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| Marion Moir |
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Marion Moir
watercolors
newport
Painter. Cheerleader. Teacher. Cowgirl. Marion Moir is all those things, in turn, as she continues through a life of inspiration by the sea. She’s been painting Newport for almost four decades, but says she never tires of the view.
A line drawing of her favorite landmark, the Yaquina Bay Bridge, is on a new line of notecards, T-shirts and shopping bags that are selling fast at the Newport Farmers’ Market.
“I love Newport. That’s why I made that image,” she said. “I’m proud of that bridge, and I’m proud of this community, too.”
When she moved to the Oregon coast, she had no experience or training in art. One day, she saw the work of a local artist and was inspired to enroll in a class he taught. Once bitten, she voraciously learned more and more, at workshops from California to Japan. She turned herself into a painter, and made her reputation with vibrant florals, moving seascapes, nostalgic boats and adorable marine life.
Moir has shown at some of the finest galleries in the Northwest, including the Haystack Gallery in Cannon Beach, the former Gallery at Salishan in Gleneden Beach and the Legends Gallery in Seattle. Her line of puffin portraits, showing the charismatic black and white birds in a variety of costumes, have earned her the title “the Puffin Lady.”
But as much as she loves coastal subjects, she’ll never forget her roots. Moir was raised on a ranch in California, and returns to the area once a year for roundup and branding. She takes hundreds of photos, then returns to her studio to create classic portraits of Western life.
She also loves the ballet, and spends a few evenings a year watching rehearsals and performances at the Newport Performing Arts Center. The images she collects there — girls en pointe, toe shoes and tutus — find their way into her watercolor world. In her “spare time,” Moir works on original Asian-themed collages and customizes picture frames.
She makes a living through originals and commissions, as well as limited edition prints, notecards, T-shirts and tote bags. She teaches classes, in watercolor, collage, shell printing and other media, at her pink corner studio in Nye Beach. Moir is also involved with an arts and healing program, through Samaritan Health Services.
And she sets up her booth every Saturday at the Newport market, where all-occasion cards, small prints and Newport souvenirs are popular. “I don’t think I’ll ever run out of ideas. It’s just which one to do first.”
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