly abandoned her. Even during her darkest periods of alienation from the art world, she sold sketches to survive. Art became her secret life preserver and her most loyal friend, waiting patiently in the background for her to reclaim her joy.

The turning point came in 1991. Following a divorce, the dormant urge to paint returned with an undeniable force. This renaissance allowed Roberson to merge her two greatest passions: art and the animal kingdom. Through painting wildlife, she found a profound path to self-acceptance and healing.

Today, the warfare is over, replaced by a deep sense of freedom and gratitude. Roberson regularly finds her inspiration camping in the wilderness of Yellowstone, capturing the essence and untamed spirit of the wildlife that roams there.

Now completely at peace with her profound gift, Roberson wakes up each morning eager to face the blank canvases waiting for her. Her work stands as a vibrant, evocative testament to a lifetime of weathering the storm, capturing the majestic dream of the natural world, and finally stepping into the light.