Who is Who is Marilyn Balke Lowry

I am probably one of the most unlikely people to ever enter the art world, especially at this stage of my life. It seems, however, that even though I have faced negativity, discouragement and a very circuitous path... here I am anyway!

I seem to have persisted in doing what either I did not wish to do or what others recommended that I avoid doing. I guess that is the rebellious, stubborn Taurean in me, which I prefer to refer to as perseverant.

Much later in my life, I grew to realize that it was spirit voice trying to direct me to my true purpose. As a child, I loved reading not fairy tales but instead Greek mythology. Those were my version of Mother Goose stories, and I often lost myself in them.

Most people, including my parents never understood. I also loved the comics, and I thought it would be fun to draw a few myself. Granted, they were probably crude representations, but after my mother told me to quit with such "silliness," as they were not funny anyway. I had run to show her each one, and these comments fell on ears of a child who was a pleaser and caretaker from the beginning.

I never drew another cartoon. In spite of everything, I remained an optimist and am to this day. I have always believed in the certainty of good and the love of God, even though at that time I was not aware of what this meant.

In school, I was a good student and enjoyed the recognition for my good grades. That seemed to please my parents and teachers, but it often alienated me from my classmates.

Since I was an early reader, in those days without accelerated classes, they just sent me to a higher grade. This happened twice to me, and despite my ability to keep up with most of the class work, I was always at a social disadvantage since I was a year or two younger than my classmates.

I explored art in those grades, but again I was told that I had no skills, as evidenced by the fact that my pictures were never displayed.

Image above: Magical Mediterranean I - 14.5x12.5 - framed Acrylic on Canvas - Mediterranean Collection by Marilyn Lowry

Middle school was not easy for a pre-teen, and I matured more slowly than many of my friends. Nevertheless, I still enjoyed school and tried art again.

My instructor made me stay with one project almost the entire semester, as she did not feel it was complete or good enough for me to go on to another. Other students finished 4 or 5 projects, and I wanted to hide my first effort.

One day, my teacher said quietly to me that art was just not my thing, and that I should concentrate on other areas where I could do better. Well, that was all I needed to close the door on any further art attempts.

Image above: Zuzu at the Step Pyramid - 24x26 - framed Oil on Canvas by Marilyn Lawry

I loved high school and had many friends. At that point, I felt more in charge of my life. I was going to college, as that was a given for both my sister and me in our home.

We came from a long line of educators on my mother's side, and at that time professions were very limited for young women: basically, teaching, secretarial work or nursing.

I did not want to continue the teaching trend, could not type well enough for a job in that area and did not like hospitals and the sight of blood. What was I going to do? I was beginning to panic.

Image above: Magical Mediterranean II - 14.5x12.5 - framed Acrylic on Canvas - Mediterranean Collection by Marilyn Lowry

A helpful aunt sat down with me to help me look at my options the summer of my high school graduation. I was very concerned about not wasting time or my parents' money, as they had two of us to send to school.

The areas in which I had interest were of course fields involving art: interior design and fashion design and buying. I struggled through a few classes, but I did well in college and graduated with honors in three and one half years.

When I entered my junior year, most of my friends were beginning to take methods classes in preparation to become a teacher. No one saw much future in design areas unless you had a teaching certificate to "fall back on" when you inevitably married and had children. Heaven forbid that you would work for a company or worse yet, travel on your job.

I finally succumbed to the pressure and went into education. I did, however, determine that I did not have the patience to teach the same material six times a day to a group of rebellious middle schoolers.

I had met the counselor at the school where I did my student teaching, and from listening to her talk about her job, I determined that was where I belonged if I were to stay in education. I went back to school at night and during summers to earn my Master's Degree and Counseling Certification, and I was fortunate (???) to obtain a counseling position in the school where I had been teaching.

I call that to question since I had also been a student in the same school, and as a counselor, I was expected to work with teachers in a much different role than that of a teacher... and certainly as a student.

I could see the question on their face... how can this "kid" tell me anything... especially the art teacher that was still working there! (During my teaching experience, her room was across the hall from mine... a constant reminder of my art shortcomings!)

Imabe above: Peaceful Fishing Village - 16x20 - Acrylic on Canvas - Mediterranean Collection by Marilyn Lowry

Nevertheless, I loved my work as a counselor. I had many friends, as well as my sister, who had relied upon my help as we grew up, so it was a very familiar role. Our parents were hard-working and largely unavailable, so I had become the caretaker.

I was a middle school counselor until I took time out to give birth to my only son. I determined, again with pressure, that I needed to quit working and stay home with my family. I again did not seem to fit in that role as dictated by society at that time.

My husband at that time was also a teacher, and money was very tight and stress was high. I took tutoring jobs and finally went back to work part time as a substitute teacher.

When another opening for a counselor came up, I really wanted to take it. Much to the chagrin of family and society, I went back to work and absolutely loved it once more. As it turned out, we did not have more children, and all my extra time would be devoted to our small family.

Because of my concern for financial security and not wanting to be back in the position of one salary again, I stayed with the school system for a total of 32 years. I did, however, change positions and grade levels to prevent boredom from setting in.

In the summers during vacation, my sister and I formed a tour company and for about five years took small groups to Europe and other parts of the United States. My yen for traveling could be satisfied without breaking the bank on two teachers' salaries.

In addition to my counseling duties in the school, I took on sponsorship of the high school cheerleading squad and experienced motherhood of daughters, often more challenging than raising my son.

I also decided that I wanted to experience counseling in private practice since I had my license and certification in the state of Texas. I prepared for and opened my practice on my own, and built a healthy part time practice in the north part of Houston working mainly with teens and women's issues.

Serenity - 22x18 - Oil on Canvas - Landscape Collection by Marilyn Lowry

Like everything else, I put myself into my work and my son's practices and sports. I was working in the schools, supervising the cheerleaders at games and during practices after school. I also ran my private practice one or two nights a week and on Saturdays.

As would be obvious, my marriage was suffering. We had grown apart with different interests and lifestyles, and despite the fact that we were both devoted parents, our marriage was headed for failure. By the time we tried to seek help, it was already past the point of healing, so we divorced.

Prior to our divorce, I was promoted to director of the counseling program for the district, and thoroughly enjoyed another helping role with training and supervising counselors after my having given 25 years of school service. I remained in that position for seven years, and most were pleasant.

Finally, as the ever-present rebel reared its head again, I realized that the bureaucracy and control of a central office position was too restrictive. I bucked the system one too many times and found myself taking early retirement.

A person as active as I was, could not possibly retire at the age of 52, so as fate would have it, I created a physical problem with my back that would make me slow down and think about what to do next. (Because of my well-established work ethic, I had to have a reason to rest.)

After a year of healing, I pursued several part-time endeavors as a trainer, teacher, recruiter for school programs, and college test prep trainer. All seemed to be related to education, and I knew that counseling was my gift, but I knew there was still something else out there that was calling for me.

Image above: The Protector - 30x26 - framed Oil on Canvas - Canyon Collection by Marilyn Lowry

I spent the next several years exploring my spirituality and seeking peace and purpose. My answers brought me back to art again.

And my ever- present rebel stepped up again and said, " They can't tell me what I am capable of doing! I'm going back to try art again." I went back to school again, not for more degrees, but for my soul. I took every art class I could find, took private lessons and attended workshops. By that time, my parents had both passed away at very early ages, and my sister and son became my biggest cheerleaders!

I received encouragement from instructors this time and compliments from class members. At first, it was hard to accept, as I still considered myself to be somewhat of a fraud in the art field. I asked myself if these people were just being polite, or could I actually have the potential to be a real artist?

Image above: Study in Yellow - after Matisse - 24x20 - Acrylic on Canvas - After Art Collection by Marilyn Lowry

The seeds of doubt kept creeping back in despite my spiritual callings, and I began to fear managing my finances on a teacher's retirement income. I was not in private practice at that time, so when I was asked to office in a medical firm as a therapist, I quickly did so, and worked hard at establishing a clientele.

I experienced some financial setbacks again and realized I would probably have to go back to work full time, even though that was the last thing I wanted to do. I was single and trying to maintain a home and all the accoutrements which go along with it... car, bills, etc.

During my thirteen single years, I kissed a lot of frogs and met some wonderful men, but none seemed to lead to a long-term relationship. Toward the end of that time, I decided that I was ready to find someone to love and share the rest of my life with. But just when I gave up on any prospects, I met the most awesome man who is now my wonderful husband. He was supportive of my every endeavor, even the ones I really did not feel up to pursuing.

Image above: Girls in Field, after Renoir - 27x23 - framed Oil on Canvas - After Art Collection by Marilyn Lowry

Reluctantly, I went back to work for the school district in a different supervisory position, this time in the area of safety and drug prevention. There was quite a learning curve, but I managed to maintain the position for two years, long enough to clear up my financial issues, to plan a Hawaiian style wedding and a Hawaiian honeymoon and to sell my home and build another with the help of my then fiancé.

However, right before we decided to get married, I received a call from a school district in another city offering me a job as guidance director for their district. The money was excellent, but it would mean a move and that I probably would have to give up my relationship or try to sustain it on a long distance basis. He was not able to make a move because his business was in Houston.

Even though I wanted to stay, I felt that I should pursue the offer by at least being interviewed. Again as before when I was headed one direction, God had other plans. My car actually broke down the day before I was to drive over for the interview and I wound up spending five days in the hospital for issues related to stress and wrongly prescribed herbal medications. I realized it was a strong message to stay here and continue our relationship... that the money would take care of itself. I did, it did, and I have never looked back.

Image above: Split Ends - 24x24 - Mixed Media on Canvas - Galaxy Collection by Marilyn Lowry

My husband brought two wonderful sons into our marriage. The older is the same age as my son, both grown, and the younger was a teenager at the time.

We had a bit of a struggle during his teenage years, as I thought I was through with this stage, but the situation got better after we built our home in a smaller town on a large lot in a beautiful wooded area north of Houston.

Being in touch with nature up here started me back in the direction of art. I was still counseling part-time, and had started a small business with another retired counselor, which was steadily prospering.

My husband was self-employed by then, and we both enjoyed the opportunity to work out of our beautiful home. I closed my office in the medical area and continued my counseling part-time from an office in my home. When we built our home, we planned for a workroom/office for my husband and an art studio for me. I then had a real place to be a real artist! Yikes... I guess I had to do it now!

Throughout the classes and workshops I continued to take, I shared my art only with friends and family, giving it to them as gifts but never taking any money for it. My sister was relentless in telling me I needed to market my work, but I just considered her words to be a kindness to me since I was family, and the only family we had left since our parents were gone.

Image above: Starburst - 18x18 - Mixed Media on Canvas - Galaxy Collection by Marilyn Lowry

In the fall of 2007, a friend of mine shared an e-mail she had received about an art group that was forming in Houston as a support to artists. It was not a group that had a goal of technique training, but one that was to help artists rid themselves of a "starving artist" mentality.

I guessed that was what I must have had, so I joined the group. Our organization grew rapidly, and I learned much about marketing and selling my art with the encouragement of the most supportive, fun people that I had ever seen in one group. Since then, many have become dear friends and we have had outstanding shows in very prestigious locations in downtown Houston. I have sold a number of my paintings, and our last show was even in the Houston City Hall.

I continue counseling on an "as needed" basis, as I still have a wonderful referral system from the physicians where I officed before. The online scholarship list business that I have shared for ten years with another retired counselor continues to grow and thrive. These efforts give me opportunities to help and support others besides offering me helpful compensation.

Image above: Nature's Palette - 30x24 - Mixed Media on Canvas - Recycled Green Collection by Marilyn Lowry

I guess you could say that my art is to help and support MY soul, and I have finally given myself permission (most of the time) to not put my art projects last (after all of my chores are completed... thanks again, work ethic)!

My sister and son, with the addition of my husband and two sons continue to be my greatest cheerleaders! I could not show my work without my husband's expertise in preparing my paintings for hanging, carefully taking my work to venues and tirelessly helping with installations and attending endless shows and receptions.

I also have a host of other relatives and friends who show their support and encouragement on an ongoing basis as well as my bff, a gifted photographer living many miles away, who with me experienced "growing up during adulthood." Years ago we shared our traumas and trials, and now we are privileged to celebrate our triumphs and joys.

Image above: Blast Off! - 12x12 - Mixed Media on Canvas - Abstract Collection by Marilyn Lowry

My name is just beginning to be known as an artist in this area. I show my work in a small gallery near our home, and I also have an excellent agent (sounds strange to say that) who has procured space for me in a wonderful and popular local restaurant.

I have been blessed to be a featured artist in the Evolution Ezine where I connected with the most wonderful woman, Daria Perse - who is wielding her magic to promote me online. You can see that I have a multitude of angels who have persistently and consistently helped me despite my best avoidance efforts.

My artwork has evolved like me and continues to change. I began with more representative pieces, continued my work with nature and flowers, and now seem to be concentrating on more mixed media projects, including my galaxy pieces as well as what I call my recycled "green art."

I love making something beautiful out of discarded materials and giving them a whole new life. I continue to gain inspiration from just being alive, and I express my spirit in my work as I continue to be guided in my growth process.

Image above: Balanced Strength - 22x18 - framed Mixed Media on Canvas - Canyon Collection by Marilyn Lowry

Even though I would probably be considered "old" to begin an art career, I never have and never will consider myself as "old". I was not ready to retire at 52, and I am not even close now at 68.

My husband and I will continue living and loving each other and our careers as we are directed by spirit for as long as we have the privilege of experiencing these fabulous, ever evolving lives!

Age is only a number, and it is really your state of mind that keeps you young. If I am blessed, maybe one day I'll be known as the "Grandma Lowry of Montgomery", but in my mind, I'll still be eighteen!

Namaste.

Image above: Undersea Garden - 18x26 - Mixed Media on Canvas by Marilyn Lowry