Navigation Series
What started as cautiously stepping into abstract work developed into my underlying thoughts and emotions in response to the recent pandemic. The combination of the abstraction with the figurative birds portrays a balance in each painting between confusion and calm. Each work has allowed me to explore the different feelings I have had over the past couple of years from isolation to lack of control and everything in between.
Marissa Kashani (b. Austin, TX 1987)
I am an Austin native and figurative oil painter. After graduation from the University of Texas at Austin with a BA in Fine Arts, I went into the home furnishings industry. For the past 15 years, I have been a part of numerous design projects and the lead merchandiser for a retail furniture store.
I love home fashion and design, but my one true love has always been painting. In 2018, I dove back into painting and rekindled my passion for oil paints and portraits.
I have always been drawn to portraiture because I feel like each one can tell such a story without words. Painting figurative works of animals and people allows me the opportunity to explore emotion and storytelling when sometimes words alone can’t evoke the full depth of meaning.
We have two young, vibrant girls that keep me busy at all hours, but I can always find the time to set brush to canvas even if it’s late into the night.