Local artist creates pictures with words
The Woodlands local Marlo Saucedo says she has been an artist all her life. She originally did sculptures but opted to build her business on portraits. She created the first piece in her current style of constructing pictures from words in 1995 with a portrait of cars moving across the Brooklyn Bridge out of lyrics from early 1990s songs.
The Woodlands local Marlo Saucedo says she has been an artist all her life. She originally did sculptures but opted to build her business on portraits. She created the first piece in her current style of constructing pictures from words in 1995 with a portrait of cars moving across the Brooklyn Bridge out of lyrics from early 1990s songs.
Saucedo says she’s enjoys research and has spent time as a writer, which is reflected in her versatile style that combines her love of art and writing in each of her unique pieces.
“I’m able to get two very big interests of mine taken care of in one piece. The process of creation with the research and writing,” Saucedo said. “I think every artist changes and morphs over their career and so this is where my career is right now. It’s very, very satisfying for me in [the] way of doing art.”
Inspiration comes from a variety of sources for Sauced, who said anything from a quote on television that catches her attention to the area she lives in could be included in her next work.
Past pieces have been based upon the Houston library, downtown Houston and loblolly pines here in The Woodlands. A more recent piece of a bee was created from the names of flowers, foods and plants pollinated by bees.
“It’s almost like where don’t I draw my inspiration from,” Saucedo said.
The artist grew up in Houston from the age of 1 in the Briargrove and Tanglewood neighborhoods. She recalled how she would ride bicycles and go swimming with her sister. Saucedo attended Episcopal High School and obtained a Bachelor’s degree in psychology from Davidson College. She then went on to get a Master’s degree in business from the University of Texas in Austin.
Saucedo has been married to her husband, who is originally from New Mexico, for 18 years. They moved to The Woodlands with their two sons in 2007 after she said the family was priced out of Houston. The two boys each attend public schools in The Woodlands. Saucedo said her 14-year-old is a Level 9 gymnast, and the couple’s 11-year-old is more artistic—like her—and makes origami pieces.
Being able to give her children the opportunities she had as a child is a source of happiness and joy, she said.
“We’re giving our kids the same kind of upbringing that I was able to have. The free—you know—ride your bike by yourself, go down to the park, walk to school,” she said.
Saucedo added that her husband is very much involved in raising their sons. They both work from home, which helps create a balance between work and family life, she added. To learn more about Saucedo and see examples of her art, visit marlosaucedo.com.