Marie Messina
Artist Painter
Artist Statement
My paintings are a pretty valid projection of my past experiences and that which I dream of coming to experience - real or imagined. Common themes for my paintings include beauty, meaning, despair, fantasy, horror, and hybrids. I don't paint anything that I don't feel strongly about and ideas usually brew in my mind for days until they are finally allowed to come to fruition on canvas.
Background Info
Me in Preschool
I grew up in Trumbull, CT and found out pretty early in life that I had a strong interest in creativity. As far back as preschool I was creating little dinosaurs out of playdough. People would always comment about how great it was and pictures were almost always involved!
My mother encouraged me to explore art by buying me some colored pencils which I drew quite a lot with; focusing mainly on dragons and other fantasy. I took private art instruction, but decided to stop the classes as the instructor was very strict with her methods; something I didn't agree with as I feel the artist should be free to use whatever techniques work for them.
I did well in school when it came to art and enjoyed drawing and working with clay. Through High School my art took the back burner to my social life and didn't reemerge until my late teens - when I took an interest in water color pencils.
In my early twenties, I decided to take a plunge and learn how to paint with oil color. I bought some books and learned what materials would be needed. I really enjoyed it and started painting landscapes and flowers. I ended up switching to acrylic paint instead for their ability to dry so fast and not having to work with so many chemicals. I have been painting with acrylics ever since the switch! I work with mostly Atelier Interactives, Liquitex, and Golden paints.
A Photo of My Son
I've always had a strong fascination with fantasy and horror and so a lot of the time, my favorites find their way into my paintings. The fantasy manifests as hybrids living in a make-believe world or sometimes women or men in fantastic places. The horror usually comes from old movies like Night of the Living Dead, Psycho, The Birds, and pretty much any old black and white. Sometimes a newer one gets in there though, but you will never see a subject in my painting that I don't know and love in real life.
Aside from painting, I like to do a whole myriad of things including: blogging, reading, playing video games, gardening, cooking, and photography. I am married to a wonderful man and have been now for four years. We're both the proud parents of a beautiful boy for whom I stay at home to care for. We all live in York County, PA and hope to someday have a small farm as my husband and I have a strong interest in self sustenance. Already we have chickens and grow our own vegetables every year.
Delicious Strawberry Cake
Family life definitely makes it hectic to find time to do what you want to do, even painting, but I wouldn't give it up for anything. If there's a will, there's a way - it just may not be as convenient!
Thank you so much for taking the time to visit my website and taking an interest in me.
-Marie Messina