Kindred Spirits, Sharing a Muse
“Reveries” by Maxfield Parrish
a comparison of works between Maxfield Parrish and contemporary artist Manda Marble.
It was serendipitious that the lady from Reveries found her way into a collage I created long before I knew much about Maxfield Parrish’s work. Much of his work is in the public domain and this maiden swinging from a tree branch was the perfect subject for my magical scene in “She Hangs Brightly.”
Finding a Kindred Spirit from the Past
I am a mixed media artist that loves to daydream and create ethereal paintings + collages of the natural world. I am very grateful for all of the beauty that the natural world brings us. It fills my spirit with awe, wonder, hope, and so much joy that it overflows out of me onto the canvas. Nature simply enchants me and takes me to places the eye can’t see.
When I discovered the work of Maxfield Parrish, I fell in love with it. As I dove deeper into his work, I was sweetly surprised to find so many similarities between the themes in our art. There is a common thread of a deep knowing …an understanding of the magic of nature…. and our connection to it.
Gardens filled with flowers and maidens, ancient magical trees, breezy skies, stars and moons, humans swinging through clouds and dream-like worlds. All of this really magnetized me to his work, and I found it to be just as relevant today as it was when he created it.
Parrish gained popularity through his illustrations for magazines like "Harper's Weekly" and "Collier's," and books such as "The Arabian Nights" and "Poems of Childhood" by Eugene Field. His prints, such as "Daybreak," became immensely popular and widely reproduced and continue to be purchased by collectors today.
His art emanates both beauty and a sense of sweetness; freedom and enchantment.
Deeply resonating with my own forms of self-expression, I became so captivated with his work that I purchased several old books featuring his paintings. This further fueled my interest in his world and life and my own creativity.
Iconic Works of Maxfield Parrish
While Maxfield Parrish created a large body of amazing work, below are three of my favorites. These works really connected to my spirit and the energy that I feel when I create.
THE DINKEY BIRD by Maxfield Parrish
One of Maxfield Parrish’s most mezmerixing and fantastical works. Don’t you want to sit on that swing all day? Hard to believe that The Dinkey Bird was bought by a millionaire in the early 1900s and was put into storage —forgotten and never to be seen again until a grandchild later discovered it!
When the Moon Comes Out - Magical Mixed Media Collage by Manda Marble
A Common Thread of Magic
A Comparison of Maxfield Parrish’s work to the work of contemporary artist, Manda Marble.
As an artist that is enchanted by the moon and stars and feminine energy, I find a lot of things that I enjoy when taking in a painting by Maxfield Parrish.
In this example,you can see how we both appreciate the enchanting allure of the night and the significant role women play in its celebration.
LEFT: Maxfield Parrish’s “Spirit of the Night”
RIGHT: Manda Marble’s “The Silent Dance of Living Light”
A Comparison of Maxfield Parrish’s work to the work of contemporary artist, Manda Marble.
Once again, we find a recurring theme of feminine energy and the starry night. Flowers add a soft element to each composition and while each artist has their own style and way of depicting it, the same Muse is clearly at play here….
Techinique and Process
Parrish’s vibrant colors were achieved through a glazing technique where he would apply multiple thin, transparent layers of oil paint over a white base. He was also famous for a particular shade of blue in his works, now often referred to as "Parrish Blue."
I also use a similar techinque on some of my work - adding layers of glaze over underpaintings to achieve a dreamy essence.
My and Maxfield’s love of magic, nature, and dreamy unseen realms runs like a golden thread through time. We share a sense of beauty that we hope to share with the world, because there is healing and joy to be found in these places. Therefore, they must be shared.
The ethereal realms are where I love to play and maybe, just maybe Maxfield is somewhere out there watching over my shoulder…swinging from a cloud, cheering me on.
Testimonials : Love Notes from my collectors
Collectors of my work have offered their sweet praise and appreciation by leaving these reviews, for which I am very grateful.
Manda Marble uses a breathtaking concept with flowers falling like beams of rain from the moon. Beautiful colors and flowers all come together in a beautiful art piece . I love this artist with an incredible eye for beauty.
Her work reveals an aura of nature + mood through every subject that is emotionally experienced by the viewer. her amazing expression of details. Use of outlines, splashes of color, mixed media, small graphics inserted among the pieces overall. I assure you any purchase of Manda’s art will not disappoint.
These are so beautiful! I have ended up buying 6 original pieces! They are ethereal and beyond my expectations.
Learn more about me at www.MandaMarble.com
