Pastel Fine Art specializing in animals, both domestic and wildlife
Marianne Harris, aka Meb, has made a living as a Graphic Artist for the last 3 decades. Wandering into the world of fine art some 15 years ago was a happy accident! With the encouragement of her husband, she signed up for a drawing class, which was a dormant passion since childhood, and one class lead to another until she earned her AA degree in Fine Art. Over the years she has experimented with color pencils, graphite, charcoal and oils, until she found her way to the pastel medium. After taking a workshop in 2010, from her soon to be mentor and friend, Lesley Harrison, she was hooked on pastels and has never looked back. Six years ago she quit her day job to become a full time artist creating animal portraits.
Marianne’s paintings hang in many homes throughout the country. She has painted over 250 pet portraits. She also enjoys painting wildlife and currently has work hanging at the Folsom Zoo Sanctuary in Folsom, CA.
When asked about her art, she commented, “I love animals! They are my friends! It's only natural that I would pick them to be the subject of my art. I choose to create art that depicts the reality of animals as I see them. When I choose a subject, I look for a whimsical character, somewhat playful and/or slightly mischievous. What I love most about pastels is how they allow me to create soft, realistic paintings. My goal as an artist is to create portraits that show animals in their natural world, with all the beauty, power, and intelligence they possess. My hope is to bring the viewer closer to each individual and create a favorable emotional response and possibly a better understanding of who these creatures are that we share our planet, and our lives with. The icing on the cake is experiencing the joy my paintings bring to the recipients.”
Marianne enjoys entering art shows and has won several awards. She is a member of Rocklin Fine Arts, Art Council of Placer County and a Signature Member with Pastel Society of the West Coast. She resides in Loomis with her husband Pat, and their two dogs, Sierra and Dakota.
