Maren

Mariano Pérez Clemente, known as MAREN, is a renowned visual artist and musician, born in Barcelona, Spain, in 1946. From a young age, his talent for drawing and painting was evident, and his lifelong fascination with the Old West began in his teenage years. He studied at the prestigious Sant Jordi School of Fine Arts in Barcelona, before transitioning into a career in music. Self-taught, he became a successful musician before shifting back to visual arts in 1979, with the support of his brother, celebrated artist Manuel Sanjulián.

Maren's artistic career took off after working for major European and American publishers, including Creepy and Dell Publishing, where he contributed to the popular romance fiction series *Candlelight*. In Italy, he became the top fantasy and sci-fi illustrator for Mondadori in the early 1990s. His versatile techniques, ranging from oils and watercolors to pastels and charcoal, led to a diverse portfolio that includes children's literature, encyclopedias, and historical books.

A defining moment in his career came when his portrait of Clint Eastwood, painted in the style of an old sepia photograph, caught the attention of writer Louis L’Amour. This led to Maren creating the cover art for L’Amour's novel *Passin' Through*, marking the start of a fruitful collaboration with top New York publishers like Bantam and HarperCollins. His work also extended to European publishers like Futura and Fontana, where he designed entire book series collections.

Maren's versatility extended beyond book covers to logo design, advertisements, and iconic illustrations for movies such as *First Blood*, *Total Recall*, *Hot Shots*, and *The Great Gatsby*. He even contributed to the design and illustrations for *Dungeons & Dragons*. In 1996, his talent was recognized when he was commissioned to paint the main cast portraits for the re-release of the *Star Wars* films.

His involvement with *Star Wars* didn’t stop there. Maren later became an official artist for George Lucas and *Star Wars* characters, showcasing his work as part of the *VISIONS* project, which toured worldwide. This prestigious role cemented his legacy in the realm of pop culture.

Throughout his career, Maren's artwork has been exhibited at major fairs, including Barcelona's Comic & Illustration Fair during its golden years. His influence extended to music as well, with him creating album cover art for soundtracks and country music icons like Kenny Rogers, Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton, and Patsy Cline.

In 2001, SQP Inc of New York published *Masquerade - The Art of Maren*, a collection of his work spanning fantasy, sci-fi, and more. A passionate lover of the Western genre, a road trip across the American West in 2002 inspired Maren to dive deeper into this theme, with his exhibitions in Europe and North America enjoying significant success.

To this day, Maren continues to balance his visual art with his musical career, where he is regarded as one of the finest lead guitarists in Europe, specializing in rhythm & blues, rock, and country music.