The paintings of artist Marilyn Carter Rougelot may be best described as traditional in style, that is, they are highly painterly with recognizable imagery. While principally a portraitist, Marilyn Rougelot has also been successful as a muralist. In addition to those murals painted in the homes of patrons both on the Northshore and New Orleans, she has completed mural-sized paintings for the main dining room of Commander's Palace Restaurant and for the second floor dining space at the Palace Café, both in New Orleans. For those of the Palace Café, she incorporated the portraits of more than thirty-five jazz and musical greats who are native to New Orleans.
In addition to painting the portraits of distinguished individuals including the recently retired dean of Tulane University School of Medicine, Dr. Neal A. Vanselow; the late Dr. Blackwell B. Evans, Sr., the former dean of Tulane's School of Urology; and the third abbot of the Benedictine Monastery St. Joseph Abbey, Father David Melancon, OSB; she has also illustrated six books. The artist feels that illustration is a natural adjunct to portraiture and mural painting since all three use recognizable imagery to communicate the message and information to the viewer. Marilyn Rougelot is a native New Orleanian and has lived in Covington for nearly twenty years. She received her degree in art from St. Mary Dominican College, where she studied under internationally recognized sculptress, Angela Gregory. Prior to that, she studied art in the Vieux Carré, the University of Colorado, and at the University of Southwestern Louisiana. The artist maintains her own private studio in Covington and while not working on the high-profile pieces, she keeps busy with her new work, pushing herself into unexplored areas through challenging subject matter. |