Thanks to Eric Thibault of Beaufort for sharing some insight into the artist behind the Beaufort Water Festival T-shirt design -- his wife, Mary.

"Mary's Big Splash"

By Eric Thibault

"Eighteen years ago I picked up my first paintbrush and have yet to set it down," says local artist Mary Thibault when asked about how she became an artist.

This summer, Mary is excited to see her second Beaufort Water Festival T-shirt and bumper sticker design come to life.

This was Mary's second time creating the official Water Festival T-shirt and bumper sticker. She was given the honor in 2009.

In 2009 her design displayed downtown Beaufort's riverfront at sunset overlooking the sandbar, a beloved summer location.

This year, she wanted to incorporate everything we love about the Water Festival. In this design you will see the raft races, the Marine Corps band, the air show, and many other events.

We are good friends with Eric and Susan Smith of Captured Moments Photography, and Eric took the photos that Mary used.

Mary also designed the 2013 Water Festival Fishing Tournament T-shirt.

As a lifelong Beaufort resident, Mary has been involved with Water Festival for many years, painting the faces of hundreds of children and selling her work through her business, Thibault Gallery.

Letting her creativity flow through her to a canvas is her passion; however, her talent does not stop there.

Mary's work ranges from hand-painted tiles and wine glasses to portraits and wall murals. Both are evident in the hallways of Beaufort High School, where she hand-painted portraits of past leaders such as Martin Luther King Jr., Mother Teresa, and Mahatma Gandhi.

Mary's love of bright colors, and Lowcountry inspiration is a true reflection of herself as an artist, and as a person.

Mary's work can now be seen at Atelier on Bay, a new gallery located upstairs in the old Lipsitz building. It houses 16 artists with 14 studios. The entrance is at 203 West St.

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