With an eminent art history and intriguing natural beauty, Natchez can be an artist’s dream.

One Natchez artist has used those elements to transform a dream into a reality.

Entrepreneur and artist Esther Carpenter, 57, has been painting for as long as she can remember, while accrediting nature and her own family history for her inspiration.

“I come from a family of artists, from my father, Leslie Carpenter, to my great aunt, Alma Drake,” Carpenter said.

Carpenter spends the majority of her spare time in her art studio, located in the attic of the bed and breakfast that she manages on Washington Street in Natchez, applying oil to canvases to recreate scenes from nature that she has observed in the area. She describes her style as intimate, focused, rich and impressionistic.

Although she is known for her business savvy, she looks forward to exhibiting her artistry.

“Art is a way that I can share myself to others,” Carpenter said.

After spending hours in her art studio, she goes back to managing her bed and breakfast as well as her other business ventures.

Even with her active schedule, Carpenter still gives herself time to enjoy Natchez’s natural beauty while slowly becoming a part of Natchez’s art history.