Today we’d like to introduce you to Marian Steen.
Hi Marian, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I have known that I wanted to be an artist ever since third grade when I won a gold star for a watercolor painting I did[ in 3rd grade] at Flynn Park elementary school. After graduating from Ladue High School, I attended the University of Cincinnati Applied Art School for a year and a half and then transferred back to Washington University School of Fine Arts where I graduated with a BFA.
I taught Art for a short time until I married and started a family. I always returned to my painting in between changing diapers, making dinner, and doing all the general things a young mother does. In 1978, I went through a divorce and that scary, difficult part of my life turned out to set me on an artistic trajectory that was positive and rewarding! I began teaching workshops at Washington University in their Continuing Education Program. Eventually, I started teaching workshops in my home studio. Needing to make additional money, I applied to street art fairs and began to travel around the country doing outdoor art shows.
I met my wonderful husband, Rick Knox, who helped me with my [new???] artistic career. He became the framer and the driver and together we were a team! On occasion, I would teach Art in a variety of venues: at juvenile detention centers, an orphanage, and when I had grandchildren, I would teach in their various schools. The combination of teaching art and creating art to sell in various cities has provided me with an incredible lifestyle.
I have served on the board of the Women at The Kemper and have been part of the Women’s Society at Washington University, and recently I’ve been involved with the Arts As Healing foundation, a nonprofit organization that creates art by working with cancer patients.
I was fortunate enough to be on the steering committee for the St. Louis Art Fair, a premier art show that has occurred every September since 1993. I am proud that I have had my Art exhibited in wonderful places. I had a one-person show at the St Louis University Art Museum, I have also had my Art displayed at the Kirkwood Performing Arts Center, and just recently at the Lambert Airport as part of their Cultural Arts Program. I am a staunch supporter of public Art displays!
My art speaks of my life and the life stories of most of us. After a scare with breast cancer, I started a new painting series entitled Rebirth. Most of my abstract paintings (especially the Passage Series paintings), have light areas that emerge somewhere in the painting. These light areas always represent hope. Their various titles address this theme: Emerging Light, The Light Between, and The Light Above are examples of my titles for these paintings. Of course I cannot end my story without mentioning that alongside my art career, I am a proud mother of three incredible daughters and grandmother to six wonderful grandchildren.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Most everyone’s life has challenges, meeting them and growing from them is what helped me move forward and create meaningful paintings.I mentioned these in my statement; Getting divorced, being a single mother of three daughters, having breast cancer . Along with these life challenges, there have been professional challenges. The biggest of these is being my own advocate. Since I chose not to go the Gallery Route ( although we have wonderful Galleries in St Louis ) I had to advertise my Art, sell it, and do the business part also.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
My work is Mixed Media. I work on heavy watercolor paper or clay board. I love watercolor, how it flows and its capricious nature, I rein it in but still allow it to flow freely. I also frequently use acrylic paint. To both these backgrounds I add collage material, frequently “found objects”that i find on my walks or around the house.I recycle, taking “trash and turning into”treasure” AKA Art.
I love color and some would say that I am known for colorful paintings, although i also paint with black and white and more neutral colors.I might be known for my “strings”, black and white strings as well as colorful embroidery threads.
The textures of my paintings frequently set them apart from others.
If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
Frequently, people who have purchased my work will come up to me and say that my work constantly makes them happy or that every time they look at my painting ,they see something new. So i would say the personal connection that people feel toward my Art is what makes me a successful Artist.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://mariansteen.com
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/.steen.9
