About the Artist

Signature member of National Watercolor Society, Transparent Watercolor Society of America, California Watercolor Association, American Society of Marine Artists and The Society of Animal Artists, Master Signature member of Watercolor West, 

Artist member of The California Art Club

Member of Laguna Plein Air Painters Association

From the time Marilyn could hold a crayon, she loved drawing and coloring. Her favorite subjects were horses and characters from her favorite cartoon shows and comic strips. She received her first professional oil paint set when she was ten years old and taught herself how to use it by reading several "How to Paint with Oils" books. She knew then that she wanted to become a professional artist when she grew up. She was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, where art was always her favorite subject in school.  She graduated from San Jose State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Graphic Design, and worked as an advertising artist/illustrator until 2003, when she  left her last job in commercial art to pursue her dream of becoming a full-time fine artist. She went back to her oils, but then soon discovered the wonderful works being done with transparent watercolors, and was inspired to study and try it as her new medium for fine art paintings. She started entering national shows with her watercolors and her work won immediate recognition, winning awards in juried shows around the country.  In 2005 she was selected as a signature member of the highly respected National Watercolor Society. She has since been selected for signature membership in Watercolor West, California Watercolor Association, Transparent Watercolor Society of America, the American Society of Marine Artists, and the Society of Animal Artists

Although she still also paints with oil and acrylics, her favorite medium for studio work is transparent watercolor, where she uses a technique of layering many glazes of watercolor to create richness and depth, while retaining a glowing vibrancy. She finds some of her best subject matter close to home in her garden and in the Sierra Nevada mountains, particularly the dramatic landscapes of Yosemite National Park. She has a special interest in painting birds and wildlife, especially the sea turtles, geckos and birds of Hawaii. She has also developed a strong interest in painting outdoors, where she prefers painting with oils and has become a member of several plein air groups including Laguna Plein Air Artist Association.  Her style is realistic with an emphasis on capturing the light, color and mood of her chosen subject.

Recent Awards and Juried Exhibitions

• 2025 Awarded Gold Award in California Watercolor Association's 55th International Exhibition  for her painting"Beeline to the Blossoms"

• 2025 Awarded Third Place award in the  Yosemite Renaissance 40 Exhibition for her painting"Frozen Falls"

• 2024 Awarded 2nd Place  in LPAPA's 7th Annual Waterworks  Art Competition for her painting "Buzzing In"

• 2024 Awarded Honorable Mention in LPAPA's 8th Annual Less is More Art Competition for her painting "Happy at Sea"

• 2023 Awarded Gold Medal Honorable Mention for Still Life in California Art Club's Gold Medal show for her painting "The Collector"

• 2023 Awarded 2nd Place  in LPAPA's 7th Annual Less is More Art Competition for her painting "Golden Sip"

• 2023 Awarded 2nd Place  in LPAPA's 7th Annual Waterworks Art Competition for her painting "Bountiful Blossoms"

• 2023 Invitation to 2023 Frabriano In Aquarello in Bologna, then Fabriano, Italy with her painting, "Sharing Seagrass"

• 2022 Awarded People's Choice in LPAPA's 6th Annual Waterworks Art Competition for her painting "Sunflower Sanctuary"

• 2022 Awarded first place in FASO's BoldBrush December '21 Art Competition for her painting "Honu with Reef Fish"

• 2022 Awarded 2nd place for the Landscape and Water category in the Women in Water color International Juried Competition "High Sierra Sparkle"

• 2022 Invitation to 2022 FrabrianoInAquarello in Bologna, then Fabriano, Italy with her painting, "Spring Fantasy"

• 2021 Her painting "Kuki'o Honu" was awarded 3rd Place in LPAPA's 15th Annual "Less is More" exhibition.

• 2021 Her painting "China Cove" was awarded 2nd place in Oil Painting category in Mistlin"s Gallery's Autumn Art Festival

• 2021 Her paintings "Taganga Treat" and "Hide and Seek" were selected for California Art Club's 110th Gold Medal Exhibition.

• 2021 Her painting "Threes a Crowd" was awarded 3rd Place in LPAPA's 15th Annual "Less is More" exhibition.

• 2020 Her painting "Honus at Black Rock" has been selected as an ARC Salon semi-finalist.

• 2020 52nd annual Watercolor West International Exhibition. Her painting "Fire and Ice"  was awarded 3rd Place..

• 2020 California Art Club's Welcome to California show. Her paintings "Essential Worker" and "Orange Blossom Special" were selected for this show.

• 2020 California Art Club's 109th annual Gold Medal Exhibition, Hilbert Museum, Orange, CA. Her painting "Sea Siesta" was selected for this show.

• 2020 Society of Animal Artists "Art of the Animal" members show, Hiram Blauvelt Art Museum, Oradell, New Jersey. Her painting "Hide and Seek" was selected for this show.

• 2020 "Following the Convicts" was accepted into the American Society of Marine Artists 18th National Exhibition tour of 5 museums, opening at the Jamestown Settlement Museum, Jamestown, Virginia

• 2019 Society of Animal Artists "Art of the Animal" 59th Annual Exhibition, Briscoe Western Art Museum, San Antonio, Texas. "Honus at Black Rock" was selected for this exhibit.

• 2019 Yosemite Renaissance 34th Annual Exhibition, Yosemite Museum Gallery, Yosemite National Park. "Heading Downstream" was awarded the People's Choice cash award. 
• 2018 Society of Animal Artists "Art of the Animal" 58th Annual Exhibition, St. Petersburg, Florida, Schmeedle Bronze medal award for "Guardian of the Garden"
• 2018 American Society of Marine Artists 40th Anniversary exhibit at Principle Gallery, Charleston. "Honu with Tangs" was selected for this show. 
• 2018 National Watercolor Society 98th Annual Exhibition.  "Honus at Black Rock" was selected for this show.
• 2018 California Art Club 107th Gold Medal Exhibition, Natural History Museum of Los Angeles, CA. "Cruising the Shallows" was selected for this show.
• 2017 "Honu with Tangs" was awarded a Combined Merchandise Award at the Watercolor West 49thg annual International Exhibition, Brea, CA 
• 2017 "Cascades" Winner, Merit Award, CPAP International Challenge at Yosemite, Oakhurst, CA
• 2017 Awarded signature membership in the American Society of Marine Artists.
• 2017 Awarded Artist membership in the California Art Club, Pasadena, CA
• 2017 1st annual Society of Animal Artists International Exhibit, Nature in Art Gallery and Museum, Gloucester, U.K. "On the Rocks"
• 2017 Society of Animal Artists exhibition at Trailside Galleries, Jackson, WY "Low Tide"
• 2016 Awarded Best of Show, Central California Art Associations Autumn Festival, Modesto, CA for my painting "Fall at Fox Grove" 
• 2016 Winner, Honorable Mention cash prize in Plein Air Magazine's 2016 Salon $21,000 Competition for my painting "High Sierra Sparkle"
• 2016 Winner, Holbein Award, California Watercolor Association's 46th Annual National Exhibition, San Francisco, CA "Cruising the Shallows"
• 2015 Best of Show, Celebrate Agriculture with the Arts, Madera, CA "Welcome Guest"
• 2014 Marilyn Fox Smith Award, Signature American Watermedia Exhibition, Fallbrook, CA for "Looking for Honey"
• 2013 Finalist, Artists Magazine Annual Art Competition, Animal/Wildlife Category "Lizard Among Flowers"
• 2013 TWSA Members Award, Transparent Watercolor Society of America's 37th annual exhibition, Kenosha, WI "Looking for Honey"