Mary Erickson grew up sketching the beaches of Long Island Sound in Connecticut and has been painting professionally since 1993. Working primarily in oils as a contemporary realist, Erickson portrays the natural word in all of its color, mood and emotion. She prefers to work on location and travels around the world to seek new opportunities to capture moments in time and place on canvas. In her words, “I believe there will come a day when the only places we will be allowed a glimpse of true nature will be in the parks, preserves and conservancies that we set aside today.” A frequent award winner and founder of Southern Plein Air Artists, Erickson’s work can be viewed at Sheldon Fine Art, Elder Gallery, and the WaterStreet Inn.