Arts Roll Call Episode 15: Marissa Tawney Thaler–Taking Risks, Building Momentum
In this episode of Arts Roll Call, our host Robin Miner-Swartz talked with local artist, writer, illustrator and muralist Marissa Tawney Thaler. They talked about Marissa’s journey as an artist, from illustrator to muralist and children’s book author and how taking risks is important for growth. Marissa shares the importance of entering competitions, and insight on how to keep going despite rejection.
Meet Marissa
Marissa Tawney Thaler of Lansing holds a BFA from Kendall College of Art and Design, where she studied Art Education and Illustration. After college, she worked as an elementary art teacher, using school breaks to cultivate her personal work.
In the fall of 2018, Marissa left teaching to pursue a career as a freelance illustrator. Since then, she has developed the origami-inspired series, “Drawing Folded Paper,” illustrated two children’s books, Get that GRIT! and The Itchy Secret, and completed a number of murals around the Lansing area.
Marissa’s work, often narrative in nature, uses primarily drawing media to achieve a “bittersweet aesthetic.” She aims to find the lighthearted side of struggles and moments of connection in everyday happenings.
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