Marlaina is a third-generation painter forging her own path and living the creative
process as a sacred act, one intended to bring the viewer closer
to the infinite beauty of existence.
She received her first commission at age sixteen, but art did not become a dedication until her
mid-20s when her life plans were derailed by a sudden onset of myalgic encephalomyelitis, a
chronic debilitating illness she would battle for two and a half decades. Art was a lifeline and
catharsis as she dove headfirst into professional portraiture, art of the sacred feminine, and
naturescapes with a focus on magnificent trees and windswept heavens. For twenty years, she had solo exhibits in Pennsylvania, Virginia, New Jersey, and New York state,
but a life-altering physical health remission in 2016 forever changed how and why she creates.
Marlaina retreated into her studio and emerged seven years later with 200+ paintings,
but cravingdeeper purpose and interaction, pulled out of
the conventional gallery scene. Since 2022, her SkyStories exhibits
at women's retreats, wellness centers, contemplative spaces, nature
sanctuaries, and private residences have been multisensory immersions
featuring her visionary paintings, original music, and poetry.
In these environments, each painting is placed as a meditative station
unto itself where viewers can
sit, kneel, lie, or stand for a personal transcendent experience.
When it feels right, Marlaina also shows her work at select gallery spaces.
Medium & Process
Due to health sensitivities Marlaina worked in acrylic for years but
switched solely to oils in 2011. She follows the
path of the old masters- traditional oil techniques that
include walnut oil, spike and linseed,
eliminating the need for toxic thinners including turpentine.
She also works in pure pigment soft pastel and mixed media on paper.
Unlike many of today's painters,
Marlaina does not use tracing, projectors, or photo canvases.
She unwaveringly and unapologetically chooses to work from an organic,
heart-infused place and does not use AI during any phase of her painting process.
