Marsha Doran grew up in Roxbury, CT and currently lives in Morris, CT. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Studio arts/Painting with honors from Western Connecticut State University. In 1999 she received her Master’s degree of Fine Arts in Painting from Boston University. She has also studied at SUNY Purchase in New York as well as at the Vermont Studio Center (an artist residency program located in Vermont.) The artist has studied with noted painters from the New York and New England area, including Margaret Grimes, Neil Welliver, Hugh O’Donnell, and Susanna Coffey.
She has worked in a variety of mediums ranging from oils, watercolors, and (most recently) collage; all allowing her ways to push her subject matter. “Each medium feeds off of the other. I learn from one and try to pull news ideas and techniques through out, no matter what I am working in. Each also allows me to see new things within the subject, it keeps everything vitalized and fresh.”
Ms Doran has a driving desire to teach, shown by her experience. She has taught at Naugatuck Community College, Teikyo Post University, Tunxis Community College, Wooster Community Art Center (in Danbury, CT), Belvoir Terrace, a visual & performing arts summer camp, in Lenox, MA, as well as many other area art centers. She has been a Visiting Artist for painting students at Western CT State University. Most recently, she taught at Canterbury School in New Milford for 13 years. “Teaching art is important to me. I feel a desire to pass on what I know and to inspire upcoming artists to find their own inner voice and creativity.”
Marsha Doran has showed her work extensively in the Connecticut area as well as New York galleries. A number of her paintings have been purchased into private collections, both nationally and internationally.
She has worked in a variety of mediums ranging from oils, watercolors, and (most recently) collage; all allowing her ways to push her subject matter. “Each medium feeds off of the other. I learn from one and try to pull news ideas and techniques through out, no matter what I am working in. Each also allows me to see new things within the subject, it keeps everything vitalized and fresh.”
Ms Doran has a driving desire to teach, shown by her experience. She has taught at Naugatuck Community College, Teikyo Post University, Tunxis Community College, Wooster Community Art Center (in Danbury, CT), Belvoir Terrace, a visual & performing arts summer camp, in Lenox, MA, as well as many other area art centers. She has been a Visiting Artist for painting students at Western CT State University. Most recently, she taught at Canterbury School in New Milford for 13 years. “Teaching art is important to me. I feel a desire to pass on what I know and to inspire upcoming artists to find their own inner voice and creativity.”
Marsha Doran has showed her work extensively in the Connecticut area as well as New York galleries. A number of her paintings have been purchased into private collections, both nationally and internationally.
Artist Statement/process
The process of creating my pieces is what holds the greatest significance to me. I manipulate a variety of materials, layering them and allowing the composition to emerge. If my composition is taking its inspiration from religious symbols, skeletal structures, or the landscape, the material and how the image develops is what is so important and exciting to me. I begin from a sketch or image of my subject/ idea. I start layering transparent papers and old dress patterns. I will then incorporate paint, marker, printed images, and line drawings. I may add text in the form of quotes or definitions, printed on to velum, as well as photos and linear drawings that give you a clearer representation of the symbol or image.
My goal is to get you to see symbols and images that you are familiar with, that you may see everyday, and get you to experience them in a new more dramatic way.
My pieces are all mixed media. I utilize traditional and non-traditional materials to create. In each of the pieces I use dress patterns, tissue paper, glue, acrylic paint, Sharpie marker, pencil, vellum, and printer ink on board. Other materials may include lace paper, rice paper, newspaper, and maps.
