When you walk through the halls of Sampson Community College, chances are you’ll see Larry Boone moving from room to room with a broom, mop, or dustpan in hand. To many, he’s “Mr. Boone,” the full-time custodian whose work helps keep the campus bright and welcoming. But beyond the polished floors and tidy classrooms lies a story far richer — one of brushes, canvases, and a God-given talent that’s been with him since childhood.
“I started when I was four years old,” Boone said with a warm smile, his voice carrying the kind of humble pride that comes from years of perseverance. “I can remember the first thing I ever tried to draw was an animal. I drew two legs, and my father said, ‘Son, I think that animal’s supposed to have four legs.’ So I drew the other two. My parents saw that I had that artistic talent, and they didn’t pass me by.”
That moment, he said, set the foundation for a lifetime of creativity. “Every night after school, I’d come home and go straight to my art,” he recalled. “My parents told me, ‘Do your homework first, then you can draw.’ They nourished that talent, and I never let it go.”
Boone grew up in Sampson County, surrounded by family who noticed early on that art wasn’t just a pastime for him — it was a calling. “My mother once sent off some of my work to Minneapolis, Minnesota,” he said. “She found out about this art contest for young artists and entered me in it. I didn’t win, but just being part of that gave me motivation. I knew then that this was what I wanted to do.”
From first grade through twelfth, Boone was the “art editor” of his school. “I loved it,” he said. “When I got to high school, I was the artist of my senior class. I was always the one people came to when they needed something drawn, painted, or designed.”
After high school, Boone decided to pursue formal training, though the opportunities were far more limited then than they are now. “Back then, we didn’t have online classes like today,” he said. “I enrolled in a correspondence course through an art school in Minneapolis. Every month, I had assignments to draw and paint, and I’d mail them back to be graded. When I finished the program, I earned a certificate as a freelance commercial artist.”
He smiled when recalling that accomplishment. “It felt good,” he said. “I didn’t have much, but I had my certificate and my faith, and that was enough to get me started.”
Boone began taking small local jobs, creating custom art for neighbors and community members. Eventually, he moved north to New Jersey, where he continued working as a freelance artist. “I did work out there for a few years,” he said. “But something always pulled me back home. I guess my heart never left North Carolina.”
When Boone returned to Sampson County, he found work as a custodian at Sampson Community College — but his artistry never left him. “It was here at the college,” he said, “that one day the Lord really opened a door for me.”
He recalled the moment vividly. “One of the instructors was walking down the hall, and I said, ‘Could I show you something?’ She said, ‘Of course.’ I showed her some of my artwork, and she said, ‘Why are you working here? You belong in the art world!’”
That instructor later introduced Boone to Cara Donatelli, director of the Sampson Arts Council. “She called me and said she wanted to meet,” he said. “And before the day was over, she told me she wanted to put me in a show. She said, ‘Matter of fact, I want you to have your own show.’”
That first exhibition, held at the Small House in Clinton, brought Boone’s work to the public eye for the first time. “She later invited me to be part of another show called A Leading to Black History, alongside other local artists,” he said. “It gave others a chance to show their work too. That’s when my family said, ‘Larry, you’ve always put time into your art, and now it’s paying off.’”
For Boone, every brushstroke begins and ends with faith. “Many times I’ve prayed and said, ‘Lord, I don’t believe you allowed me to be in this world and not use the talent you gave me,’” he said softly. “I’m not one to hide my talent. I want to use what God has given me. The Lord spoke to me and said, ‘Is anything too hard for God?’ And I’ve lived by that ever since.”
Over time, Boone found his artistic identity — painting churches, historic buildings, and old structures that are slowly disappearing from the landscape. “I like old buildings,” he said. “They’re fading away or being torn down, and I like to capture them before they’re gone. That way, their memory is kept alive.”
Among his most notable works are paintings of the historic chapel on College Street, the old Sampson High School, and the Sampson County Courthouse. “I’ve also painted churches all over,” he said. “The Methodist Church downtown Wilmington, the Presbyterian Church, and the Christian Memorial Church on 701. I even did the Market House, the Coliseum, and St. James Church in Fayetteville. Each one means something special to me.”
He laughed when talking about his process. “Sometimes I take 20 or 25 pictures,” he said. “I go out myself, take my own screenshots, and pick out the one that speaks to me. I don’t like to pull things off Google — you have to be careful with copyright. I like to go and see things for myself, feel them, and let the Lord lead me.”
Boone doesn’t just paint for himself — he paints for others, for the county, and for God. “I like to do something that makes others happy,” he said. “It’s not about how much I can make. It’s about creating something people can cherish. Something that brings joy.”
He smiled, recalling the day he sold his original painting of the courthouse. “Mr. John Frison bought it,” Boone said. “He loved it so much he wanted the original. That meant a lot to me, knowing my work touched somebody like that.”
Despite his growing recognition, Boone remains grounded. “I’ve met some very prestigious people through my art,” he said. “But at the end of the day, I’m still me. It doesn’t matter what title you have or what position you’re in. If I can help somebody along the way, that’s what it’s all about.”
He paused for a moment, then added, “God gave me this gift, but it’s the people that keep me afloat. I can paint, but I need someone to buy the painting. We all depend on each other.”
Now at 70 years old, Boone stays active and vibrant, both in his work at the college and his art. “Even if I tried to be different, it wouldn’t be me,” he said. “I’ve always been humble. I try to do right by people, and God keeps blessing me for it.”
He believes that each season of life brings its own opportunities. “Sometimes things come early in life,” he said. “Sometimes they come later. God has a purpose and a reason for everything. I believe this is my time to show people what He’s allowed me to do.”
Looking ahead, Boone hopes to continue expanding his body of work and perhaps inspire others to follow their own creative callings. “Don’t be afraid to step out,” he said. “If you stay in the shadows, you’ll never find out what you can do. But when you take that step of faith, the Lord will guide you.”
And with that same faith, Larry Boone continues his daily work — sweeping floors, greeting students, and painting history one canvas at a time.
“God has been good to me,” he said with a smile. “I just want to give something beautiful back.”