Mary Ida Compton is based in southwest Ohio where she grew up, with meaningful connections to northern Michigan and northern California. Swimming and dogs have been life-long sources of joy. Since fifth grade she was hooked on math, feeling the satisfaction of knowing what is correct and being able to prove it.

As a middle-aged adult, life began to expose its fragility and uncertainty. Her pendulum swung from focusing on numbers to a much needed emphasis on creativity and exploration, internal and external. Painting became a means of telling her story, explaining what was going on inside and what she perceived outside. As her mentor, Marianne Mitchell encouraged and guided her to more clearly present her voice and to push her creativity.