Capturing the Memories

Mary Marriner and Melissa Thomas combine their talents to produce excellent replicas in prismacolor pencil and pastel of your heart’s treasure. They are known for their realistic, detailed portraits of all sizes, including people, animals, houses, landscapes, etc.

MARY MARRINER
Mary was raised on a working farm in Illinois, where she was surrounded by animals of all kinds. Helping with the chores and close contact with the cows, pigs, sheep, chickens, and horses, fostered a love of all animals. Her special fondness of horses continued to grow as she competed in horse shows as a child and cross country fox hunts (not live) as a young adult. Following art classes in high school, Mary received additional training at Parson’s School of Design. However, her heart was not in the commercial aspect of art, but rather in fine art where she could capture, forever, in her portraits the likeness of someone’s pet or family member. After marriage in 1968, and beginning a family, Mary once again brought horses back into her life. Her daughters used to ride with her on the thoroughbred and arab / morgan mix horses they owned. She uses many of the horses at the stables around the Atlanta area as subjects in her paintings. Mary’s current companions are her three miniature schnauzers which are always at her side, even in the studio where she does her many commissioned portraits of both animals and people.

MELISSA THOMAS
Melissa, one of Mary’s daughters, also grew up around horses and fell in love with them. As a child, she showed promise of becoming an artist and drew many animals. She excelled in her art classes in high school and graduated from college in 2000 with a Bachelors of Fine Arts degree, Magna Cum Laude. Melissa immediately began exploring her options in the art field. Shortly afterwards, she began working on portraits of friends and family, as well as animals of all kinds, and her artistic career was established. She has, also, more recently, expanded her portfolio with gallery-wrapped canvas oil paintings and is increasing her collection of handmade pottery. in the studio

Check out the different styles of Mary and Melissa, as well as their past works, on the Gallery page.