Maria Schoettler graduated from the University of California, Santa Cruz in 2007 where she earned B.A. in Art Practice with an emphasis in painting. During her time at UCSC and some time thereafter, Maria pursued her love of painting the human figure and created a body of work that captures the facial expressions and body language of her many subjects, both friends and perfectly strange studio models. While Maria is still thinking about people, in recent years the content of her work has expanded to include illustrations of other life-forms- food and plants.
Her ‘Eat Local Food Calendar’ was born out of her own valiant, almost obsessive efforts to buy all of her produce locally from her neighborhood farmer’s market, a place where she feels very inspired. To Maria, the farmer’s market represents how our own seemingly small efforts can be the impetus for a larger positive impact, one that enlivens local economies and communities, while being environmentally conscious. Maria is enthusiastic about the homespun, the handmade, family dinners, storytelling and connecting with people over the table and through her artwork and theirs. Maria is always looking for projects that will connect her with her immediate community or even new contingents in far-off places.
copyright 2011 maria schoettler