Marissa Shearer Studio
About Marissa Shearer
My name is Marissa Shearer. I have always been deeply affected by the feelings invoked by various spaces. What makes a person feel comfortable or warm in one space but not in another (1) ?
​
During my travels to Guatemala, Israel, Portugal, and Italy, I was inspired by the architecture and the unique ambiance of natural plaster. I recognized the subtle nuances of a plastered space, like the way the light is refracted off the wall, creating a softness in a room that paint can never achieve. It invokes the feeling of dappled light and the many shades of green in a forest (2). I loved the texture and movement on the walls. It felt timeless to me and made me wonder who and how they achieved this feeling.
​
After studying clay and lime plaster techniques over the course of a couple years (3), I returned to San Francisco and applied my skills to fine plaster work for modern homes from eco-mansions to yurts in and around the Bay Area. As I run my hand across the completed walls, the plastering and curing process reveals a character that is innate to the material. It never ceases to move me. I can see why clay and lime plasters have been used for centuries (4). In addition to being more beautiful, they are more sustainable, and durable than most paints and completely non-toxic..
After recently moving to a community outside of Bellingham, WA (5) with my husband and two-year old daughter, the plaster work has called me back. As a mother of a toddler, I am grateful to have the time to work in my studio and with my clients. I have a limited number of slots left in my calendar for the remainder of this year and expect next year’s calendar to fill up quickly.
Contact me if you would like to explore working together.
Whether it's a bedroom, fireplace, accent wall, or whole house, let’s work together to bring that space to life.
​
​
(1) A Pattern Language, Christopher Alexander.
(2) Immerse Yourself in a Forest for Better Health, Department of Environmental Conservation, New York State
(3) I spent a year as an apprentice at Rancho Mastatal Sustainability Center, Costa Rica and studied with Robin Nunes and Nic Donati, as well as the Bill, Athena and Benito Steen from The Canelo Project in Arizona.
(4) The traditional use of earthen plasters are found on every continent and date back thousands of years. Some notable examples of societies that have used these techniques for centuries are the Italians, Japanese, and the ancient Egyptian people.
(5) Van Zandt, WA is just off the Mt Baker Highway near Deming.