Lorrie Maras

During the summer of '99, I was walking through the Ben  Franklin store when I noticed a lady demonstrating how to do a watercolor painting.  I had to stop and admire, because watercolor was something I chose not to try or look into because it was something I did not do with any success in college, while getting my B.S. degree in education with a minor in art.

As I watched, I asked her a few questions and she finally said, "Why don't you take the class and try it?"  She reassured me I would have a picture worth hanging after my first class.  The picture is now hanging in my daughters house!  I was on my way!

I have loved it  from the first time I tried it that August of '99 right up to the present.  I retired from teaching in 2000 and watercolor has filled my life with many opportunities and experiences I would never imagined as being part of my life!

I am most thankful for finding this talent.  I continue to take classes as well as teaching at Arts Alive! Center for the Arts.  Taking pictures of people, houses, flowers, scenery has been  my inspiration for many of my watercolors.  Watercolor portraits  from photos has been challenging and rewarding.  It is an  awesome thought to know I have touched so many lives across the country with a portrait of their loved one, a special place, or a pet.

It is a journey which will continue on into the future for me, I am sure!

I have had my work exhibited in :

• The Art Walk in Enumclaw
• Arts Alive! Gallery
• The Juried Art Show at the King County Fair
• Gift show in Wisconsin at the Cranberry Festival

• - watercolor portraits were a big hit there!  This is a three day event with thousands of people coming through each day!