Marvin Ellis Reif was born in Oakland, California. He started painting at eleven years old when his birdwatching father gave him pencils and paper to copy pictures from his bird books. For the next 55 years, Marv pursued life as an artist.

 

Marv is one of the few artists who renders paintings of wildlife, landscapes, and portraiture with equal skill. As you will see in oil paintings, Marv is well-studied in the J.C. Leyendecker/Norman Rockwell style. In watercolors, you will discover Marv's waterfowl and birds depicted with a spirited style that is all his own. Before becoming a fine artist, Marv worked in the field of Commercial Art, producing works for a variety of clients including Levi Strauss, Hunts, and Betty Crocker.

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When he's not painting, Marv spends his time with high school kids, coaching track and cross country, and taking kids to camp. He would tell you that "paintings are temporal, but people are eternal."

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Contact Marv if you'd like to commission a work of art or inquire about purchasing an original or print, or to discuss licensing. 

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"I hope my paintings bring a certain sense of pleasure to all who see them. Every painting has a story and is a labor of love. Here are a few of my labors." —MARVIN ELLIS REIF