Welcome to Marlo Studios

Marie drew and painted as far back as she can remember. Creative expression has always been a vital part of her life. Her talent was noticed early on by her teachers and peers. The art scene on the Adriatic coast where she lived was very dynamic. She had the opportunity to take art lessons at a young age and tour the studios of well-known artists, benefiting from their insights and advice. In 1980 Marie's family made the move to Canada and settled in Winnipeg. Marie had the opportunity to pursue her education, earning a diploma in Interior Design in 1983, and a Bachelor of Arts in 1984 at the University of Winnipeg.

In 1998 Marie along with her husband and son moved to Victoria, BC. Marie was drawn to Victoria because of its mountains and proximity to the ocean - echoes of the place where she grew up. A year later they started Functional Art Studios, a small company creating hand painted decorative pillows. The pillows got rave reviews from boutique and gallery owners as well as the public. The response was so encouraging that Marie returned to painting full time. Marie describes her works as "positive" and "life affirming". Frequent themes include "order emerges from chaos", hope as eternal, and triumph of the human spirit over adversity. Her palette is colourful and vivid. Her style encompasses geometric abstraction and symbolism.

"I paint because I need to,' she says. "There is something within that needs to come out, to be expressed, to be communicated to the world. And when that work makes someone smile, feel, or gives them pleasure at the end of a long day, the reward for the artist is great indeed. Your life as an artist makes sense."