Foothills Gallery

 Foothills Gallery features the art work of artist Mary Shobe. She has been making art most of her life along with her mom June Shobe. Although June is now with her heavenly father Mary is continuing the tradition.

Mary's artistic journey began in the fall of 1999 when she took her first drawing and painting class in acrylics under the guidance of artist Vivian Edwards. As an amateur photographer, Mary discovered that her ability to capture a good photograph also enabled her to recreate images through pen and ink. Her teacher, Vivian, became a mentor, encouraging her to continue developing her skills with pen and ink. Over time, Mary discovered that pen and ink paired beautifully with watercolor, which led her to explore watercolor painting. Vivian’s encouragement to experiment with different techniques introduced Mary to scratchboard, which has since become her primary medium. In addition to scratchboard, Mary also works in acrylics, clay, and colored pencil.

Born and raised in Fort Myers, Florida, Mary’s love for birds has been a constant source of inspiration. Growing up in a tropical environment, she was surrounded by a variety of wild birds, and her mother raised parakeets, finches, and lovebirds. This early exposure to the beauty of birds helped her develop a natural ability to paint them with ease. Mary has always had a deep appreciation for animals and wildlife, often drawing inspiration from nature in her art.

In addition to her visual artwork, Mary was influenced by her mother’s love of quilting. She learned to quilt at a young age and continues her mother's tradition by creating both original and traditional quilting patterns. This diverse artistic background has shaped Mary’s unique approach to art, allowing her to work in a variety of mediums and express her deep connection to nature and creativity.

To learn more about Foothills Gallery, and the products and services we can offer, please call us at +1 (864)710-0273 or (864) 247-9126.