Moving back home with her parents was not something Latoya Marlin had in mind. But three years ago, she learned the heartbreaking family news; her mother had been diagnosed with late stage breast cancer.
She settled into a routine of working during the day and caring for her mother during the evenings, until she sparked an idea.
Ever since she could remember, Marlin enjoyed letting her creativity catch fire through photography, drawing and painting. Now she found it was time to rekindle the flame.
“Every day for a year I completed some sort of art, including paintings as a coping mechanism and escape from life,” said Marlin. “I then began posting them on Facebook.”
Those social media posts led her to the life of an artist when people became interested in purchasing her work.
“When people were interested I remember thinking ‘Why do you want to buy this? I’m just messing around because it makes me feel better.’ It also made my mom feel better to see me doing art again,” said Marlin.
Her first painting sale turned into a triple play after a woman asked to purchase it and requested two more identical paintings. Marlin admits initially she wasn’t sure how to sell her art but she has learned with time.
Marlin has become known for painting curvy, confident African-American women, a theme she said developed naturally.
“I would start off trying something else but it would always come back to that and it became very popular. People will contact me with requests and somehow it always leads back to women,” she said.
Her personal favorite and most requested painting is tiled “Ms. Popular,” which is a black and white canvas painting of a woman with naturally curly hair that grazes her feet. She has duplicated about 50 pieces of the work.
A childhood friend and local artist, Kevin Nance West, invited her to her first art show in February 2013. She now participates in many shows.
With over 600 paintings created, Marlin is proud to say she has a painting in almost each state in the U.S. and hopes to sell internationally soon.
Many of her works have been auctioned off through fundraising for breast cancer research and domestic violence care support, and have even hung in Indianapolis’ Mayor Greg Ballard’s office.
“I believe in giving and I’ve probably given away more art than I’ve sold,” she admits. “Someone could be at a show and completely fall in love with a painting and I may contact them later about sending it to them. They may never have an opportunity for someone to give them something and it makes them feel awesome.”
