Enjoy the portfolio of painter Wendy Marquis, whose rural scenes capture the open land, fresh air and vintage vehicles. See more of her work by visiting her website.
Born into an artistic family and the cultural environment of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, I grew up exposed to the works of the great masters. My parents instilled a strong work ethic and a curiosity for learning.
We spent time in the museums but also in little towns and countrysides of Pennsylvania. Both the artist and the country girl blossomed inside of me. My mother had a penchant for classic old cars, which sparked my interest in vintage trucks.
I eventually progressed to the School of the Museum of Fine arts in Boston and graduated with a BFA from the University of Arizona. My husband and I raised our two daughters as I was working as an established muralist and faux finisher.
In 2006, we moved from New Hampshire to Montana. Sixteen years later, I have reinvented myself as a prolific painter of what I like to call rural romance: big blue skies, billowy clouds, tall grasses, barns, and the old trucks embedded in the landscapes.
I also am drawn to paint the animals of the farms and ranches of the western landscape as well. The ones that I want to paint possess a particularly whimsical energy. I enjoy the challenge of solving the puzzle of composition and color.
Often, I take pieces from different scenes and put them together in one painting. I prefer to paint scenes late in the day or early in the morning, when the shadows are long and creates strong contrasts of light and dark.
With grit and a lot of seventy-hour work weeks, I have contributed my heart and soul to my lifelong goal of being a professional artist. Every morning when I wake up, I feel the need to paint as much as I need to breathe. I am happiest when I am in my studio painting, as the Montana sun shines through the windows, music is playing, and my dogs are at my feet.
When you stand in front of one of my paintings, I invite you into the space that I have created on the canvas. Feel the warmth of the Montana sun and the unique light of this captivating place.
I revel in the experience when a viewer connects spiritually to one of my paintings. There is some kind of magic that happens there when a painting and a person find each other. And when that person becomes a collector, the circle of my creativity is complete.
Wendy Marquis invites you to follow her on Instagram and Facebook.
Wendy,
Your paintings are wonderful. I can see the enthusiasm and joy in each painting. the colors and subjects are sentimental and fun.
My favorite is Natures Medicine. The textures are excellent on all of them.