The countryside of Butler County has inspired artist Mary Kay Richardson like nothing else. In fact, her interest in nature and plein air — open air — painting has taken her across the United States and to other countries in pursuit of her art.

The Prospect resident has explored many different artistic media, but she mostly paints in pastels, oils and watercolors, and predominantly the latter.

“I started out in watercolor about 30 years ago when I was in high school,” said the Richland High School graduate. “I had an excellent art teacher … she taught us everything but watercolor, and it was kind of that fascination into the one thing you didn't get on a list that drove me to find it for myself.”

She took classes after school to learn about watercolor painting, and she went on to study fine arts at Edinboro University. Since then, along with teaching classes herself, she has continued to take art workshops from time to time.

“That's part of learning,” she said. “You never stop exploring different and new ideas.”

She's encouraged other artists in the plein air mode, helping host workshops outdoors at Courtney's Farm in Butler County.

“People from Pittsburgh come up here and say, ‘Oh, it's so beautiful up here!' We really do have a great area here,” Richardson said.

Her artwork has earned many awards, including multiple best-in-shows, and it's been accepted into nationally juried exhibits.

She has been a member of the Pittsburgh Watercolor Society since 1984 and has been accepted into the Whiskey Painters of America, a watercolor group with a limited membership. There are only 150 members at a time, and an artist must be sponsored by an existing member.

The whiskey painters specific form of art features watercolor paintings no larger than 4 inches by 5 inches made by dipping the brush in some form of alcoholic spirits.

Richardson is a member of the Associated Artists of Butler County, a group that is 78 years old this year. She serves on its board and is chairman of the exhibit committee.

“I've been around the AABC for a while,” Richard noted. “I used to go to meetings when they were over at the YWCA, and we had shows at the Butler Library.”

One of the new shows at the AABC's Art Center in downtown Butler recently was an invitational exhibit.

“I wanted to show people that there are a lot of talented artists here and in the Pittsburgh area,” Richardson said.

“Next year we want to expand; we may want to invite international artists even.”

Coming soon at The Art Center will be the annual Butler County High School exhibit, “our biggest show,” Richardson said.

“We've started earlier (attracting artists) this year and tried to coordinate with other groups,” she said. “We called around and said we don't want to conflict with other things going on.”

A new endeavor has the AABC branching out into the Cranberry Township area, Richardson said.

“Our teachers would go down there and teach classes at the township building, and we're going to participate in their Community Day events.”

The AABC might even gather up part of an exhibit and take it to Cranberry as a traveling exhibit.

“I know arts funding is getting tougher out there. There's just no money,” Richardson said. “But the importance of artwork and music is just so great; people need to express themselves. It means we have to keep trying.”

<B>Name: </B>Mary Kay Richardson<B>Family: </B>Husband, Kyle; daughter, Jennifer Muir, her husband Scott and their son Drake and daughter Olivia; son, Justin Richardson, his wife Melissa and their son Derek and daughter Kylie; parents, Henry and Ruth Krahe; and siblings, Paul, Nancy, Jim and Mark Krahe and Lisa Critchlow.<B>Address: </B>Prospect<B>Education: </B>Richland High School and Edinboro University<B>Employment: </B>Artist and administrative employee at family business, Richardson Electric<I>“Without education and teaching (young people) art appreciation, I think the arts would just die. And how boring things would be.”</I>

Mary Kay Richardson, who is a painter and a board member of the Associated Artists of Butler County, offers these tips for improving the quality of life in Butler County.• I think Butler County is already a great place to live: the rural landscapes, the historical landmarks, Victorian homes. That said, I think if we had more job opportunities for people, that would help.• Revitalization of downtown. Bring a little money in there, just a little, would be good.• Educate our young people about the arts. I also mean music. Without education and teaching them art appreciation, I think the arts would just die. And how boring things would be.• Offer more cultural events, and we are doing this, that the community can participate in.• Keep working at it.

Mary Kay Richardson, who is a painter and a board member of the Associated Artists of Butler County, offers these tips for being a successful artist.• Never stop learning. Continue to get information, process it, add it.• Work hard. Art is a skill that requires a lot of practice. When you find you're doing badly, you know you are not practicing enough.• Keep an open mind. That allows you to grow and expand as an artist.• Follow your heart. Do what makes you happy as an artist. Don't follow the trend. I always say, “Do what makes you sing.”• Surround yourself with good art and good artists. You can learn from them.

<B>Name: </B>Associated Artists of Butler County<B>Members: </B>About 200<B>Address: </B>The Art Center, 344 S. Main St., Butler<B>President:</B> Paul Scanlon<B>Meetings: </B>Board meets monthly, and there are also several informal members’ meetings each year<B>To join: </B>Application forms available on the website www.aabcArt Center.com or at The Art Center during gallery hours of noon to 6 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays, noon to 9 p.m. Fridays and noon to 6 p.m. Saturdays<B>Services:</B> Art exhibits and classes, some concerts<B>Contact: </B>724-283-6922<B>Mission: </B>To encourage, foster and promote the arts in Butler County.