Biography

Marilyn was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, where she graduated from San Jose
State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Graphic Design. She has lived for the past thirty years in Turlock, where she has raised a family, and worked as an advertising artist and illustrator. in 2003 she left her last job as an advertising artist to pursue her passion for painting full time. Her work has won immediate recognition, winning awards in juried shows around the country. In 2005 she was selected as a signature member of the National Watercolor Society, one of the most respected artist organizations in the U.S.

Although she also paints with oil and acrylics, her favorite medium is transparent watercolor, where she uses a technique of layering many glazes of watercolor to create richness and depth, while retaining a glowing vibrancy. She finds some of her best subject matter close to home in her garden and in Sierra Nevada mountains, particularly the dramatic landscapes of Yosemite National Park. Her style is realistic with an emphasis on capturing the light, color and mood of her chosen subject.

In May of 2007 she had a successful solo show at First Street Gallery in Turlock, California, and most recently her painting of one of Yosemite's waterfalls "The Cascades, YNP" was selected as one of the top 100 paintings in the nation to tour with the prestigious "Paint the Parks" national art show for the year of 2007-2008. See my painting along with the other top 100 here