Marilyn Simandle has always known that she was to be an artist. Learning from her mother, a musician and painter in her own right, Simandle started painting watercolors at age 6. She received her Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree from San Jose State University. Simandle went on to share her developed knowledge and incredible talent by teaching art for 15 years and conducting workshops throughout California and the Scottsdale Artists' School. A native Californian, she now resides in the Santa Ynez Valley with her husband, Ted Goerschner (pictured with her above), also an artist, where she explores all her passions: painting, gardening, playing bridge, and her love of horses.

In her paintings, Simandle tries to convey her own personal philosophy of art. She loves to explore the complex interplay of light and its effects on architecture and surroundings. An avid traveler and photographer, Marilyn use her photographs simply as the starting point, an inspiration. In her composition, she paints what she wants the subject matter to be, to engage collectors with uplifting paintings filled with harmonious color, depth and vitality. While striving for truth in her paintings she does believe that "perfection is the enemy of great art." A single brush stroke can speak volumes on a painting. Simandle is inspired and influenced by the poetry in the brush strokes of John Singer Sergeant and Joaquin Sorolla.