Marisa Rother Studio

I work in collage using papers that I find in my travels with handmade painted papers that I draw on with crayon, pencil, or ink. I’m a fan of using contrasting textures and patterns, and incorporating old photographs into my work. Subjects that interest me are anything nautical or ocean-themed, animals, spooky Halloween, and secluded cozy houses.

I’m always down for an adventure and love exploring new places any chance I can get. On my travels I bring my favorite art supplies with me to capture what I see. Usually that consists of a sketchbook, my favorite mini watercolor set, collage materials, crayons, ink, and colored pencils. If I’m feeling ambitious and have more time, I’ll bring my french easel or pochade box on a tripod to work larger. I’m very inspired by the beauty of the natural world and love the feeling of peace I get being immersed in nature.

I find that I remember a place infinitely better if I’ve done an art piece there. The moments spent studying my subject give me vivid memories of the sights, sounds, and smells of a place.

*Officer’s Row Houses* / **Sandy Hook, NJ**

*Wildflower Bouquet* / **Philipsburg, MT**

*The Judge’s Shack* / **Island Beach State Park, NJ**

*Kelp and Barnacles at Low Tide* / **Vinalhaven, ME**

*Thornhill Broome Beach* / **Malibu, CA**

*The Old Dutch Church* / **Sleepy Hollow, NY**

*Washington Irving’s House* / **Sleepy Hollow, NY**

*Lobster Fishing Dock* / **Cape Porpoise, ME**

*The Painted Ladies* / **San Francisco, CA**

*Mount Megunticook* *- Ocean Lookout* / **Camden, ME**

*Anaconda Smoke Stack State Park* / **Anaconda, MT**

*Plant Studies at Point Mugu State Park* / **Malibu, CA**

*Thuya Garden* / **Northeast Harbor, ME**

*Moose Skull @ Maine Primitive Skills School* / **Augusta, ME**

I have always been a bit of a scavenger (some might say hoarder) when it comes to collecting things - particularly paper. I love perusing flea markets and estate sales in search of forgotten treasures. I save coffee cup holders, doilies from diners and used stamps, I collect nostalgic old photographs and handwritten letters penned in sprawling script. I really like the idea of taking things that most people would cast off as junk or unwanted and giving them a new life in my work.

A passion for art runs in my family. My grandma was a wonderful oil painter, and though I never got the chance to meet her, I remember admiring her paintings as a kid and wishing to become an artist when I grew up. After seeing my interest, my grandpa did his best to teach me how to draw despite being an electrical engineer and not a painter. We would sit together at the kitchen table and complete the drawing lessons from my grandma’s old art school books. The joy of creating has been with me ever since, and I feel most fulfilled when I’m expressing myself visually.

DAY JOB:
Children’s Book Designer
HarperCollins Publishers

EDUCATION:
BFA in Illustration
Syracuse University

EXHIBITIONS:
2023 Art of the Flower
Philadelphia Sketch Club
Philadelphia, PA
April 2nd - April 23rd, 2023

Philllustration 13
Philadelphia Sketch Club
Philadelphia, PA
October 9th - November 6th, 2022