Marie Studios, Gilroy, CA
I grew up in Ansbach, a traditional Bavarian town in Germany. It was there I discovered a world of creative possibilities. As a young girl, I spent hours watching my father's hands intermingle common kitchen ingredients - flour, butter, sugar - sifting, stirring, and molding, as if by magic, until delightful artistic pastries and cakes arrived. He was well known in our village for his artfully delicious bakery treats.
As I matured, I also grew inspired to create, choosing to express my artistic side a little differently.
When abstract reached the art world, I admired the color combinations and the unrestrained expression as it represented freedom. I have never been good at boundaries; I am an explorer at heart. I came to the United States at twenty-one on my own and it's that same adventurous spirit that drives me to create in a variety of genres -realistic, abstract, impressionist - even photography.
I enjoy working with a variety of tools as well; laying the colors on the canvas and watching the painting come alive. As each image begins to appear, I begin pushing, blending, shaping, much like my father did with his pastries. And when it's complete before me, I see something emotional and meaningful. There may be joy, sadness, anger, calm - but there is always meaning in all of it. And that's what I want to share.
