My Biography

Updating an Old Website

What shall I paint?

Last summer I offered up a little prayer asking for inspiration for ideas on subjects to paint.  The next thing I knew one of my artist friends was showing me her lovely bright colored watercolor rooster.  I have never painted a rooster before but I thought "it might be fun".  Several weeks later I saw a book at Home Depot  on "How to Raise Chickens".  While thumbing through the book I saw several roosters.  This lead me to a purchase, and after returning home my first sketch of a rooster was done.  It took me several tries before my proportions were right, then I was one to color and background.  Each new painting got better and better.  From there I went to humming birds and even a falcon.  My last bird painting was a quail. I don't know if birds are out of my system but I sure did have a good time.  

The interesting thing is that the first painting I worked on last summer were two parrots.  I let it drop and worked on several landscapes before offering up my little prayer.  

I guess the message here is "go with the flow and your inner feelings".

I've also posted other new paintings on my new website.

It's good to be flexible!

If you are flexible, life seems easier to take and sometimes there are nice surprises. My husband and I had planned to spend Thanksgiving in Sedona, Arizona. But because there were no parking spaces close to town for our RV, we postponed our trip for a week, when you are retired you can do that, and we ended up being at home in Arizona for the holidays. Our neighbors down the street, Wayne and Barbara, were very kind and invited us over for a wonderful Thanksgiving Dinner. The food was great and we enjoyed meeting two other couples from the area. Even thought we were away from our 3 children, 6 grand kids, and 1 great granddaughter we have much to be thankful for. We spent time with some really nice people over the holidays.

Spring in the Desert

Here in Yuma the temperature is rising (80/90 degrees most days) and most of the snow birds have packed up and flown home.  With the warmer weather most the cacti are in bloom and putting on quite a show - soon the saguaro will also be in bloom.  With the arrival of summer a more relaxed atmosphere envelopes the streets and neighborhoods of this area - fewer cars and fewer people.

This past Saturday, April 17th the 3rd annual "ARTbeat street festival was held on Main street in downtown Yuma.  Despite the time of year there were lots of people enjoying the beautiful weather and checking out the 30 some booths and artistic creations of some 60 artists participating in this one day street festival put on by the City of Yuma Arts and Culture Commission.

The City of Yuma honored me by purchasing one of my framed watercolor paintings (view painting below)  for the City of Yuma's Permanent Art Collection.  It was a fun and successful activity for most of the vendors and we look forward to next years ARTbeat on Main Street.

My Latest Commissioned Painting

As an avid artist, I relish the opportunity and challenge of doing a commissioned painting. I love the collaborative and creative process that occurs between myself, the artist, and my client. During the interview process I enjoy helping my client determine many other items other than just selecting a subject to paint. Items to consider are size, paint media (ie. watercolor, acrylic, or coffee), colors, matting, framing, time frame in which the painting is to be completed, and of course last but not least, cost.

To enquire about commissioning a painting please contact me at

marenscreations@gmail.com

My Website is now open!

I am extremely happy to announce that my new website is now up and running. My husband and I worked very hard to put this website together and I am excited about having the opportunity to display my Watercolor Paintings and Acrylic Paintings. I also offer a small selection of Fine Art Prints and will soon be able to offer a varied selection of Greeting Cards made from My Original Works of Art. Please take the time to view My Website at:

Maren's Creations Gallery

It's been fun working on my Website & my Blog!

Art Angels

What is an Art Angel?

An Angel is defined as a “kind person”, a “guardian and guide”, or a “financial backer”. An Art Angel is all of these things and more. An Art Angel draws upon a diverse wealth of knowledge, and a varied set of specialized skills, in order to support and facilitate the primary goal of any Artist, and that is to paint.

In my case, I am very lucky to have two Art Angels, my husband and my son. My husband handles the paperwork, keeps inventory records, takes photos of my paintings, manages marketing etc. while my son is a whiz with the computer and has been a godsend working on, changing and updating my website and blog. Please check out my website at:

Maren's Watercolor Creations Website Gallery

See how having two different, trusted Art Angels are valuable assets, assisting me on a day to day basis with becoming a successful artist.

Maren's Beginner Watercolor Classes

Starting November 4th, 2008 I will be instructing a Beginners Watercolor Class at the Palms RV Resort in Yuma, Arizona. This class will be held from 10:00 AM until 12:00 PM on Tuesdays with no more than 12 students. We will start at the very beginning, covering different watercolor paper, recommended watercolor paints, brushes, and other supplies. Understanding the color wheel, how to mix colors, and how to control watercolor paints will also be taught.

Demonstrations on watercolor techniques will be presented during most classes.

* For information call Sue Allen at 1-928-503-4276 or Palms RV Resort at 1-928-341-4646.

My Biography

I was born and raised in Kansas City, Missouri. I have always had an interest in art, but first dedicated myself to raising my family and to a work career with EDS.

Since retirement I have attended art classes in Alameda, Santa Rosa and Columbia Junior Colleges, Cal State Hayward, and the California College of Arts and Crafts. I have also studied watercolors in classes offered by teaching artists in Hawaii, Maine, the Oakland Bay area, the Bodega Bay area, with several guest artists in Yosemite National Park, Carolyn Macpherson, of Murphy’s, CA, Gereon Rios of Sonora, CA, Bill Yokoyama at Rossmoor in Walnut Creek, CA and Karen Fry in the San Francisco Bay Area.

I have displayed, won awards and sold my work at the Bodega Bay Fisherman’s Festival, the Sebastopol Apple Blossom Festival, the Sebastopol Apple Fair, the Gallo Art Show in Modesto, the Mother Lode Art Exhibition at the Old Opera Hall in Sonora, the Valley Art Association Carriage House Art Show at Riverbank, California, the Yuma Arizona County Fair, the Annual Sierra Professional Artists Sale in Groveland, CA and the Walnut Creek, CA Artists Street Fair. In the past my paintings have been on display at the Jamestown Gallery, Pinecrest Gallery and the Hotel Charlotte in Groveland, CA. In 2005 my paintings captured six Blue Ribbons in six separate art categories at the California Tuolumne County Fair, and one of those paintings was voted Best of Show, and in 2007 I won two Blue Ribbons and Best of Show at the Yuma County Fair in Yuma AZ.

I currently belongs to the Mountain Shadows Art Association of Yuma, AZ.

In years past my husband and I had traveled extensively throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico in a Motor Home and I happily painted the scenic wonders of North America during our travels.

In 2005 my husband and I built a new home in Yuma, AZ, which includes an Art Studio and Gallery where I now spend my time painting and displaying my art work.  If you are interested in learning more about my art work or in commissioning a painting of your favorite subject, please call me at 928-345-9503 for more information about my Studio/Gallery hours and location.

SUMMER (May through October): I may be looking for some shade in the mountains.

WINTER (November through April): You will find me in my Studio/Gallery in Yuma, AZ. My Yuma telephone number is 928-345-9503.

Or, you can always reach me on my cell phone at 928-502-9500.

Interested in commissioning a painting? Just call me at any of the above numbers, or send me an eMail.

My eMail address is: marenscreations@gmail.com