Mary Alice Baumgardner

Mary Alice Baumgardner

Born in Hagerstown, MD, Mary Alice, at age 6, began studying art at The Washington County Museum of Fine Arts,under Thomas Danaher. Much later, she studied portrait painting with Lester Jay Stone, of Blue Ridge Summit, PA.  A graduate of Gettysburg College, she received her MA in Studio Arts from Marywood University, with concentration on illustration of children's books. In the summer of 1989, Mary Alice and her oldest son, Matthew, studied Art in Florence, Italy. She is currently studying portrait painting in oils with Donna Bingaman.

In March, 2005, Lauran Clowser’s Potomac Classical Youth Ballet and The Maryland Symphony performed the ballet of ALEXANDRA, KEEPER of DREAMS! Mary Alice narrated her story. After years of rejections for her children’s books, she especially appreciated that the first book she finally got published was about perseverance! And how marvelous to see it come to life on the stage of Hagerstown’s Maryland Theatre!

In July, 2021, ALEXANDRA, KEEPER of DREAMS was featured as the first book on Hagerstown’s City Park Story Walk. 

Ten years after attending a workshop on writing musical comedy, taught by Maggie-Kate Coleman, at Wilson College, Mary Alice’s original musical comedy,

THE RELUCTANT GRANDPA, was presented by The Quincy Village Playmakers in October, 2023. The title was inspired by her late husband, Allen,who always said he was “too young to be a grandpa”! The sold out production starred players in their 70’s and 80’s, proving to many that “age is simply relative”!

Her writing has also been published in Guideposts “Listening to the Animals” books and “Chicken Soup for the Mother/Daughter Soul”.

Mary Alice has been blessed by her sons, Matthew, who has created the layout and design for many of her books and Mark, who has always encouraged her, too.

Her son, Michael, was killed in an automobile accident in 1998, but his spirit lives on in her heart.

Mary Alice says: “Stories come to me as I observe our amazing world. Nature speaks to us when we listen, and I love to share what She says to me.” Not only Nature, but People of all ages also inspire this artist to sketch and paint… and write.