Marilyn Wear

Born in San Francisco, California, Marilyn discovered at a very young age that she had a natural talent for drawing realistically. She refined her talent by studying art throughout her school years in the Bay Area and in 1974 graduated from San Jose State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Graphic Design. She has lived the past thirty years in Turlock, CA where she raised a family with her husband, and worked part-time as an advertising artist and illustrator. In 2003, she left her last advertising job to have the time she needed to finish a collection of fine art paintings, which had always been a dream of hers. Her work won immediate recognition, winning awards in juried shows around the country. In 2005 she was selected as a signature member of the National Watercolor Society, one of the oldest and most respected artist organizations in the U.S. Her paintings now hang in many private and corporate collections throughout the West. Although she also paints with oil and acrylics, her favorite medium 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. Her style is realistic with an emphasis on capturing the light, color and mood of her chosen subject.