Living along the eastern front of the Rocky Mountains has been an endless source of inspiration for my paintings. Living here gives me a sense of place in this world. I try to show my appreciation of the land and its inhabitants in my artwork.

  I started painting landscapes motivated by the beauty around me. I work in watercolor or oil, on location whenever possible. The act of spontaneously capturing the essence of the scene is challenging and exciting.

Through my painting, I work to convey that special ‘something’ I see in a subject. I pay attention to details in the subject leaving the background vague, focusing the eye on the center of interest.  It could be any of the elements of a composition that struck me, the light, the color, the shapes, or maybe the subject itself. As with my equine paintings, they are often of horses interacting with horses or the people handling them. Something ordinary can be made special by the way it’s lit or how it's used in the composition. I paint the scenes with strong use of color and values whether I work in watercolor or oil.

 I take my subjects from the experiences I have enjoyed.  My goal is to share my experience with the viewer and make them feel they are a part of the painting.  I’m trying to bring the landscape, the events, the subject, or sensation to those who have been there as well as to those who wish they were there. Somewhere in the west…

Organizations: President and signature member of the Montana Watercolor Society,  Signature member of the Northern Plains Watercolor Society, Founding member and past president of the Front Range Art Association, Associate member of Gallery 16 in Great Falls, MT.

Gallery affiliations: Bigfork Art & Cultural Center, Bigfork, Montana Latigo & Lace, Augusta, Montana Lewistown Art Center, Lewistown, Montana Gallery 16, Great Falls, Montana Wool House Gallery, Miles City, Montana

Featuring the art of the
Front Range Art Association

The Front Range Art Association (FRAA) was established in 1994 with the idea of providing further education, sharing information and support to artists living along the front range of the Rocky Mountains.  This has been accomplished through monthly meetings, workshops, art shows and other group activities.

FRAA membership is a mix of artists and art affiliates all working in different mediums, ranging from beginners to professional. The group organizes outings for painting trips and photography to Glacier, Sun River Game Range and many other beautiful areas along the front.

In an effort to encourage the study of visual arts by our local youth, the FRAA along with the Groot Foundation provide monetary awards to the annual Margaret Groot Memorial Student Art Exhibit.  Margaret Groot was a founding member of FRAA. She passed away in 2007. Margaret was always interested in encouraging people of all ages, especially youth, to get involved in painting other artistic endeavor. This is a rotating art show held in the spring for the front-range area high schools.

FRAA member’s artwork may be seen at Hausmann Studio in Fairfield. Members participate in the Shadows of the Past art auction which benefits the Teton Medical Center in Choteau.  Several of the artists exhibit their work during Western Art Week in Great Falls, held each year in March.   

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Copyright © 2006 The Palette, Marilynn Fisher.  All Rights Reserved.