By Pat Lawrence
Marsha Granese and Lisa Skinner |
Marlene Rudginsky expresses herself freely - in waves of color.
Her splashing mermaids and flowering vines, painted on tile rather
than canvas, can be single objects’ d’art or graceful
courses of sweet dreams. Marlene’s feminine themes, elegant
lines and gentle whimsy have struck a chord with women individually
and collectively, across the country.
Originally from Quebec, Canada, Marlene came to Marietta in 1995. “I’ve
been an artist all my life. My father was an artist, too.” She
began her career as an illustrator, a graphic artist doing freelance
design for business. “I did some painting, but mostly,
I was drawing on paper.” She says a brief period as a kindergarten
teacher renewed her appreciation of art as self-expression. When
she came to Marietta, she was looking for new ways to practice her
art.
Taking a class on totems, she began working with clay to make the
small animals tucked into medicine bags. “I made about
100 animals. It reminded me of my childhood, playing with clay, back
when art was only about self-expression and the joy of it.” She
bought a small kiln. Soon she discovered ceramic tile and found
it was the perfect medium for combining her skills and interests. After
she joined the Riverside Gallery artist’s co-op, a local interior
designer saw Marlene’s work there and asked if a tile could
be made to match certain wallpaper. Marlene says, “I didn’t
know what tile should be so I made it what I like.”
One of Marlene’s Tile Paintings Celebrating Birth. |
It was the perfect guiding principle for what has grown into Water-Spider
Designs, a business that distributes Marlene’s stylish creations
from coast to coast. Marlene takes a hard surface, adds her soft
touch and creates unique, graceful designs that stand alone or can
be blended with other tiles for an elegant backdrop.
At River Side Galleries in Marietta, customers select from an extensive
gift line of Marlene’s Water Spider Designs decorative tiles
to be used as trivets or wall hangings. She features things she
loves, like cats and birds, flowers and mermaids, tea and women in
hats.
Marlene also takes requests, creating custom tiles for just a small
extra charge in the standard 6” x 6” size or a 12”
square. Some tiles are intended to be displayed together forming
a single scene or design feature. She recently created a series
of 12-inch birth tiles called “A Journey to Motherhood”
as a backdrop for a birth consultant’s prenatal support group
in Washington state. One of the designs expressing the caring support
of doulas was chosen as a feature for the Seattle Midwifery School
in celebration of their 25th Anniversary. It seems a most natural
setting for an artist whose work celebrates women and life.
Even her custom designs reflect Marlene’s tender temperament
and celebratory perspective. “I love helping women express
themselves. They get so happy about it, I can’t help but
be happy about it, too.”
For more information, contact Marlene Rudginsky at 740-376-9961
or visit www.waterspider.net
or Riverside Artist's Gallery, Front Street, Marietta.
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