Mary Erickson has been painting since she can remember. She grew up sketching the beaches of Long Island Sound in Connecticut and has always been able to find beauty in her surroundings, whether along a southern shore or in the Rocky Mountains of Montana. She sold her first painting to Gulf+Western Industries in Stamford, Connecticut at 13. Raised in Connecticut, Mary Erickson studied at the University of Bridgeport and Sacred Heart University, and initially pursued a career in business. Her passion for painting, and a move to Florida in 1986, stirred the desire to pursue art as a career. Finally, she realized a long held dream, and in 1993, Mary began painting professionally.Preferring to work on location, in the tradition of painters since the French Impressionists of the 1800′s, Mary continues to seek new opportunities to capture moments in time and place on canvas.Since 1998 Mary has divided her time between Marshville, NC and Venice, Fla. Plein air painting tours have taken her to Spain, Guatemala, Argentina, Ireland and throughout the United States. Whether solitary excursions (like scouring the coast of Maine for painting sites with her rescue dog, Maggie) or group efforts with other professionals or students, Mary believes these painting trips are essential to an artist's career and growth. Future trips are planned to Italy, France, Costa Rica, Mexico and New Zealand.