Meet Mary P. Spellings | Visual artist and President of Art in the Village

We had the good fortune of connecting with Mary P. Spellings and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Mary P., we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I have been an artist for 50 years. An artist needs a place to show their work. I have always thought a co-operative gallery would be a blessing to artists and collectors alike. There came a time that all the galleries in our city had gone out of business. I felt he Lord leading me to work with another artist to open a gallery as a cooperative effort. Neither of us had any experience with this type business. We prayed a lot and researched similar businesses. Then we came up with procedures . We didn’t want the gallery to make money, but needed it to pay it’s own bills so it could continue to exist. Praise the Lord after fifteen years we are still in business. Since I am a visual artist, I benefit by having a regular wall space for my work. It has been a great opportunity for many through the years. We are always seeking ways to improve our visibility in our area.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Let me just say, being a visual artist is tough but so rewarding.I have a degree in art but of course I am always learning more. I have done some variety. Started out doing airbrush t-shirts.I have painted signs, milk cans, walls, hats, jackets. You name it.I really feel that an artist needs to stay excited about creating and sometimes they have to try different things to keep engaged. Through the years I have worked through a variety of series; wildlife , landscape, people, vehicle , landmarks. Traditionally I am a watercolor artist. I love value and color. I love the effects of weathering on metal. I love texture. Lately I have been doing acrylic pours. Oh goodness. It is so exciting to see color move on the canvas and work to make it something I love. I have a family . When the kids were young I wasn’t able to do as much art as now , but I always did enough to not lose interest. When my firstborn was about five, I was working on a portrait commission five feet by seven feet. It was a father and three sons standing by a gate. I was doing it in acrylic on canvas but with a watercolor technique. I went to do the laundry and when I came back he had scribbled all over the legs and part he could reach. when I told the lady who was buying it she just laughed.Art is part of my life. It is very important to me because it makes me happy.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Well a lot of that would depend on the things that this friend enjoyed. Possibilities …First I would cook a big home cooked breakfast with fresh sausage, home made biscuits scrambled eggs(straight from the chicken house), and cooked apples. Next we would feed all the animals and take a walk on the farm, breathing in the fresh country air, and enjoying nature. We would go to Art in the village, to look at the art and visit with the artist staffing the gallery. We would walk around Casey Jones Village, maybe go in the train museum and the Old Country Store. Next stop would be the Old Towne Spaghetti Store for lunch. Then we might go to the Safari park to look at all the animals and laugh till we cried when they tried to climb in the windows.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
There are may artists who have had a positive impact on me. As artists, our peer group is always offering support.I love entering competitions. An older artist many years ago, Lee Mccullough, told my friend Kate Lagaly and I that we should submit our work to the Kentucky Watercolor Society exhibition. That began my love of exhibiting my paintings in big shows. Kate and I would sometimes both get accepted. Then we would kid each other, you know if we keep getting accepted , one of us is going to win something. And that happened. Kate was my dear art buddy. Even when she moved to another state, we would meet half way for a painting vacation for a couple of days,. We would paint, eat, and visit, always encouraging each other.Unfortunately I lost my friend unexpectedly to a brain tumor. It is very special to have a good friend. Another person who has been an important mentor for me is Fred Rawlinson. For several years several local artists have been meeting with him monthly to talk art and give input on art that we are doing. This has really grown each person attending.

Website: https://marypspellings.com

Facebook: maryspellings

Image Credits
All the photos were made by me