Biography
Marianne Rose Bickett is a retired teacher, who expresses her love of nature through writing and art. She graduated from the University of Illinois in 1986 with a Master’s Degree in Art Education. Marianne has taught everything from preschool through college during her 40 years as a teacher. Marianne’s emphasis has always been on connections to nature and across the curriculum learning experiences, emphasizing art, math, science, and music. Exploring the world through a multi-sensory approach is also a vital part of Marianne’s approach to teaching, learning, and living.
Married to composer Brian Belét, Marianne cherishes her son, Jacques, his wife Irish, and two young grandchildren, dividing her time between the mainland and Hawai'i to be with family. She also enjoys helping her sister, Jane, on her Begin Again Ranch caring for all creatures great and small.
Her many interests include meditation, yoga, music, long walks, poetry, art making, and advocating for the environment and for animal welfare.
Photo of the author by Kerry McFarland of Earthdarling Portraits taken at the Tualatin River Wildlife Refuge, Oregon.
Current events!
Enjoy my new (May '23) Youtube video, Love is Where We Are, along with my Owl Poem (listed below)!
Exciting News! Ever since I can remember, I've wanted to write children's stories. I am a new member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators and have been working on several books during the past year that I hope to publish soon. My children's stories focus on connecting with nature, well-being, and other adventures. Stay tuned!
Look for my monthly column in the Sherwood Gazette beginning in March, 2023! "Things To Do" is about making connections with our beautiful environment with suggestions of great places to immerse into the rich and beautiful great Northwest forests and your own backyard. In the Art and Nature Connections tab, you'll find extensions of my articles with resources and more!
Congratulations to my beloved partner, Brian Bélet, who you can find on Youtube. View the score and listen to the complete orchestral performance of Fantasia: Nocturne as well as other compositions. Well done!
My true story, Owl's Rest: Encountering the Wild Where You Are, is now published as of February 23, 2023 in the Millennium Alliance for Humanity and the Biosphere. There is a Resource page and forms regarding how to find your special "wild place" under the next tab labeled "Books/Publications."
You can find my poem, "Wild, I" on this Youtube video link.
Visit the Arts and Nature Connections tab to learn about lichen printmaking, the Verdancy Seed Project, and more!! In the Art Gallery tab, you will find information about our Bug Inn we created as part of the November WNFE Art Call!
"Summer Tide", a poem I wrote about summer months, is featured in the September 2022 Millennium Alliance for Humanity and the Biosphere newsletter.
Visit PositiveNeuroplasticity.com and go to the Learning page where you can scroll down to find my image of the HEAL process from Dr. Rick Hanson's book, Neuro Dharma. I highly recommend Dr. Hanson's book based on Buddhist principals and neuroscience for a healthy brain and a more satisfied life! Dr. Hanson hosts a regular Wednesday evening meditation and talk session every week. Learn more by visiting his website!
My poem, "For Jacques" was selected by the Oregon Poetry Association for 2nd place Honorable Mention for the Spring 2022 Poetry Contest! Thank you, Jacques, for being my inspiration!
THE BIG NEWS!!!: Art á la Cart: Memoir of a Wayfaring Art Teacher is NOW available!! Yay!!! Please go to the Books/Publications Tab and you'll find links to purchase!
Thank you!!!
Kona Stories Bookstore featured my memoir on March 5 on their website, check it out!
We Did It!! Yay!!
Brian and I are delighted to be the second yard in our city to be certified (Silver Level) by the Audubon Society as a Backyard Habitat!! October, 2022.
It took a year to remove invasive and non-native plants and replace them with natives along with creating a more accessible space for wildlife to thrive. Check out the link to learn more!! You can contact the Audubon Society nearest to your community to find out how you can create a diverse and healthy yard that is friendly to pollinators, birds, and helpful insects!! Thanks to Brian for all his hard work at digging holes!! Our yard is a work in progress as we strive to make it people, animal, and bug friendly!
More About Me
My Beloved Partner and Family
My Beloved Partner and Family
My Beloved Partner and Family
Through the years my husband, Brian Belét has been my guiding light, my anchor, and my dearest friend. We enjoy singing folksongs, going on long walks, traveling, collaborating on art and music projects, giving each other feedback and support, and sharing our wonderful grandchildren.
Thank you, Brian, for sharing this journey with me.
We a
Through the years my husband, Brian Belét has been my guiding light, my anchor, and my dearest friend. We enjoy singing folksongs, going on long walks, traveling, collaborating on art and music projects, giving each other feedback and support, and sharing our wonderful grandchildren.
Thank you, Brian, for sharing this journey with me.
We are very proud of our son, Jacques, as a parent now of two young children and for his courage in facing life's challenges, especially during the pandemic. Hurray for Irish, his lovely wife, for completing a course in web design while working full-time and being a great mommy! They are pictured below with my sister, Jane, who is a wonderful "Auntie Train!" Aloha!!
Above photo of Brian and Marianne by Earthdarling Portraits of Sherwood, OR.
My Community
My Beloved Partner and Family
My Beloved Partner and Family
Marianne acknowledges that the Hawaiian islands are unceded land of the Native Hawaiian people and that the Willamette Valley is unceded land of the Kalapuyan people of Oregon.
I am a member of various organizations protecting the environment and animals, such as the Defenders of Wildlife, Oregon Wild, SEE Turtles, Oregon Humane Society,
Marianne acknowledges that the Hawaiian islands are unceded land of the Native Hawaiian people and that the Willamette Valley is unceded land of the Kalapuyan people of Oregon.
I am a member of various organizations protecting the environment and animals, such as the Defenders of Wildlife, Oregon Wild, SEE Turtles, Oregon Humane Society, the Center for Biologicaldiversity and the Orca Conservancy.
Join My Journey
My Beloved Partner and Family
Join My Journey
Visit @MarianneBickett
on Instagram and follow me as I share inspiration, art, nature, poetry, and special moments!
Also...
Please sign up for my quarterly newsletter on Home page!
Visit Global Compassion Coalition to learn how you can become part of a new movement about cultivating compassion worldwide!!
Join the Deep Transformation network f
Visit @MarianneBickett
on Instagram and follow me as I share inspiration, art, nature, poetry, and special moments!
Also...
Please sign up for my quarterly newsletter on Home page!
Visit Global Compassion Coalition to learn how you can become part of a new movement about cultivating compassion worldwide!!
Join the Deep Transformation network for stimulating discussions and presentations by artists concerning how we can promote positive changes in addressing our climate crisis and how to unite people with meaningful art images, words, and music.