Welcome to the Art of Marianne!
I’m excited to finally have my site up, it’s been long overdue! I want to share a short story behind the first two prints I will be releasing, and what they symbolize. J. Cole and James Franco have been two of my biggest inspirations for many different reasons, my first portraits, and every time I look at these pieces it is a reminder that if you strongly believe in something, you can make it happen.
After years of focusing on school and work, I felt like something was missing. Being my favourite hip hop artist, I remember always listening to J. Cole’s music. I was going through extreme stages of personal growth and the rare realness and truth in his lyrics got me through a lot, allowing me to express myself by putting it on paper. Beginning with drawing and working my way back to painting, I went back to the love that I neglected. He was my first portrait and I believe that it led me to finally meet him a few years ago.
I planned to spontaneously visit San Francisco to see J. Cole on tour. I brought my sketchbook in my purse, hoping and wishing! I had the opportunity to meet his photographer, who I’ve remained close friends with and is a continuous source of inspiration and mentor for me. He remembered coming across my Cole piece through Instagram! I pulled out my sketchbook and showed him the drawing again, then asked if I could show it to J. Cole and that was that! I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to talk with him about music, which songs of his that really got through to me, and to show my appreciation and thanks in person. That was probably the greatest show I will ever see, and the feelings and memories that came with it I will never forget!
That same month I met James Franco, who was filming his latest movie in my city. The casting director had asked my previous modeling agency if I was available to work one night for a scene so I decided to bring my sketchbook. Someone had mentioned to him that they had seen my drawing and that day I had the opportunity to work with him, to see how hilarious and so raw he was in person, and to see his reaction to seeing his drawn portrait! Admiring him since I was 10 years old, it’s still so unbelievable looking back.
There is nothing more priceless than the feeling I get seeing my muses’ appreciation for my art. It’s like a piece of my heart to theirs. Seeing first-hand that they are everything behind all the reasons why they are my biggest inspirations is engraved in my heart. I never would have thought that I’d meet my number one inspirations, in the same month, and through my artwork! That was truly a dream come true and since then I believed it was a sign, that somehow I was manifesting my destiny.
With that being said, I want to thank each and every one of you for supporting me on this journey and for giving me inspiration. I will be releasing a limited series of each of my pieces one by one, and this April I will have both of these pieces available for you as my story unfolds through my art…
Love,
