by massive stone lion pillars and behind her, translucent, veined wings. “They’re all symbols. I love symbols,” says Marcia. “My bat wings are there to symbolize devils and angels. The lions are from Hungary, from a church where my grandfather went. The lion is my ‘aumakua (spirit guide), which I found out through hypnosis work.” When asked what her advice is to young artists, especially young female artists, “I’d tell them to really focus on what inspires them and try to bring it out, bring it on. Don’t try to be like other people,” says Marcia. “When I was in high school, I already knew I was an artist. I was told by so many different teachers, ‘You can’t make a living as an artist, so get a real job.’ I am still working and surviving as an artist; I’ve made a living as a female artist in Hawai‘i for the last 40 years.” She continues, “I say do what you love.” And what comes next? “My view of religion is to promote peace and try to be nice to each other. I try to portray that in my paintings,” she says. “My biggest dream would be to create a new peace sign for the planet, because when I was a young hippie, I was a peacenik. I remember some militant college folks told me, ‘When you look at the peace sign, it looks like a chicken foot. If you won’t go to war, you are chickens.’ The first thing is to come up with a new peace symbol.” What will it look like? Hard to say, but it will probably be larger than life. ■
KeOlaMagazine.com | July-August 2018
Marcia's home studio is a slice of a hardworking artist's life. photo by Sarah Anderson
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For more information: marciaray.com