Cowboy True 2024 Featured Artist

Mary Cardwell was born in Fort Hood, Texas and grew up in Frederick, Oklahoma.

“As a child I could always remember being horse-crazy and starteddrawing them at a very  young age. I grew up riding and was a barrel racer in playdays and local rodeos. I married Randy Cardwell in 1975, now deceased, and have two daughters. My youngest daughter was born with special needs, which required total care so I was unable to continue with my art until 2011. Since then, I’ve been focusing on western art.

Pencil is my medium of choice. I am basically self-taught. Over the years I have tried oil painting, watercolor, acrylics, color and pastel pencils, but never achieved the results I wanted. One reason I enjoy graphite pencil so much is it can be manipulated in so many ways, from shading to the detail in the extra-fine lines. It allows me to express so many emotions. With pencil, the sky’s the limit!"

The North Light is on the first floor of The Kemp Center building located at 1300 Lamar, Wichita Falls, TX 76301.  Call for further information: 940-767-2787 ext 202 or email programming@artscouncilwf.org.