NASHVILLE — Throughout Mary VanLandingham’s life, art has always been present. 

It’s been a constant, even during those moments when she has been discouraged.

“I’ve always loved art, even when I was a kid, always doing crafts,” she said. “It was just something that was kind of clear that it was something I was going to be interested in.”

Art wasn’t a serious career path for the 25-year-old until her college years.

She was unsure how to transform her passion into a career and admits she thought she didn’t have the skills to be a professional artist.

After changing majors a few times, and briefly leaving college to explore other options, VanLandingham graduated last spring with a bachelor of arts in fine arts.

“At the time, you kind of feel like a bit of a failure, but it’s all a part of the plan,” she said.

“I’d gotten to a point in my life when I just wanted to do what made me happy regardless of how it would end up professionally.”

It was that first semester after returning to college that she knew she made the right decision.

“I found where I was supposed to be,” she said.

College is where VanLandingham began oil painting. She creates her paintings from photographs that she takes herself.

Interiors and landscapes inspire the artist, who also likes to paint scenes she sees while on day trips to other places.

“I’ll get really excited about something that I saw, something that I’ve photographed and that will kind of keep me motivated,” she said.

“That’s what kind of gets me to the studio every day is photographing new things.”

VanLandingham said her creativity stems from an initial sight of something, stating she sees her paintings before she even takes the photographs.

Skills such as applying brush strokes and mixing colors comes naturally, the artist said.

While a Valdosta State University student, VanLandingham expanded her talent by interning with local painter Steven S. Walker.

Under his guidance, she learned about the business side of artistry – marketing, networking, submitting profiles and framing.

“All of these were so essential,” VanLandingham said. “I was doing these things for him, but at the same time, it was stuff that I needed to know how to do for myself.”

It was while interning for Walker that she had her work featured in the Annette Howell Turner Center for the Arts for the first time.

Some of her pieces were displayed at Turner in November 2017, and again, this past January for Turner’s DrawProject.

Most recently, VanLandingham was named the 32nd Annual Spring Into Art best in show winner with her oil painting “The Last Day.”

The painting is reminiscent of a southern Ireland town VanLandingham visited while abroad for the first time.

“It had the most beautiful little cafes and pubs and I took this picture that I used to reference for ‘The Last Day,'” she said in a past interview, “and I just fell in love with the colors in front of it, and I had to paint it.”

Following her internship with Walker, she took advantage of an opportunity to visit Ireland as his assistant. Walker was leading a plein air workshop.

“I’m more of a studio artist, but it was still a wonderful experience,” VanLandingham said. “It got me out of my comfort zone.”

Alongside best in show in Spring Into Art, she recently won a judge’s choice award in a Key West, Fla., small works competition.

Other accolades include second place in a Thomasville contest.

“That was kind of like one of my first wins out of college, so that was kind of really exciting,” she said.

In January 2020, VanLandingham plans to host a solo show in one of Turner’s galleries with a Georgia-themed collection. She titled it “On My Mind.”

There are still times when she gets discouraged, but her support system sees her through these times. They are her parents, coworkers at the library and mentors.

VanLandingham would like to continue entering art shows and become a more full-time artist.

She advises aspiring artists to work hard on their craft, even if it’s for one hour per day.

“The thing is if you don’t put in the work, another artist will,” she said, “and that artist is going to get the successes. They’re going to be able to make the strides.”

VanLandingham says “give it your all.”

Amanda M. Usher is a reporter at The Valdosta Daily Times. She can be contacted at 229-244-3400 ext.1255.