Basic Information

• About me

  I use latex, inks and acrylic paints on paper and canvas. I enjoy color—and lots of it, and the energy that the paint has when it is applied to the paper or canvas. I let the paint tell me what the painting is to become. I also do a combination of calligraphic lettering worked into abstract colorful compositions. I can still remember as a small child tracing letters from the covers of magazines, changing them, embellishing them and marveling at how their parts fit together. This fascination with letters, shapes, and colors grew into designing monograms, doing posters for my mom's work, and finally lead into combining my love of color and painting with letters and letter form. Combining them has given me a chance to touch people, who seem to enjoy the inspirational sayings and the play of color and shape.God gives each of us certain talents. Whatever our talents may be, it is our privilege and responsibility to develop and nurture them. I was brought up to believe you can do anything you want to do if you work hard, get the best training you can, practice, practice, practice and stick to it. I also believe that a person in all aspects of life should continue to learn, change, and grow. One of my favorite teachers has always said that art is in the process, not in the product. I believe that, but in my heart I like to expand on it. The process is my art—that is what is within me, but the product is what reaches others.

• Resume

  College Degrees: La. Tech University—B.S., Medical Technology
  La. Tech University—M.B.A., Marketing
  La. Tech University—30+ hours in Art ClassesArt Study:
  1961-69 Private Study—Anita K. Peterson, Homer, LA; drawing, pastel, oil
  1979-80 Private Study—Lucienne Simon, Shreveport, LA; calligraphy, color, graphic design
  1980 Private Study—Anne Bergeron, Ruston, LA; acrylics
  1980-85 La. Tech University; drawing, design, graphic design, watercolor
  1982 University of Pennsylvania and Philadelphia College of Art; medieval calligraphy, italic, calligrams, illumination, teaching techniques, Hebrew calligraphy
  1982 Private Study—Denys Taipale, Great Falls, MT; italic, foundational, skeletal Roman letters, practice techniques, teaching techniques
  1983 Private Study—Julian Waters, Gaithersburg, MD; Roman capitals, black letter, gothic
  1983 Lake Forest College, Illinois; hand bookbinding, medieval calligraphy, color and design, papermaking, paper conservation
  1983 Private Study—Denys Taipale, Great Falls, MT; color and design, copperplate
  1984 St. Johns University, Minnesota; gilding, fraktur, gothic, papermaking, extensive manuscript study
  1984 Private Study—Betty Lee, Ruston, LA; batik
  1984 Private Study—Sheila Waters, Gaithersburg, MD; italic, foundational, uncial, letter structure, miniature manuscript painting
  1982-present Private Study—M. Douglas Walton, Ruston, LA; watercolor, design, composition, color theory, figure drawing, experimental watermedia
  1999 Journey Encounter—M. Douglas Walton, San Miguel de Allende, Mexico; composition, design, drawing, art history, art appreciationRelated Art Employment:
  1979-present Waters and Associates: Own and operate my own graphic/art company,
  1985-86 Robertson Enterprises: A local graphic design and marketing firm
  1990-98 The Ink Spot: Graphic designer for printing company
  1999-2002 Print and Company: graphic design consultant for printing company
  1985-present M. Douglas Walton, artist: assistant, and teaching assistant in Watermedia Encounters at Louisiana Tech University Continuing Education
  1999-2000 First Baptist Church—West Monroe: Contracted to paint 20 oversized inspirational paintings
  1982-87, 2005-07 La. Tech University, Division of Continuing Education: Instructor, calligraphy and watermedia classes
  2006-2010 Dixie Center for the Arts: Director, Executive DirectorPage 2, Art Resume—Marlen WatersCalligraphy and Watercolor Classes Taught:La. Tech University Continuing Education
  Grambling State University Continuing Education
  Ruston Parks and Recreation
  Trinity United Methodist Church Leisure Ministries
  Claiborne Parish Art Society
  Arcadia Crafts Club
  Independently in my studio and the Lincoln Parish Museum
  Work accepted in many juried shows and galleries around Louisiana including:Louisiana Artist Roster Exhibitions
  Piney Hills Juried Gallery—Charter Member, Featured Artist 5 times
  Hoover Watercolor Society
  Ouachita River Art Gallery
  Shreveport Regional Arts Council—ArtSpace, "coolspace" Inaugural Art Exhibit, Roster Artist
  Scheipsis Museum—Columbia, LA
  La. Peach Festival Fine Arts Exhibits sponsored by the North Central La. Arts Council
  La. Peach Festival Arts and Crafts Show—Juried Section
  Ruston Art Association Exhibits
  Monroe Masur Museum Art Exhibits
  La. Watercolor Society Member Exhibitions
  Shreveport First Methodist Church Festival of Arts
  Claiborne Parish Jubilee Art Festivals
  Claiborne Parish Festival of the Arts
  Trinity Methodist Church Celebration of the Arts
  Monroe Art Association Member Shows
  Red River Calligraphers Art Exhibits
  Alexandria First Methodist Church Juried Art Exhibit
  La. Watermelon Festival Fine Arts Exhibit
  Lincoln Parish Library Art Exhibits
  102 a Bistro/NCLAC Exhibits
  Art Innovations, Ruston, LA
  Some of the awards and honors for my different areas of art:1987-88 Art Chosen for La. Watermelon Festival Poster; Farmerville, LA
  1992-present Roster Artist: Louisiana Division of the Arts
  1994 Outstanding Artist, First Annual Claiborne Parish Festival of the Arts; Homer, LA
  1994 Featured Artist; Piney Hills Gallery; Ruston, LA
  1995 Louisiana Roster Artist Exhibition; Monroe, LA
  1994-98 Outstanding Booth Award; La. Peach Festival Arts and Crafts Show, Ruston, LA
  1996 Painting chosen for the cover of the Ruston/Lincoln Chamber of Commerce Magazine
  Page 3, Art Resume—Marlen Waters
  2001 Featured Artist; Ruston, LA Civic Center and Mayor's Office
  2002 Artist in Show "Eight Contemporary Women Doing Contemporary Art", Lincoln Parish Library; Ruston, LA
  2002 Featured Artist; Ruston/Lincoln Chamber of Commerce and Convention Bureau
  2002 Art chosen for La. Peach Festival Poster; Ruston, LA
  2002-03 Artist chosen to do 20 oversized inspirational paintings for First Baptist—West Monroe, LA
  2003-present Roster Artist; Shreveport Regional Arts Council; Shreveport, LA
  2004 Art chosen for La. Peach Festival poster and t-shirt; Ruston, LA
  2004 Art chosen for Antique Tractor and Equipment Festival poster and t-shirt; Simsboro, LA
  2005 Art chosen for La. Peach Festival t-shirt; Ruston, LA
  2005 Art chosen for show at Scheipsis Museum; Columbia, LA
  2005 Art chosen for inaugural show at "coolspace"; Shreveport, LA
  2005 First Place, Watermedia, Peach Festival Fine Arts Show; Ruston, LA
  2007 Second Place, Watermedia, Peach Festival Fine Arts Show; Ruston, LA
  2008 Featured Artist, Piney Hills Gallery; Ruston, LA
  2009 Second Place, Watermedia, Peach Festival Fine Arts Show; Ruston, LA
  2010 First Place, Transparent, Peach Festival Fine Arts Show; Ruston, LA
  2010 One woman show, 102 a Bistro, sponsored by North Central La. Arts Council; Ruston, LA
  2011 Impromptu—An Art Exhibit, Artspace, Shreveport Regional Arts Council
  2011 Third Place, Transparent, Peach Festival Fine Arts Show; Ruston, LA
  2011 Featured Artist—Art Innovations, Ruston, LA