About Marylise

A conversation with Marylise

How would you describe your Art background? I studied Art in Paris, France at the Sorbonne University where I received a Master of Fine Arts. I also attended:
~ The Beaux Arts Academy for three years, and studied Printmaking with Dr. Pierre Courtin.
~ The Louvre Museum, where I copied the Masters for three years (Rembrandt, Chardin, De Hoog, etc)
~ The Montparnasse Art School for 8 years, where I took classes three hours a day: drawing from model, oil painting from model, Watercolors, sculpture, print making, murals…(with M. Quincy)
~ I started studying art at Wheaton College, in Illinois right after High School.
~ I had an international artistic career for 15 years in Europe (France, Switzerland, Portugal and Syria 1982-1997).

Artist Marylise Reilly-Fajal

When did you know you wanted to become an artist? When I passed the Baccalaureate in Paris, France I received an excellent grade for drawing. I knew I had some sort of talent but wouldn’t dream of a career. When I attended Wheaton College, Ill., I took several Art courses and fell in love with Art. My piano teacher told me I should stick to Art!

When I started the Montparnasse Art classes (where Modigliano went) and Beaux-Arts classes, in Paris, I had some great teachers (Quincy, Courtin) and they encouraged me to continue drawing and painting. I won several art prizes and contests in Paris.

Painting at the Louvre, and meeting the students in Art Restoration was an eye opener. They taught me important techniques you don’t necessarily find in books or classes.

After I won several prizes, (to my surprise) I heard a teacher say at the Sorbonne “This student can be a good art teacher. That’s it!”. It hurt my feelings, but I became more determined to pursue the Art profession. It was when I presented my 50 paintings on the walls of the University (big formats) for my Master Director in Fine Arts at the Sorbonne-University Paris 1, and stunned the jury, that I knew I wanted to spend my life painting. They whispered in my ear “We love this!”

And when The Director of the French Cultural Center in Syria asked me to come and exhibit my work in Damascus in 1985, I went. It was very successful, and opened many doors. That’s when I knew I wanted to be an artist (I was 29 years old).

What would surprise people to learn about you? I was born in the States, lived in Viet-Nam a few years (which explains why I love red dirt and dirt roads), went to France and was educated in the French school system till the end of High School.

I was hired by the Louvre for 6 months, to draw silver and gold Roman and Greek vases. We were 6 artists and a book was published with our 3,000 drawings.

I was the first woman to show her art in Damascus, Syria (1985). There was a Syrian woman who had shown her work before, but I was the first international woman artist to give lectures, and put up three shows during the month I spent in Syria, a major turning point in my life. My paintings were figurative which was countercultural in that country.

What achievements in the area of art are you proudest of? I have painted 120 paintings (oils and mixed media) on the “last night of Christ” and made a sound slide with it. I have shown this multimedia in Europe and the US multiple times.

I have also made 80 watercolors on the Nativity and made a multimedia presentation which is published on Youtube (“the child is born” by “Paintings that tell a story”).

My “creation” series is also a source of joy, and I am not finished with it.

I am finishing a commission of 8 paintings called “The Way of the Lamb”.

I enjoyed creating the illustrations for the Book “Autumn” by Peter Manosh. I was able to draw in ink the beauty I see in New Hampshire and Vermont.

How would you describe your art process? I work in oils, using transparent layers called “glacis”. I also like to work with multimedia, using collage of a variety of different papers (rice paper, japanese, etc). My paintings can take several months to complete. I work on several paintings at the same time.

I will work in oils for a few months, then switch to watercolors, experimenting with inks and watercolors, charcoal and watercolors, collage and watercolors. My style has evolved from impressionistic to expressionistic.I love abstract art, and would like to explore a more abstract approach, but seem to remain figurative for the time being. I have vivid colors in my paintings and I am interested in the relationship between cold and warm colors, movement and energy, light and dark, how the light affects shapes and forms.

Painting outdoors or “plein air” is a favorite as I love to capture the light with different types of weather, especially near water.

What is your usual studio/working day like? For years, I would work all day in my studio, on large sizes and touring Europe with my paintings (Paris and France, Germany, Switzerland, Portugal, UK and USA (Billy Graham Museum), Russia – St Petersburg – The Hermitage Museum.)

I also did many commissions: 8 paintings & calligraphies for the Private Bible School of Cologny, near Geneva, Switzerland – A triptych for the Church of Cologny, Switzerland – a 9ft x 6ft painting for a church in Normandy.

Having a daughter, I continued drawing and painting but spent more time devoted to her, and stopped oil painting until she was older. I became an art teacher (12 years) in Marlow, Nelson, Stoddard, NH. I am a French teacher now (KHS) but spending all my free time painting.

I have also taught private lessons to Homeschooled students Ages 8-19, as they often don’t have an art teacher (NH Certified Art teacher 2027.)

I was a teacher at the Sharon Art School (Sharon, NH near Peterborough) for Adults and teen agers from 2005 till 2012 (teaching drawing for beginners, intermediate watercolors for beginners and intermediate, Sumie ink paintings, Painting with the Masters, Teens weeks)

What is the most delightful part of your life outside of work? I love teaching art to my students and bringing them to a level where they can continue working on their own, independently (mostly watercolors but oils too).

I love painting outdoors, going to museums to admire other artists’ work, attending concerts, reading great books, traveling…..

I love spending time wth my daughter Laura visiting art shows or traveling to far away Museums, gardening with my husband and visiting my family in France.

Biography:

Studied at the Art School in Montparnasse, Paris 1978-1985 years – 3H everyday
2nd prize Paris Art Competition 1982
Studied Beaux-Arts Academy, Paris – 3 years (Printmaking w/Courtin)
Copyist at the Louvre Museum – Copied 15 paintings for 3 years (Rembrandt, Chardin, Le Lorrain, etc)
Hired as designer for 3 months at the Louvre Museum – Made 300 ink drawings of Roman and Greek vases – Book was published “Grammar of styles and Forms”. Helped archeologists College de France with drawings
Studied and earned degrees at the Sorbonne University, Paris (MA French/English – MA Visual Arts)
Multiple art shows in Paris 1982-1990 – Salon de la peinture à l’eau – Grand Palais – Pavillon Baltard – Centre Culturel Syrien 1986
Invited to Damascus, Syria by French Cultural Center and Syrian Cultural Ministry – April 1985 – First international woman to show her art in Syria. Stayed a month – Lectures – Additional Show of watercolors made in Syria during the trip.
Art shows in Switzerland, Germany, UK, France 1886-1994
Paintings in private collections
Commissions Church in Normandy, France – Commission tryptich for Church Cologny, Switzerland and 8 oils/calligraphies for Private School Cologny. 1993

“Sacred fire” – Art show in St Petersburg, Russia – 5 paintings in the Show 1991-1992
Art Show in Lisbon, Portugal 1996
Murals and decorative glass art – Private commissions – Paris 1990-1992
Stage sets for play (Unesco palace, Paris) 1993
Murals Grace Church – Childrens floor – Chesterfield,
Murals – Recreational Center, Keene 2015 – 2017
Art in the Park – 2nd prize 1995 –
Sharon Art Faculty Show , Peterborough
Teacher Sharon Art School, Sharon – 2003 – 2012 (Drawing, Oils, Watercolors)
Art Walk every year – 1995-2018 Historical Society, Keene – Shows Nelson Town Hall, Keene – Kristens Bakery, Keene – Brewers, Keene
Illustrations “Love” children’s book by Janet Finnamore – published
Illustrations “Autumn” poems by Peter Manosh – published
Certified Art and French teacher 2024. Teacher since 1999.
Elementary teacher (Art and French ) – 1999 – 2011
High School (French teacher) – 2011 – 2024
Private art lessons for Home Schooled students 2012-2024
Commission 8 paintings for Hope Chapel, Keene, NH (Oils – “The way of the Lamb”. 2020-2024