Marz Doerflinger was born in the golden valleys of Southern California. As a young child she was fascinated by animation and would play in the studio of her best friend's father, an animator for Hanna-Barbera. Her early exposure to art lead to a life long love of values, shadows and carefree expression.
Ms. Doerflinger received a BFA in painting and animation from Washington State University in 1983. She has enjoyed careers in television set design, graphic design and internet multimedia. In addition to her creative work, Marz is a long distance runner completing over 140 races with distances ranging from 26.2-150 miles. She currently splits her time between the lush rainforests of Olympia, Washington and the arid desert mountains of Fountain Hills, Arizona.
Originally working in watercolor, Doerflinger turned her practice towards pastel, oil, and acrylic. She finds proficiency in multiple mediums allows her to speak fluidly about the landscapes around her, choosing the medium that best suits the moment. Marz strives to communicate mood and atmosphere through expressive gesture and a limited palette. Her approach communicates the essence of a subject rather than the details, preferring to allow the viewer to create their own story.
