Meet the facilitator
Mari Marincowitz
I’m Mari Marincowitz, a South African Visual Arts and Design educator with a deep belief in art as a tool for self-discovery and storytelling.
My background spans fine art, information design, illustration, and advertising, alongside more than fifteen years of teaching Art and Design internationally within IB and Cambridge school systems in India and China.
At The Art Story, my role is not to instruct from above, but to guide from alongside. I create a clear structure so that students feel safe enough to experiment, take risks, and trust their own instincts.
“Art, like trail running, has taught me patience, awareness, and resilience.”
Values
The Art Story is guided by five core values:
- Safety
- Curiosity
- Presence
- Experimentation
- Respect for individual process
These values shape how classes are structured, how feedback is given, and how each student’s journey is honoured.
Credentials
IB Visual Arts Senior Examiner – worldwide (2015-present)
Master of Education (University of Southern Queensland, Australia) 2015
Postgraduate Certificate of Education (University of Southern Queensland, Australia) 2013
BA (Fine Arts) Illustration & Creative Writing Hons Cum Laude (Stellenbosch University) 2004
BA (Fine Arts) Information Design Hons. (University of Pretoria) 1999
Why the Art Story exists
Space to slow down. To explore. To reconnect with yourself through making.
Art here is not about proving skill or producing results. It is about listening, noticing, and responding. This studio was created as a calm, non-judgemental environment where creativity can unfold naturally, without pressure or performance.
“I was a novice painter pursuing a new hobby when I enrolled for Mari’s classes, and left feeling like a real artist! Her guidance, from basic concepts to advanced painting techniques, took each participant’s skills level and individual progress into account. Thanks Mari, I really enjoyed the journey with you.”
– Elize de Villiers –
Community
Small groups matter.
They allow for depth, individual attention, and genuine connection.
They create a sense of belonging rather than competition.
The Art Story is intentionally local, rooted in the Somerset West community, and designed to grow through relationships rather than scale.
“These classes are not only about technique. They take you on a personal journey. My understanding of colour has completely changed. I no longer see colour as flat or simple. I learned how many layers and variations exist within a single colour. Learning how to mix and build specific shades opened my eyes and stretched my thinking.”
– Mandie Smit –
Get in Touch
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