Artist Statement

Hi, I’m Marie Kost — artist, creator, and believer in the quiet healing power of color.

My art is rooted in the quiet spaces of life — the moments when the world feels heavy, and color becomes a way to lift it. I paint because it steadies me. I paint because it reminds me of who I’ve always been. And I paint because I believe art can soften the edges of a hard day.

I didn’t become an artist in a single moment; I grew into one slowly, through childhood doodles, high school sketchbooks, and the determination of a young woman who wanted to illustrate. I followed that dream into college, earning an Associate in Applied Science Degree in Graphic Design. I interned, worked briefly in the field, and then life — as it often does — took me in a different direction. After being laid off and turned away from agencies that wanted “three years of experience,” I chose integrity over shortcuts and stepped into the corporate world instead. Even when life pulled me into corporate work and family responsibilities, the desire to create never left. It simply waited.

During the pandemic, when isolation pressed in, I returned to painting as a way to breathe again. What began as a single gift for my mother became a rediscovery of joy, purpose, and connection. Each brushstroke felt like coming home. One painting became another, and then another. The joy came rushing back.

I began sharing my work online, and the response reminded me that art isn’t just something I do — it’s something I am. It’s how I connect, how I breathe, how I offer comfort to others.

My work is meant to be a gentle companion — something that brings calm, comfort, or a spark of beauty to whoever needs it. Whether through oil paintings, digital prints, or coloring pages, I want my art to offer a small escape from stress and a reminder that creativity can be a refuge to help you slow down, breathe, and find a moment of calm in your day.

I create for anyone who needs a moment of peace. I create because it’s how I stay connected to myself. And I create because art, in its simplest form, helps us feel less alone.

Whether you’re here to enjoy my paintings, color a page to unwind, or read something that makes you feel less alone — I’m grateful you’re here. I hope my art brings you even a small sense of peace.

Come back anytime. I’ll keep the colors ready for you.

*HUGS*

Marie

Helping you escape daily stress by using art to relax.

 

P.S.  If you would like those free coloring pages I mentioned. (click here)