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Published on: 5/17/2009
Last Visited: 6/10/2009
(c) 2009 NPT PHOTO BY KATHY HEMSWORTH Award-winning artist Mary Todd Beam is shown with a quilt she bought at a flea market in South Carolina.
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Mary Todd Beam has taught art workshops around the world.
Her first book, Celebrate Your Creative Self, has sold more than 60,000 copies worldwide thus far.
Her new book, The Creative Edge: Exercises to Celebrate Your Creative Self, is doing well since its release two months ago.
"When I was in first grade, it was more fun to draw pictures of the teacher than to listen," she recalls.
When she was in third grade, she had the opportunity to enter an art contest and won.
Her prize was art classes at the Dayton Institute of Art.
She believes her artistic abilities are hereditary, discussing her father's creativity.
"My father was so creative, he almost killed us with his creativity," she said laughing.
She recalls her father, who suffered health problems, particularly diabetes, was an avid photographer and was always up for a challenge, and at one time he even tried to raise chickens in the house.
She said it was more than just his creative genius at work, she credits his Irish descent for his creativity and dedication.
Born in Ohio during the time she describes as "the end of the Great Depression and beginning of World War II," Beam explained she and her siblings made their own toys and would often find old paint buckets and brushes, which she used to paint on sidewalks.
"When my paintings would fade or wash away, I would cry and my mother just didn't know what to do," she said.
"I was heart broken to see my creations fade and the sidewalks left plain and bare."
In addition to being a painter and popular workshop instructor, she is an elected member of the American Watercolor Society.
She became a Dolphin Fellow and won their Gold Medal of Honor in 1996.
She has been a juror for local, state and national exhibits.
Her work has been included in several major exhibits, including the National Academy of Design's Biennnial Exhibit in New York City.
She has won numerous awards, including the Gold Medal from the National Watercolor Society, the Ralph Fabri Medal, the Ohio Watercolor Society's Silver and Bronze Medals, the Lone Star Award, and Top Juror's Award in the San Diego Watercolor Society Annual Exhibit.
In addition, she has won the Experimental Award in the National Watercolor Society's Annual Event in Los Angeles, Calif.
She is listed among Who's Who in American Art and the World's Who's Who of Women.
For the second time, she has been invited to participate in the International Exhibition of Contemporary International Watermedia Masters.
She was one of 90 artists (24 of them from the U.S.), who participated last year.
Her entry featured Cricket Creek, which flows near her Cosby home.
The painting sold to a Chinese businessman, so a part of Cosby now hangs in China, she noted.
Discussing her cabin hidden away in a wooded area of Cosby, Beam said, "We have so much inspiration here.
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Beam and her husband, Don, have been married 58 years.
He was a designer for National Cash Register and enjoys retirement making woodcarvings.
He also accompanies Mary to many of the workshops she teaches.
Both of Beam's books are available for purchase at most booksellers, online and at Arrowmont.
Beam's studio is open by appointment.
All paintings are originals, she doesn't sell prints.
For more information about Beam, visit her Web site at www.marytoddbeam.com.
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