Marybeth has lived her life expressing her two great passions: art and young people. Marybeth has had a passion for art as long as she can remember. She started taking art lessons at the age of nine and continued learning and experimenting, developing her talent and skill through her college years, and earning an art degree and a teaching credential. After college, she took a position as a youth director, putting action to her desire to positively impact the lives of young people. She worked to nurture their spirits and deepen their connections to their communities of faith. Her artistic goals had been put on hold, but painting called, and she returned to her brushes and paints, deciding to live as a full-time artist. She focused on Christian subject matter. Her art was known for containing layers of meaning and symbols and for its ability to convey the emotional content and impact of familiar scenes and stories from scripture. People could see themselves in the woman at Jesus’ feet, in Jairus’ daughter, in Peter receiving Jesus’ forgiveness and welcome. She traveled the country, selling her prints and lithographs at conferences and learning to look for and trust in God’s provision.

Although still involved with private teaching, Marybeth has retired from her school position and, like many retired people, she wondered what might come next; wondered if she had anything else to say as an artist; wondered if her best work was behind her. Once again, she met inspiration and direction, and Marybeth, retired from teaching, became a student again. With hope and hesitation, doubt and desire, she applied to a portrait class taught by Brian Peterson, founder of Faces of Santa Ana and Faces of Anaheim, and now Faces of Mankind, where she was introduced to a way of painting and of seeing people: the everywhere yet invisible people of the streets; men and women and families who live outside of the mainstream embrace of society. People who need to see their beauty and value. And people who need practical help. Marybeth saw how a painting could change a life. A fire was lit. A path was before her, and she ran on it. 

Marybeth lives in Corona, California with her husband, Bill, her mother-in-law, Stella, and their dog, Harley.