Mary Grady

Ever since I was a child, I loved to draw and paint. My paternal grandparents were accomplished Wisconsin artists, and I loved to watch, learn, and paint with them. My lack of self-confidence at a young age pushed me to pursue a more stable corporate career, so I ended up taking a circuitous route to becoming a professional artist.

I began painting with watercolor in 2023, just eight months after my sister passed away from cancer. My sister was a Master Gardener and loved flowers, so I began painting florals in her honor. I have expanded my body of work to include landscapes, animals, automobiles, and portraits, but florals will always tug on my heart.

Without much formal training, I draw inspiration from what I see, often stopping to snap a photo of something that catches my eye. Inspiration also comes from the unpredictability of the medium—the amount of water used, the vibrancy of the paint, and how it moves on the paper.

My goal is to bring imagination to life in a realistic and emotion-evoking way. It is rewarding when my art makes people feel something—because, let’s face it, there is a little bit of my energy in every piece I create.