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ALBERTA MARANA
Duluth, Minnesota
Alberta Marana is an award winning pastel artist whose work has been featured in regional and national exhibitions over the past twenty years. Born and raised in Chisholm, Minnesota, Alberta graduated from Hamline University in 1973 with a degree in Art and Sociology. She pursued a professional career in social work until 1981 when she decided to continue her art career at home while raising her family. Alberta earned her Master of Arts Degree in Studio Arts from the University of Wisconsin, Superior in 1995.
Although her focus was oils and sculpture early in her career, Alberta has been painting with pastels for the past twenty years. The medium allows her mobility and the ability to interrupt her work and return to it at a later time. She likes the immediate results achieved with pastels as well as the ease of working on more than one pastel painting at a time. Alberta frequently works on location, an experience she finds very inspiring and peaceful. As she travels the region, Alberta also takes many photographs of the magnificent landscape, which she uses to inspire her studio work.
Alberta prepares her paper with a mixture of Knox gelatin and pumice to create grit on the paper and also to protect the paper. After blocking in large areas of color that reflect the background colors of the landscape, she applies a mineral wash, dries the paper, and then draws with pastels over the now ‘colored’ paper.
In addition to representation in gallery settings and participation in frequent exhibitions, Alberta teaches a summer pastel workshop at the Peninsula Art School in Door County, Wisconsin.
Artist Statement
As a pastel landscape artist from northern Minnesota,
I find working outdoors can be a very moving, spiritual
experience. It’s made me aware of where I live, the seasons,
the powerful presence of the moon, and the continual rebirth
of life. Creating landscapes has attuned me to the peace and
joy that can be found in nature. It is this connection to the
earth that I strive for in my landscapes.
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