California
Malena Marie, Thank You, Damon, acrylic, 60 x 48.
Style: I’m a contemporary realist painter, specializing in large-scale, black-and-white portraits of people and animals. Creating black-and-white art is an expression of my being. It’s authentic. It’s angsty. It’s classic. But what I love most about it is that it strips away color cues and allows viewers to delineate their own colorful narrative.
Creative Spark: I get my creative juices flowing by stimulating my senses with art—visual, audio, or experiential.
Second-Choice Career: Something in real estate, whether it’s investing, developing, or designing.
Other Passions: Any chance I can get, I travel to Big Sur, Lake Tahoe, or Yosemite National Park to hike, camp, and have a hammock nap. A good drink and a homemade meal over the fire doesn’t hurt either.
One Thing People Don’t Know About You: I spent time as a public relations professional, representing some of the most sought-after and celebrity-backed natural food and beverage brands.
Biggest Fear: California drivers—the nicest people off the road and the scariest on the road.
Pet Peeve: Cleaning paintbrushes.
Mantra or Motto: From Bob Marley, “Don’t worry about a thing. ‘Cause every little thing gonna be alright.”
Favorite Work by Another Artist: SERENITY from Casey Baugh’s Fractured Faces series. His ability to juxtapose harsh and soft textures and colors in a beautifully composed piece is breathtaking.
Future Goals: When I transitioned from my public relations career to painting full-time, I did so with the intention of gaining gallery representation, selling to an international clientele, and collaborating with coveted global brands.
Price Range: $175 to $6,500.
Representation: www.malenamarieart.com.
This story was featured in the September 2019 issue of Southwest Art magazine. Get the Southwest Art September 2019 print issue or digital download now–then subscribe to Southwest Art and never miss another story.
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