Mary Monk grew up in New Orleans but has been living in Abita Springs with her husband and four children for the past twenty years. Monk's primary medium is pastel and she is mostly known for her country/urban landscapes. No matter the subject, mood and light are always the true focus of her paintings. Her choices of color and subject matter are heavily influenced by growing up in the city and moving to the country to raise her family. The transition of urban to country sparked an infinite pool of inspiration for the artist. The majority of her paintings are scenes done en plein air.