Stepping outside her box

Margaret Marino, originally from Glen Ridge, New Jersey, is a freshman majoring in Visual Arts and Technology. Although she describes herself as a “pencil and paper kind of girl,” she is interested in learning more about technology, which is one of the factors that drew her to Stevens. Her hobbies include dancing and playing the drums in her band, Tula Vera. Although she could have gone to an arts school, Margaret explains here at Stevens, “there is so much diversity” within the artist community on campus. Artists vary from free-spirited individuals who doodle in the margins to architects whose art lies in the designing of the structures all around us.

Margaret describes herself as “traditional” when it comes to drawing. She explains that she loves drawing the face and what it looks like, as well as “all the freckles, all the wrinkles. I love the glints in your tightline, the eyelashes. I love it.”

When deciding to become a Visual Arts and Technology student, Margaret knew that she had to “step outside her box” in order to expand her horizons and learn more about her craft. Although she is most comfortable drawing faces, she is eager to learn about different artistic styles. Currently, Margaret is working with sharpie in 2-D, which is a world apart from pencil and paper. Margaret adds that it was beneficial for her to be exposed to a more graphical approach to art where she focused on shapes, lines, and negative space. “These were a struggle for me,” she admits, “because I don’t do this more abstract type of art.”

When it comes to music and art, Margaret explains that “going to a great school [like Stevens] definitely makes pursuing your passion more fun.” Oftentimes when it comes to deciding on a major, it can be difficult to decide whether to study something lucrative or something that makes one happy. Margaret adds, “Choosing a school that can help you become better at what you already love and what you are good at is a huge step in the right direction.” Although optometry was a possible career path for her, Margaret states that, “Art was always [her] biggest passion in life.” Margaret emphasizes that this way of thinking can “stop you from doing great things.”

“I would rather lead a happy life doing what I love than be a millionaire and be doing something I hate. Doing something that I love is very important to me.”

One of the beautiful things about art is that it can highlight little idiosyncrasies individuals have that would otherwise go unnoticed. Margaret loves drawing people and faces. She enjoys focusing in on little details like the freckles and glints, which can replicate the beauty in people. Even the littlest mole is just so beautiful.

“And it is so unique,” Margaret states. “You see their soul, and I feel a connection with someone when I draw them, even if I don’t know them. It’s that personal connection that I love.”

Every individual is unique, and when looking at any portrait, Margaret is reminded that that is a person – someone whose eyes have seen things and whose face has wrinkles from laughing, crying, and smiling. “I can try to tell their story through my art.”