About Me

When it comes to introductory sharing circles, whether they be in the classroom, at the office, or even around a drink with new friends, I’m not necessarily the first person to raise my hand, ready with the short version of my life story. In fact, despite being the face behind my business, I’m actually quite the introvert. However, I figure it’s only fair to introduce myself to my blog readers before I expect you all to take my hand on this new adventure. So before we dive into all things watercolor, let me introduce myself.  

My name is Mallery Jane Marsh and I am a full-time artist and online art educator. I graduated from Arizona State University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art Education. From there, I taught in schools for about seven years before a little thing called Covid hit. At that point, I decided to go off and teach on my own. And once I did, I fell in love. Being able to teach exactly what I wanted, the way I wanted was freeing. Since 2020, I’ve created three online courses (Watercolor 101, Landscapes, and Watercolor 201) and a subscription membership called Palette+.  

I came to specialize in watercolor because I loved how watercolor paints weren’t as messy or time-consuming as others, like oils. I found out very quickly that as much as I love oil painting, and gravitate toward oil paintings when I’m out and about, my patience and cleanliness do not align with oil painting. The layers never dry quickly enough for me, which means I perpetually rush them and ultimately end up creating a lot of muddy browns. Watercolor, on the other hand, fits my personality: It is fast! Rather than it taking months to finish one painting, I can be done within minutes. While I periodically play with other mediums, I always come back to watercolor. While it may not be my first love, it certainly is a lasting one. 

Outside of art, some of my favorite hobbies include reading business books and biographies, refurbishing furniture, hiking, and road trips. I love animals and currently have a gremlin of a Golden Retriever named Jesse. I’ve also lived all across the United States, from Arizona to Utah, Illinois to North Carolina. 

So now that you know a bit about me, let’s talk more about our shared interest (watercolor!) next week.