Today we’d like to introduce you to Marion Maenner.

Hi Marion, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
It must be my creative nature and the urge to explore and experience new aspects of life, leading me on a journey from being born in Germany to living in the San Francisco Bay Area today. I have walked in many different shoes from fashion design to traveling to becoming a certified naturopath to creating my art, to becoming a mother. Life is my inspiration and my teacher. The urge to understand its lessons has led me to explore different philosophies and the teachings of our ancestors.
I adore the abundance and beauty that surrounds us. Beauty gives us joy and it lights up our existence – it fills us with passion and brings us back to our center when we get lost in life.
Creating my Artwork is my meditation, my time to reflect and process.

I am a self-taught artist. I always created, however, Spirals and Sparkles – ‘Candies for the Eyes’ – was born in 2003 when I settled with my husband and 2 small children in the East Bay of San Francisco. As my educations from Germany were not accepted I found myself at a new chapter in my life, having to reinvent myself not just as a mother but also in my choice of building a new existence. In the end it was the urge of creating and the dream to manifest myself , following my deep calling in the country of unlimited possibilities.

Today I am c0-managing a Non Profit Organization of Independent Artists, called ‘Red Umbrellas’. We are blessed to be showcasing our work throughout San Francisco’s Parks such as Union Square, Golden Gate Park, Washington Square etc. (www.redumbrellas.com) providing Fine Artist with the opportunity to build a successful independent carrier.

Joining this group has enabled me to thrive as an artist with the main focus on one of a kind Original Art. My body of work is appreciated by art lovers from all over the world for its unique style and its positive energy.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Is there any smooth ride ? Navigating ourselves towards the success of a chosen direction or calling, we encounter resistance on the outside as well as on the inside. We don’t learn anything from success , it’s the challenges that teach us.

My Journey towards becoming me as an artist and mandala coach was a long one. I was born into a Creative environment through my mother who was a successful fashion designer. A very elegant, particular in taste and ambitious women whose goal was success. And that she had.

So I had been encouraged to be creative, and I always was. I got my first sewing machine, I think I was 6 years young. We had crafts in school back in my days. Sadly they don’t do that anymore.

Looking back I really appreciate that. I did a lot of handcrafting always to the extend that I became a knitting wear designer in my mothers fashion store.

The downside of this wonderful offerings of creativity was, that everything needed to be by my mother’s books and ideas. It was her choice of colors for the table runner…… It was her choice of fabric for my skirt….Which over time became quite a downer. My soul was craving different colors and designs… But I acquired many tools and at some point we all start our own ways anyway. But see, our struggles to be our own unique self start early….
We need to pave our way towards that what is calling us…

My becoming me was never a smooth ride but I had lots of fun, ups and downs, and many adventures, and sometimes I got totally smashed .

I feel this is what it’s all about in life – the journey.

Learning curve after learning curves, up and down, moments of wondering about the path chosen, sticking it through, having success, having slow time, keep on moving , something new coming your way, being brave, forwards, driven, determined….. following my calling until today being the artists and mandala coach that I am, that I always was, but needed to grow into.

And so it will continue until the last breath. All we can take with us is our story – so lets live an interesting one and enjoy the ride …. We never know whats coming at us….

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?

I am a mixed media artist who likes to create works that enriches peoples life with positive energy that transports its viewers to a place of joy and serenity.
I love philosophies, I love quotes, and I love to create art that inherits and reflects these aspects.
“I believe in the power of beauty. Beauty comforts , it nurtures, refreshes and heals. Beauty shapes the landscape of our heart. “
My work is a treasure chest. And it is colorful. I love the influence that color has on our mood and environment in which we live and work.
“I wish to put little seeds into this world, seeds that grow into peaceful thoughts that will be carried on like prayers in the wind.”
The combination of art, color, design and philosophical word induces happiness. It counteracts the stress that our modern lifestyle brings with it. It creates a positive focal point, the image becomes memory and the wording creates a positive ripple effect keeping us mindful and inspired.
Those who love my work say that my art ‘ … brings harmony…. it brings you back to the present moment …. it charges you with positive energy….’
It is the color and the energy that draws you in at first, but than as you get closer you start to discover a universe of beautiful details.
My work is a labor of love that playfully brings together my painting skills with handcrafted flowers and beads , collected shells and thrift wood, as well as vintage jewelry, paper and complimentary bits and pieces into the simple form of Mandalas, The Tree of Life, The Divine Feminine and other Meditative Inspirations.
Every Art Piece is accompanied by an inspirational quote that relates to the dynamic of color and flow.

In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
I believe art is more important than ever. Murals will become very big. We have so many concrete buildings with amazing artful murals all over the world now. It changes everything. And with mental health being a big issue …. I would say it needs to start in our environment. More happy walls and color on the city walls, more artists doing their work, more creativity, more happy and inspired people. It will be big because we have amazing artists with beautiful works now and a lot of grey walls. The life paintings at the festivals these days. So amazing. More and more artists coming forth. Visionary Art itself will grow big and its masters will be honored big time on mainstream . Have you seen these master pieces and all these young incredible artists. It will be big !
Online art scene and galleries will be more common as well. Its a good platform to see a variety of artists and many artists can be seen in one place. The convenience of instant small amount of reproductions make it affordable for anybody to buy the art they like and support the creators.
Art will always be around us – I think we are just so overfed that we sometimes can’t really appreciate it the way it should be honored.
Art Classes have become very big. Everybody wants and can create something beautiful these days. I love this. Good for Mental Health and getting away from the phone …..

Contact Info:

• Website: www.spiralsandsparkles.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/spirals_and_sparkles/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SpiralsAndSparkles