Today we’d like to introduce you to Marion Buricatu.
Every artist has a unique story. Can you briefly walk us through yours?
I was born in the rural town of La Fleche and grew up surrounded by the other wheat fields and dark green forests that make up the French landscape. I was also raised in a family of both scientists and artisans – from doctors & engineers to seamstresses & gallery owners. My grandmother used to tell me stories of how her own mother had sewn coats for the French resistance out of parachutes(!) during World War II. So naturally, I started making my own clothing too. My other grandmother was an art dealer in Paris and St Tropez and I have fond memories of art openings, wandering in art galleries surrounded by contemporary art and tapestries.
Academically, I oriented myself towards science and received a masters in Geophysics from Pierre et Marie Curie University. I recall with a chuckle that I excelled at anything visual, like cartography and identifying minerals under telescopes (based on color, texture…). After graduating, I started working in the environmental management field and made professional development courses for engineers and government inspectors.
In 2001, I moved to the USA with my husband. I took this as an opportunity to commit to art and decided to try my hand at something completely new: painting! Over the next ten years, my methodology and technique improved and I began teaching my own classes in 2011, and also started painting originals. My scientific background helps me considerably since I use my observational and analytical skills when I paint.
In 2018, I became a docent at the Worcester Art Museum. Knowing about the masters is such a wonderful experience that enriches my own art production.
Please tell us about your art.
My art is about two things:
– Viewing our surroundings with a new eye: Coming from Europe, I discovered that I find local things beautiful that Americans don’t even see anymore, like for example American mailboxes! But I realized that the opposite is true too. My American friends tell me that simple French things are beautiful for them, and I did not even notice them, like for example: french stone walls! so I make it a point to try to look at everything with a foreigner’s eye, even in my own childhood town where I go back every summer. That is such a wonderful thing to do every day of my life.
– Behind every painting is a Conversation: Coming from a French culture where dinner table and discussion around food are so important, I realized that art can be a wonderful conversation starter and unite people. So, I make a point of writing the story of each of my paintings and it is available at the back of each print of cards. I am hoping that people will think of their own stories when they read mine, then share their experiences with friends and family and transform my art into a conversation. Because it the world we live in, what is important is that we talk with each other around food and art (and wine!) and learn about each other even if we disagree.
I love to use collage and decoupage but also oil paint.
Do you have any advice for other artists? Any lessons you wished you learned earlier?
Marketing marketing marketing. This is terribly time-consuming but it is so necessary. And it takes a really long time to become good at it, so buckle up! It is going to be a bumpy ride
How or where can people see your work? How can people support your work?
People can see and buy my work on my website: www.marionsworkshop.com
and my Etsy shop: https://www.etsy.com/shop/MarionsWorkshop?ref=seller-platform-mcnav.
They can also register on my newsletter that I send once a month:
https://marionsworkshop.us7.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=2c688ba69a63fd15f8c6a2c71&id=792d2d41ca.
In it, I show my latest paintings, talk about my tours at the museum and tell the stories of my paintings.
They can also follow me on Instagram and Facebook.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.marionsworkshop.com
- Phone: 7742750246
- Email: marionsworkshop@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marionsworkshop/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marionsworkshop/
- Other: https://marionsworkshop.us7.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=2c688ba69a63fd15f8c6a2c71&id=792d2d41ca
Image Credit:
Marion Buricatu
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