From perfectionist to Picasso: How this local artist transformed her art and captivated the world

Written by Jessi Bang
March 22, 2024

ST. GEORGE — Once constrained by the idea of flawlessness, this artist learned that imperfection isn’t a hindrance, it’s a gateway to boundless creativity.

Artwork by Mary Manning is on display in a private art gallery room inside the Arrowhead Gallery in St. George, Utah, Feb. 28, 2024 | Photo by Jessi Bang, St. George News
Artwork by Mary Manning is on display in a private art gallery room inside the Arrowhead Gallery in St. George, Utah, Feb. 28, 2024 | Photo by Jessi Bang, St. George News

“People see the art and see the spirit in me,” Mary Manning said. “Japanese have a wonderful saying about how to produce art that matters: ‘Through your eyes, through your heart, out your brush.’ It has to go through your heart first, and that’s what makes it beautiful.”

Art has held a special place in her heart from a young age, igniting a passion that would shape her life’s journey. From finger painting fiascos to doodle adventures, she dove headfirst into the wild world of creativity, painting her way through childhood with a rainbow of imagination.

By the time she reached the halls of high school, her artistic talents had already begun to blossom into something remarkable. Amid the bustling energy of Las Vegas, Nevada, she found herself captivated by the vibrant personalities of the Las Vegas Strip entertainers, drawing inspiration from their dynamic performances and colorful personas.

With a steady hand and an eye for detail, she devoted countless hours to honing her craft, channeling her creativity into intricate portraits that captured the essence of these iconic figures.

Mary Manning stands next to her artwork, which is on display in a private art gallery inside the Arrowhead Gallery, St. George, Utah, Feb. 28, 2024 | Photo by Jessi Bang, St. George News
Mary Manning stands next to her artwork, which is on display in a private art gallery inside the Arrowhead Gallery, St. George, Utah, Feb. 28, 2024 | Photo by Jessi Bang, St. George News

“And perfect,” she said about her drawings. “Everything. Every eyelash, every tooth, everything had to be perfect, just like when Picasso started.”

But her first artistic showcase wasn’t with her drawings or her paintings, it was her photography. A journalist for 34 years, she covered environmental science, nuclear waste and pollution for the Las Vegas Sun newspaper.

Her inaugural art showcase took place at the Clark County Library, where she unveiled a series of captivating photographs capturing the aftermath of the overflow at Hoover Dam in 1983. This exhibition allowed her to explore a different avenue of creative expression while shedding light on pressing environmental issues through the lens of her camera.

She studied calligraphy and illuminated lettering, later contributing to the uniqueness of her artwork through her incorporation of silver and gold elements. She presented calligraphy pieces for her second art show featuring her original poems.

Manning said she attended both University of California-Berkeley and Stanford University for a year where she studied Chinese and Japanese painting techniques. She took her talents to the streets of Berkeley, turning dull walls into vibrant mural masterpieces bursting with oriental and Asian flair. Armed with her paintbrush and boundless creativity, she transformed the cityscape into a whimsical wonderland that left passersby in awe.

A photograph taken by Mary Manning features a trader in a stock market, which she took during her days as a journalist, Peshawar, Pakistan, date not specified | Photo courtesy of Mary Manning, St. George News
A photograph taken by Mary Manning features a trader in a stock market, which she took during her days as a journalist, Peshawar, Pakistan, date not specified | Photo courtesy of Mary Manning, St. George News

When she discovered the works of artists like Picasso and Georgia O’Keeffe, her perspective on creating “perfect” art changed. Realizing she didn’t have to put every last detail in her work, she cut loose and started painting with oil and pastels.

Her participation in the Dallas/Fort Worth International show was pivotal. There, she encountered the groundbreaking work of Bob Berge,  a “wild” artist who uses mixed media. His influence freed her up as an artist and changed her art trajectory. 

“I became diverse and loosened up,” she said. “You have to think completely differently with each medium and slow down. Slowing down and savoring the process is what I love about art.”

Thanks to the Nevada Watercolor Society, she added this artistic medium to her list. After moving to Washington County, she became the Secretary for the Southern Utah Arts Guild.

Step into Arrowhead Gallery, and you’ll experience Manning’s own little art sanctuary, a dedicated room bursting at the seams with her vibrant creations. Manning’s artistic flair extends beyond Arrowhead — her pieces also grace the walls of the Dixie Watercolor Society’s Gallery 35, ARTe Gallery and the Sunset Gallery. 

“It’s an amazing journey,” Manning said about creating art. “It’s interesting because I get quite a few people ask me how I do things and how I learned. It’s a lot of hard work. You have to make all the mistakes you can in the first 10 years and put your heart into it.”

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Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2024, all rights reserved.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jessi Bang was born and raised in Utah and has a passion for nature and the great outdoors. She graduated from Kaplan University in California with a degree in criminal justice. She has extensive experience in marketing, content creation, photography and copywriting. You can find her showcasing outdoor adventures through her blog, “The Rambling Raccoon.” In her free time, she enjoys climbing mountains, trail running, working out and cuddling her two lovable pups.

Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @STGnews

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