Artist Spotlight: Mary Powell

Group of Three

The first time I met Mary Powell, I felt instantly drawn to her. We had both been in Peace Corps Africa, lived on Bainbridge Island, were drawn to the outdoors, and both had a passion for art. I was captivated as she shared her story.

Somehow, Mary Powell always knew that she wanted to be an artist. She received a degree in Fine Art from Berkeley in the 60s, focusing on Abstract Impressionism. She illustrated text books for the Ministry of Education as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Ethiopia in 1964, which inspired her to study illustration at Art Center College of Design in Los Angeles. She also studied painting in Mexico at San Miguel De Allende. Yet it wasn’t until she became a student of Russian Impressionist Ron Lukas that she realized she was destined to be an impressionist painter.

Powell was born in Visalia, California. She and her family moved to Bainbridge Island in 1973 where she owned an art gallery as well as a preschool, and subsequently taught high school art. She moved to the Methow Valley in 1998. Now, Powell spends time capturing views that she sees throughout the Valley.

Mary Powell’s work will be displayed in the Confluence’s upcoming exhibit: Interpreting The Methow, Plein Aire To Studio. The exhibit will run from June 8 until July 27. The opening will be held on Saturday, June 8, from 4-8pm.