Maria Josenhans is a landscape artist working both outdoors and in her studio. An artist for nearly four decades, Maria's work plays back and forth between representational and abstract as she allows each painting to find its own unique path. Maria was born in New Jersey, one of two daughters to parents James and Janet. Her mother was a librarian, and her father an engineer and keen photographer. Maria had an early introduction to the art of photography in her father’s dark room and developed an interest that shaped the early part of her career. As a child her mother introduced her to Scottish Highland dancing, which still today is a passion that she shares through teaching and adjudicating. Her talent for painting was discovered in High School where her teacher Mrs Erich would prove influential in guiding Maria into a career as an artist. From 1982-86 she studied at the Philadelphia College of Art (now University of the Arts), in Philadelphia, PA and graduated with a BFA in Illustration with Honors. In 1994, Maria studied Large Format Black & White Photography with Paul Caponigro. Her early career in photography and illustration was spent in New York before she moved to New England. Once she met her Canadian husband her path changed course and she turned exclusively to painting. In 2000, they moved to the west coast of Canada where Maria has enjoyed a climate that allows for year round plein air painting. She has always been a nature lover, and she is also a student of Zen Buddism. Maria currently lives in Burnaby near Vancouver with her husband Marcel and their new dog Basil. Host: Chris StaffordProduced by Hollowell StudiosFollow @theaartpodcast on InstagramEmail: hollowellstudios@gmail.com Maria’s website: http://www.mariajosenhans.com/about/Instagram: @mariajosenhansart Women artists whose work Maria admires:Pat SteirLois DoddJoan EardleyJoan MitchellHelen Frankenthaler... and many many many more. Maria’s Playlist:Philip Glass (particularly solo piano)Domenico Scarlatti, sonatasMoby Beck (mutations)Jeff BeckBob DylanPatti SmithNeko CaseKD LangPasty Cline