Featured Artist Marilyn Sholin

Artist Marilyn Sholin’s effervescent digital and mixed media paintings featuring beverages have a playful twist. Enjoy her portfolio, and visit her website to see more.

 

 

As an internationally recognized artist, author and educator, I spent the first twenty-five years of my career as a portrait photographer in Miami, Florida, before discovering painting in the 1990s. I loved the colors I could create from fantasy, and I enjoyed the creative process of converting what I saw in the camera viewfinder into a painting that only I could see in my imagination. I began calling my art “Seeing What Isn’t There” when trying to explain it to my collectors and clients.

 

 

This led to my passion for mixed media and the arduous task of creating my own style. After a great deal of experimentation, I came up with my own process in which I synthesize multiple photo references into a single image that is digitally painted.

 

 

This allows me to create my fantasy underpainting strictly from imagination. I then print it on archival canvas—and from there anything goes. I paint the details on the canvas and paint the entire canvas with acrylic paint to bring out the highlights and shadows and add interest and textures.

 

 

My painting process may require finger painting, ink pens, acrylic fluids, heavy acrylic paint, gel medium, textures and brushes. I also use anything lying around like bubble wrap, old credit cards, plastic forks and knives and sponges.

 

 

Sometimes I add gold leaf on the painting along with embossing and other mixed media materials like gauze and various papers. My art consists of many layers that come together to create the finished piece.

 

 

I experimented with many different subjects until I found what I am currently working on, which is painting beverages. This was inspired by Asheville, North Carolina and one of its claims to fame of being named “Beer City.”

 

 

I never forgot a visual I had from one of my trips to Venice, Italy. Everywhere I looked, I was fascinated by the reflections of buildings in the water and how the straight structures became delightfully wavy and sparkling.

 

 

Color is my first consideration when looking at a blank canvas and I often go “against the rules” when creating unique palettes of colors. I was lucky to grow up in a home where my family appreciated art. In addition, we lived close to the New York City museums. Some of my favorite artists are Paul Klee, Gustav Klimt, and William Henrits, all who are very original and have mastered color.

 

 

It seemed to me a natural progression to turn glasses of wine, cocktails, cups of coffee and much more into fun paintings. My ultimate goal in choosing both color and subject matter is to bring the viewer joy and perhaps remind them of a special memory.

 

 

I hope to create paintings that make people smile and think of good times.

 

Artist Marilyn Sholin invites you to follow her on Facebook and Instagram.

 

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