inspiration

Inspiration comes from everywhere: books, museums, travel, gardens, music, poetry. But it is not just having all these resources as references. I think artists see things that "stick out" and look new or out of context. Things that make you laugh, the way light changes a landscape, how your cat is sitting on a chair–the quirkiness of life and the beauty. Some of the most exciting art and design comes from putting things together that don't seem to belong together. Inspiration comes from new technology or a new technique. It comes when an idea is not working but you keep on pushing until it comes to life.

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experience

Maret was raised in Europe from the age of 9, returning to the United States for college, and graduating from the University of Pennsylvania (summa cum laude) with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. After college, she worked in Germany for two years as a graphic artist before returning to the states. She lived in Montana, Michigan, New York City and Minneapolis before meeting her husband, artist Tom Paiement, and settling in Maine. In the late 1980's, Maret started hand painting T-shirts and selling them at craft fairs. Each shirt had a different design painted directly on to it with brushes and fabric paint. It created her initial style, full of splatters and drips, and taught her never to be afraid of the blank, white surface or of making mistakes. After one of her sisters encouraged her to photograph the shirts, Maret started showing the designs to perspective companies and her first license was with L.L. Bean down the road in Maine.

In 1992 Maret started displaying her work at Surtex. Her lively, free style attracted a host of companies and she has been designing and painting ever since.