Marc A. Graison (b. 1959) was raised in the California bay area and divides his time between California and New Mexico. Scarcely a self-taught artist, he has studied studio art and plein air painting extensively (California Art Institute, University of Chicago, Scottsdale Artists School) and with many of the nation's leading landscape painters.
Most of the time, Graison paints plein air--outdoors-- and his paintings are noted for their keen observation of light, time, and place. Larger works are composed in the studio from his sketches and color studies. Major influences have been the work of the early California impressionists all for their use of color and atmosphere. While Graison admires the works of these artists for their strong sense of composition, design, harmony, and fidelity to nature, he is also drawn to the spiritual foundations of art.