October's Student Artist of the Month: Marissa Sjolander

 Not only is Marissa Sjolander Pitman High School's October Student Artist of the Month, but she is also the current President of the National Art Honor Society. Below the art rooms own "moon child" dishes on art, inspiration and dancing with paint. 

What sorts of themes do you like to explore in your work?

The themes I try to incorporate in my work are realism and surrealism. I like to make people see that your dreams are and that there is simply beauty everywhere and in everyone.

What inspires you ? What artists do you like?

Seeing beautiful things come out of the darkness inspires me , the reconciliation of opposites. That’s why you’ll see things such as: live vs. death, ying and yang, astrological things, nature, and dream aspects, body parts, and most of all  the eye. I incorporate eyes all the time. Eyes are how I relate to people and different aspects of the world. Life and death also inspire me so much. People generally look at death as a bad thing, but it shouldn’t be viewed that way. Death has so much beauty to it. It’s a new rebirth. As for artists there are ton that inspire me. Two of my very favorites are Alex Grey and Charmaine Olivia.

 What Mediums do you prefer to work in?




Oils and charcoal are my favorite mediums. Charcoal gives off such a drastic contrast. It allows me to portray life and death very well this way. And oils? Well that’s a whole different story. When I work with oils it allows me to “think” more and be more of a scientist and experiment with color. When I am doing my brush strokes I sort of “dance” with my paint. My arms just sway back and fourth. I consider my art a person. I’m dancing with them and getting to know them better.




Which piece is your favorite?

Honestly I don’t have just one single piece that’s my favorite. The piece I’m most recently working on is my favorite. It’s a new world with a plethora of opportunities for me to unlock.

Why do you make art?

I create art because I was given the gift of art. I did indeed come out of terrible events in my childhood. Art kept me alive and going. I know there are people just like me…searching for help and I believe that art has the power to ameliorate their pain. I am going to help them. We can’t just help people with a few wise words, some food and vaccines. We need to nurture their souls.  We need to show them the beauty they haven’t seen. We all just need passion.