From the time Marilyn could hold a crayon, she loved drawing and coloring. Her favorite subjects were horses and characters from her favorite cartoon shows and comic strips. She received her first professional oil paint set when she was ten years old and taught herself how to use it by reading several "How to Paint with Oils" books. She knew then that she wanted to become a professional artist when she grew up. She was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, where art was always her favorite subject in school. She graduated from San Jose State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Graphic Design, and worked as an advertising artist/illustrator until 2003, when she left her last job in commercial art to pursue her dream of becoming a full-time fine artist. She went back to her oils, but then soon discovered the wonderful works being done with transparent watercolors, and was inspired to study and try it as her new medium for fine art paintings. She started entering national shows with her watercolors and her work won immediate recognition, winning awards in juried shows around the country. In 2005 she was selected as a signature member of the highly respected National Watercolor Society. She has since been selected for signature membership in Watercolor West, California Watercolor Association, Transparent Watercolor Society of America, the American Society of Marine Artists, and the Society of Animal Artists.
Although she still also paints with oil and acrylics, her favorite medium for studio work 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 the Sierra Nevada mountains, particularly the dramatic landscapes of Yosemite National Park. She has a special interest in painting birds and wildlife, especially the sea turtles, geckos and birds of Hawaii. She has also developed a strong interest in painting outdoors, where she prefers painting with oils and has become a member of several plein air groups including Laguna Plein Air Artist Association. Her style is realistic with an emphasis on capturing the light, color and mood of her chosen subject.
