Gail Mardfin grew up in Connecticut, attended Skidmore College, and graduated from Trinity College in Hartford. After moving to New Jersey in 1975, I earned a master’s in studio art from Montclair University. I was head of the art department at Purnell School in Pottersville for many years, teaching a myriad of art courses, before starting my own graphic design business in 1996, where I was the principal designer. 

After living 40 years in New Jersey, which I thoroughly enjoyed (co-founding ARTsee, an artist open studio tour along the way), in 2015 I moved across the country to northern California and now live about fifteen minutes from my adorable granddaughter Azalea. The pleasure is all mine as I care for this little one a bit each week and explore my new environment – quite different from the East Coast.

For those who feel they must pigeonhole an artist’s style – well, sorry. I taught ALL mediums of art for many years and there are so many things I love to do…I enjoy watercolor, photography, collage, and acrylic and mixed media painting. My subject matter, whether visual or text-based, has always been about SEEING THE GOOD, for I believe what we focus on, we get more of in our lives.

I am a member of several art organizations in Sonoma County including Sebastopol Center for the Arts and AWS, the Art Workshop of Western Sonoma County (for which I do the newsletter and website). Click to read a lovely interview about me and my art, which appeared in the AWS April 2019 Newsletter.

My personal aspiration is to live each day with awareness and joy. Showing up in the world as an artist helps fulfill this intent.

Days before the Shelter-in-Place order was issued in 2020, I was proudly fist-bumping Santa Rosa Mayor Schwedhelm as I received the $400 award for Best in Show for my watercolor on Masa paper, Eight Radishes. It was shown in the National Arts Program Foundation Exhibit of artwork by Santa Rosa, CA residents, employees and their family members. Santa Rosa is home to one of the 90 National Arts Program sites in 30 states, and is the only city in the Bay Area to participate. You can read the Press Democrat’s coverage about it here.