Bruce Marion’s first introduction to art was through his father, a creative man who had studied art under the GI Bill and attended two art schools. Delighted his son had decided to explore his creativity at such a ripe age, he wholeheartedly supported Bruce digging into this newfound passion.
“He started me out in art when I was five or six years old,” Bruce says. “I was in adult painting classes when I was eight and nine, and sold my first piece when I was in an adult art show when I was nine years old. My parents were quite supportive so it was an ideal childhood for a miniature budding artist.”
The more Bruce practiced, the more it became clear this was his life’s calling. He eventually attended the prestigious ArtCenter College of Design in Pasadena, and afterwards spent decades in illustration and art direction on projects spanning from children’s games and puzzles to work for high tech companies in the Bay Area.
“It was great training in that I got to do digital art and painting and worked in many different styles,” Bruce says.
Bruce’s fine art, in particular, has evolved as he’s gotten older, which he attributes to shedding thought patterns that may have held him back from creating exactly what he wanted to. At the end of the day, his mantra became, “Why not? Just do it!”
“A lot of it for me was letting go of the fear of not being good enough and embracing what was in my heart,” Bruce says. “I think a lot of times we all hold back who we are. And to me at this point, I want to find out where is the largest contribution I can make with the gifts that I have in the world.”
This positivity and dedication to express the joy he finds in creating art is exactly why art lovers are so drawn to his work. Whether it’s abstract landscapes or cityscapes, or figurative or contemporary wildlife, Bruce’s work breathes life and energy into whatever space it ends up in.
As a lifelong student of art, Bruce jokes the Celebration of Fine Art is like summer camp for artists. He finds it endlessly inspiring to be surrounded by 99 fellow artists and see their work develop as the show goes on. And having been in the business for multiple decades and showing his art in different galleries across the U.S., he emphasizes how unique it is that patrons too can connect with artists while visiting the show.
“It’s a remarkable environment between the caliber of art and the fact that we’re all not only designing our booths but we have created our own workspaces and studios, and we’re creating before the public’s eyes,” Bruce says. “Once you come here you will want to come back time and time again. It’s just an absolutely amazing show.”
See more of Bruce’s story below: