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My name is Marion Younan and I live in Oakville, Ontario Canada, which is a small city just outside Toronto.
After many years away from art-making, I rediscovered how much I love it during an art course I took in Italy in 2013 while on vacation. I came home determined to keep it up and started my website to help keep me publically accountable. And I haven’t stopped! Six months ago, I decided to take a break from my consulting work, and put my energy into making art full-time for a few years and see where it takes me.
On that 2013 vacation, I started my first travel sketchbook, and instantly fell in love with this art form. I had kept written travel journals but until that time the most I had done to them artistically was glue in a few ticket stubs and postcards.
Now I fill these sketchbooks with illustrations of the places and stories I encounter when travelling or on outings with our local Urban Sketchers group. Most of the art projects I do today are in some way connected to my travels or the travels of others.
I enjoy drawing in-the-moment as well as from photos. I find that both ways allow me to take in and savour what I’m looking at. I take lots of photos when I travel, thinking how they might make good drawings later. I know many people find that working from a photo isn’t satisfying but I may actually give it a slight edge – I like having the luxury of time, better drawing conditions, and getting to relive travel moments through the drawing. Probably because of that reliving factor and my endless curiosity, my work has an illustrative quality and contains a lot of detail.
I work mostly in ink and watercolour, or straight watercolour. As for my process, I may start with a pencil drawing first if the subject is complicated, or go straight to pen if it’s not (or if I’m feeling particularly brave). I often paint my drawings since I’m attracted to subjects with lots of colour. I alternate between putting the details in the ink drawing and painting them in instead. I tend to work no bigger than 11 x 14” and recently did a series of tiny 2.5 x 3.5” pieces which are challenging but really fun.
For drawing, I like Copic multiliners and my Platinum Carbon desk pen (and Platinum Carbon permanent ink cartridges). My watercolours are a mix of artist-grade Winsor & Newton, Da Vinci and Daniel Smith. For travel, I use Koi waterbrushes and some larger Escoda Optimo travel brushes with a 14-colour Winsor Newton kit and a homemade secondary kit of 12 go-to colours (varies depending upon where I’m going and the predominant colours there).
I also travel with a few Derwent Inktense pencils. I’m a big fan of Arches 140 lb cold-pressed paper because the watercolour blends so beautifully on it, with the only downside being it easily burns out my .03 multiliners.
For sketchbooks, I’ve tried a lot of them, and for now have settled on the Pentalic watercolour journals for travel because the paper can really take the water without wrinkling. I also like the heavier, water-loving Stillman & Birns (Beta/Zeta) for everyday sketching.
My home base on the Internet is artwewonderful.com, and I’m on Facebook and Instagram also as “artwewonderful”.
The art journey I’ve taken over the last few years has been so exhilarating and surprising. I had no idea I’d end up doing what I’m doing today, and that I would meet and be cheered on by such a supportive community. With a new year ahead, I’m anxious to get back on the road, and draw who and what happens next!
Marion Younan
Art We Wonderful
Marion, I am really enjoying these images. I’ll follow you on Instagram. Charlie, thanks for featuring this work!
Thank you Kirk!! Yay to the follow my friend!! 😃👍🏻
Ditto. What Kirkistan said…
Yay again!! Hehe…thanks Raye! 😃
Your work leaves tears in my eyes. I love it!
Thanks for commenting friend! Thrilled you liked this feature!
You’re welcome. Have a great day!
Yes you are wonderful, Marion! A new fan!
Yay! Love it!! 😉👍🏻
Those are fabulous! I’m a huge fan of urban sketchers being too shy to do it myself (and not being good at architecture). While it’s vital to learn to draw from life, I agree with Marion that drawing from photos is wonderful because you’re not rushed, or bitten by mosquitoes, or blown around by the wind, etc. 🙂 Going to follow her on IG!
I totally agree as well…there’s something to be said for a comfortable environment and not feeling rushed or hurried. Also… a great number of options that you can paint! But urban sketching is fun too! Hehe Thanks Teresa! Yay to the follow! Marion is wonderful!! 💕😃
Marion’s work is just incredible, i am already following her blog but many thanks for sharing her Instagram id 🙂
Awesome!! So happy to hear that Snehal! Yep…I agree… Marion’s work is really incredible! 😃
Awesome I love your work!!!
So happy you liked the feature! Thanks!
I really enjoyed reading your story and mesmerized by your sketches. I also work from a photo usually -but for me, it’s because I’m still not confident in my drawing. Your colors are very warm and inviting, I think that’s the feeling I get when I look at your sketches. Beautiful! Will follow in IG! Thank you!
Yay! So happy you liked this Kari!! 💕😃
The details in your paintings are amazing, Marion! I could stare at your art for hours! 😃 Thanks Charlie. 👍🎨
Agreed!! Thanks Jill!! Glad you liked these as well!! 💕😃
Dear Marion, it is the details of your beautiful watercolors that I find so appealing. I have wanderlust just looking at them. Thanks for sharing with us. Thank you Charlie.
Great description! Thanks so much Sharon!! 💕😃
Amazing talent! Fantastic detail. Thank you for sharing Charlie. 🙂
Thanks Susan!! So pleased you liked this feature!! 😃
Beautiful enjoyable sketches!
Aren’t they?! Thanks Teri! Happy you liked Marion’s work! 😃
Wow, you guys can make a girl blush and cry all at once! Thanks so much for all your kind comments and a big thanks to Charlie!
Thank YOU, Marion for being part of Doodlewash!! All well deserved comments…your work is amazing!! ❤️😃
WOW this is so awesome. I sometimes open it up and just sit and stare at your pictures. They are so enjoyable.
Thanks! These are all by the fabulous, Marion! Glad you like her work! 😃
Oh yes I do 🙂
I’ve been following Marion’s blog and woo! So nice to see so many of her gorgeous works all in one place. Thanks, Charlie!
Yay! Yeah…Marion is pretty awesome! Thrilled to have her as part of Doodlewash! Thanks Laura! 💜😃
Really great piece! The art is amazing and very inspiring with all the tiny detail! So happy to have the names of some of your products that you work with and love, it’s a great place to start for these non-artists like myself! Keep it up!
Yay Alyssa! That’s wonderful to hear! So happy you liked Marion’s post and hope you’re inspired to start doodlewashing too! 😉👍🏻hehe
Fantastic watercolors, wonderful approach to the subjects and delightful details. Such an enjoyable feature, thank you for sharing.
So happy you liked this one!! Thanks my friend! 💕😃
Yay…I’m a huge fan and follower, and was so pleasantly surprised to see Marion being featured here as I checked doodlewash on my phone today! Thanks, Charlie, for helping spread the ‘good news’ about her wonderful art work. You’re a good doodle! 🙂
Hehe!! Thanks friend!! Love spreading the word about amazing artists like Marion! 😃
Really incredible detail…each scene tells a story. (K)
I agree!! So happy you liked this feature, Kerfe! 😃
Love your work Marion!! I recognised Florence & Paris, in your watercolours!! But my favourite is that narrow stairway! Which is town is depicted in it? It’s Beautiful!! Not even a pinch of negative space, there is a lot happening in that picture. I also like the drawing n’ watercolour of the brick passage aligned with potted plants in a row.
Enjoy your travels.
Europe is pure ART!! (y)
Hi, Nuwan: Thanks for your encouraging comments! The narrow stairway is in Casperia, a very small village northeast of Rome. It’s a very picturesque place… literally.
Marion, when I look at your sketches, it makes me want to go sketch something! That’s called inspiration. Amazing gift!
Love hearing that!! So happy you found Marion inspiring, Brad! 😃
Brad, when I first got back into sketching, yours was the first blog I signed up to follow. Thank you for YOUR inspiration!
Humbled.
Amazing detail!
Agreed!! So glad you liked these Beverly!! 😃
Wow, what beautiful and detailed paintings. I’m completely blown away by Marion’s art. Thank you for the wonderful feature Charlie!
Thanks Cathe! 💕😃 So happy you liked Marion’s work!!
Breathtaking – simply breathtaking. Charlie, thank you for introducing me to Marion’s work! Marion, thank you for sharing. I’m really looking forward to following your efforts on Instagram and Facebook!
Awww I’m so happy you liked Marion’s work, Akire!! And thrilled to hear about the follows! 😉😃
Beautiful line work in the urban sketches.