Note
Mary Ann Carroll (1940-2019)
River Sunset
Oil on Upson Board circa 1973
Image size 24" X 30"
Harold Newton caught Mary Ann Carroll's eye the moment she saw him driving a car adorned with red flames along the side. Little did she know, at 16 years old, that this moment would change her life. Shortly afterward, he taught her how to mix paints and encouraged her to try her hand at painting. Soon after, she joined the group and became its only female member, a position that came with its own set of challenges in a male-dominated field. Despite this, she persevered, and eventually, painting allowed her to support her family of seven children as a single mother. Many years later, in 2011, she was invited to the First Lady's Luncheon in Washington, D.C., where she proudly presented a painting of a Royal Poinciana tree to Mrs. Obama—one of the proudest moments of her life.
This vivid sunset river scene showcases the bold, expressive color palette for which Mary Ann Carroll is renowned. While raising her children, art became the perfect outlet for her. She painted at home in the evenings while her children were there, and during the day, when they were at school, she would travel to sell her work, ensuring she was home when they returned. Her art featuring ethereal renditions of backwaters and virgin coastlines was created in her backyard, from memory, imagination, or both, just like the rest of the artists. Her life revolved around family and church. Her paintings praised and celebrated God's creation of nature and its beauty. Yes, for her, art was a means to an end, an income to raise her family, but just as importantly, it was also her proclamation of love for God's majesty and the beauty of his earthly gifts.