Daily Inspiration: Meet Sandy Marvin

Today we’d like to introduce you to Sandy Marvin.

Hi Sandy, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I am is a lifelong artist with a curriculum vitae of art careers that include medical artist, calligrapher, sign painting, graphic designer, art teacher, and now pastel painter. My change of focus from lettering to painting came about during my years teaching art when I became increasingly attracted to drawing and painting.

I retired from teaching to focus on fine art and have seriously pursued painting for the last 10 years. I am primarily a representational painter with a strong abstract tendency. I work in soft pastels with a dash of other media mixed in. My inspiration comes from the natural world as well as the world of things. I am particularly attracted to intriguing shapes, lyrical lines, interesting juxtapositions, and color relationships.

I like to look closely; at trees, objects, and intimate corners of the landscape. I hope to communicate the poignancy and beauty that strike me in the visual world; the elegance of a simple tool, the graceful arch of a branch, or the jubilance of a bowl of freshly-picked tomatoes. I feel that my past experiences in art all contribute to

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Making art is a joy and a constant challenge. I am always trying to learn and improve my understanding of composition, color, and technique. I have taken many excellent classes and then the challenge is to take what I have learned and apply it in my unique voice. I paint because creating gives my life meaning. It is how I can express what I see and feel and love in the world.

The greatest challenge is in finding opportunities to put my work out where people can see and respond to it. Galleries and exhibitions are good opportunities, but the world is shifting toward online art viewing and buying. Keeping up with new technology and ways of displaying my work is a continual challenge.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I create paintings in soft pastels and also employ watercolor and pencil. I paint Plein air and in the studio. Painting outside is a wonderful experience because I am immersed in the landscape. I feel the sun and the breeze; I hear the birds and I have a true sense of the place. Working in the studio gives me a chance to study the scene more and make adjustments as I paint. However, I paint still-life in the studio and I prefer to paint from real plants, vegetables, and objects rather than photographs. I feel more of a connection to my subject.

Who else deserves credit for your story?
I am fortunate to have had many inspiring teachers; Susan Elliott, my favorite drawing instructor, Doug Dawson, Jill Soukup, and Lorenzo Chavez at the Art Students League of Denver plus numerous workshops sponsored by the Pastel Society of Colorado. The Pastel Society also has monthly meetings with artist demos and mounts several exhibitions each year. Having that connection to other artists is immeasurably helpful in terms of education and support.

Contact Info:

• Website: Sandymarvinart.com
• Instagram: @sjmarvinart
• Facebook: @Sandy Marvin Fine Art

Image Credits
David Rosenberg