Maria’s floral and landscape paintings bring a fresh, contemporary insight to the tradition of California impressionism. Maria’s paintings juxtapose color, form, light and balance in works that are both cheerful and visually stunning in their simplicity and palette. “I want my works to remind the viewer of the unrivaled beauty of color and shape found only in nature.”

While a student at U.C.L.A. and Santa Monica College, Maria studied the fundamentals of drawing, perspective, the human form, design, and color in a rigorous academic setting. In addition to the wide variety of art classes during her years of academic training, Maria spent several years studying classical realism painting and drawing the human body following her graduation from U.C.L.A..

Maria has also studied with internationally-known California colorist Sharon Burkett Kaiser, who taught her California impressionist painting applying the techniques, colors and styles of the Russian academic school, exemplified by Nicolai Fechin and Sergei Bongart. “Maria displays a wonderful color sense and understanding of shape and form in her paintings,” observes Sharon Burkett Kaiser.

In recent years, Maria has focused her efforts on plein air painting of seascapes, landscapes and florals, especially along the Southern California coast.

Maria is an associate artist member of the California Art Club.




EDUCATION

U.C.L.A. School of Fine Arts, B.A.
Santa Monica College, A.A.

ADDITIONAL STUDY

Boston Museum of Fine Arts
Private Study with Lance Richlin
Private Study with Sharon Burkett Kaiser
Private Study with David Damm


GROUP SHOWS

Santa Monica College Art Gallery, 1987, 1988, 1989
UCLA Wright Gallery, 1991, 1992
McLean Gallery - Malibu, Spring Show, 2000

contact:  artmdk@aol.com