Meet Mary Benson

We recently connected with Mary Benson and have shared our conversation below.

Mary, first a big thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and insights with us today. I’m sure many of our readers will benefit from your wisdom, and one of the areas where we think your insight might be most helpful is related to imposter syndrome. Imposter syndrome is holding so many people back from reaching their true and highest potential and so we’d love to hear about your journey and how you overcame imposter syndrome.

Honestly, imposter syndrome is something I don’t think ever completely goes away—it’s more of a constant process. Every time I start to feel like I’ve “figured it out,” something new comes along that makes me feel like I’m back at square one. But I’ve come to see that as a good sign—it usually means I’m pushing myself outside of my comfort zone and growing.

The way I deal with it is by faking it until I make it. When I first started committing to art more seriously, I’d literally ask myself, “What would an artist do?”—whether that was in my daily routines or posting on Instagram—and then I’d just… do that thing. Over time, those little choices added up, and eventually I started to believe it myself.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

I’m an oil painter based in North Carolina, and my work is really inspired by the landscapes around me—the mountains, marshes, flowers, and gardens that I grew up loving. I use a process where I layer textured oil paint over acrylic underpaintings, almost like a stained-glass effect, and I’m always chasing color and movement in a way that feels joyful and a little bit whimsical. Over the last few years, I’ve been lucky to show my work in galleries across the southeast, which still feels surreal to say out loud.

Alongside painting, I’ve been building out my art into different products that can live in people’s everyday lives—things like prints, cards, ornaments, and most recently, my own custom Mahjong set. That’s been such a fun (and huge!) project because it let me combine my love for art with a game that’s all about connection and community.

Right now, I’m focused on continuing to grow both sides of my work: creating new collections for galleries and also expanding the Mahjong brand. I want people to feel a sense of joy and togetherness when they engage with my art—whether that’s hanging a painting in their home or gathering around a Mahjong table with friends.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Looking back, three things really stand out. First is my background in graphic design—I studied it in college, and it’s been so valuable in helping me translate ideas into visuals, whether that’s designing products, creating marketing materials, or even just thinking through how a painting comes together compositionally.

Second would be photography and video. When I worked with Clemson Athletics, I had to learn fast how to capture and share moments in a way that told a story. That experience has been huge in how I market myself now—whether it’s shooting my own content, editing reels, or figuring out how to share my art in a way that connects.

And lastly, people skills. So much of this journey has been about relationships—connecting with collectors, building community online, collaborating with galleries, and just being able to share my story in a real, human way.

For anyone starting out, I’d say don’t underestimate the mix of creative and practical skills. Keep honing your craft, of course, but also lean into learning things like design, photography, or communication, because those are the tools that help you share your work with the world.

Do you think it’s better to go all in on our strengths or to try to be more well-rounded by investing effort on improving areas you aren’t as strong in?

I really believe it’s better to lean into your strengths. Those are the things that make you unique, and they’re what will set you apart from everyone else. Of course, there’s always room to grow, but I think you get further when you double down on what you’re naturally good at and then collaborate with others who bring in different strengths.

So my advice is: don’t feel like you have to do everything or be everything. Invest in your strengths, and then surround yourself with people who can balance you out—that’s how you build something stronger and more sustainable.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://marybensonart.com
• Instagram: marybensonart
• Youtube: marybensonart
• Other: tiktok: marybensonart

Image Credits

Mary Benson, Jamey Price