Marilyn Troutman Inspired by Nature

When you see a grouping of Artist Member Marilyn Troutman's work, it becomes clear right away that she is inspired by nature! Her home studio set-up includes large windows that provide a great view of her beautiful yard and living in West Olive there is no shortage of inspiring spots for her to get outside and create in nature with her easel, which she loves to do! Her favorite mediums for expression are oil and pastel but she also enjoys the look of watercolor batik.

Marilyn is one of the original members of the Arts Council's first retail gallery which was founded in 1999, located in Montague, and called the White River Gallery. The new gallery opened up opportunties for local West Michigan artists to exhibit and sell their work which we continue today. Marilyn also gets exposure for her artistic talent by being a member of the Great Lakes Pastel Society and the Lakeshore Visual Arts Collective. She has exhibited extensively in and out of the state in juried and group exhibitions and won numerous awards. Most noteably the prestigous Roger Tory Peterson award at the Susan K Black Foundation in Dubois, Wyoming for her pastel painting Yellow Weaver.

A sampling of pastel work by Marilyn and a shot of her well-lit studio

Nature is Marilyn's muse but she also looks to other artists for inspiration. Two artists in particular have provided creative insight, Robert Bateman for animal and bird art and Heiner Hertling for his plein air works, and animal and landscape painting.

To see more of Marilyn's work visit her website: Marilyntroutman.net and her IG - @Troutmanmarilyn. Also stop by the ACWL-Nuveen and view her current display of pastels, small oil paintings and assorted greeting cards.