Artist’s Statement

 When you look at my art, it’s easy to see that animals are my inspiration and that my ultimate goal is to add fun and lightheartedness to people’s lives. By adding humor and bright colors to the animal theme, I’ve developed my own recognizable style of painting. Although I’m best known for my intricately detailed watermedia paintings on paper, I’m also exploring acrylic on canvas using larger brushes and foregoing the tiny details. And by adding some paper collage, color pencil or other materials some of the paintings become mixed media pieces. I see my detailed paintings as stories that are being told and also as opportunities for viewers to imagine their own stories to go with the paintings. The less detailed paintings also contain humor, but are as much about form and color as storytelling.

BIO

Marjie began selling her paintings in 1989, returning to her first love of animal-themed art after years as a weaver and a creator of leather art forms. Her paintings have been accepted into juried exhibits and shows nationwide, most recently appearing in the International Exhibit on Animals in Art at Louisiana State University, winning the School of Veterinary Medicine Award, and in the Miniature Arts Bardean at Master Works in Albuquerque where she took first place in mixed media. She has also been in numerous invitational and group shows. Marjie served as Co-Director and curator of the New Mexico State Fair Professional Fine Art Gallery for four years, was on the Board of Directors of the NM Arts & Crafts Fair for five years, acting as Standards Director for one of those years, and has been a juror and judge for art shows. She is currently represented in Albuquerque by Sumner & Dene Gallery, Weyrich Gallery, Casa de San Felipe and Earth Spirit.