Marlena Hebenstreit may come from a family of artists, but her work captures a vision entirely her own. A fourth-generation Cincinnatian and professional portrait painter for more than 25 years, Marlena creates luminous oil portraits designed to preserve not only a likeness, but the character, relationships and presence of the people she paints.
Marlena grew up in a family of painters. Her mother is a portrait painter, while her father painted landscapes—both en plein air and in the studio—as well as still life. From an early age, her parents encouraged her to study the Old Masters, whose work became an essential guide to drawing, composition and classical painting techniques.
Growing up in an artistic family taught Marlena to look closely at people - not only at their features, but at their expressions, body language and relationships with one another. That ability to observe, along with her genuine affection for people, remains at the heart of her portrait work.
“I truly love getting to know people and discovering the qualities that make them who they are,” Marlena says. “With children especially, I want them to feel comfortable enough to simply be themselves. Families are trusting me with something deeply personal, and I want them to feel listened to, cared for and involved throughout the experience.”
Marlena prioritizes trust as the first step in her process. Each commission starts by spending time with her subjects and learning what matters most to them. When painting children, she prefers a relaxed setting where their personalities can emerge naturally. She studies expression, posture, movement and the subtle ways family members interact.
“Children are so honest. They express what they want to. They don’t cover anything up,” she says. “My goal is to create a portrait that feels true to the person and meaningful to the family. I want my clients to enjoy the process and ultimately receive a painting they love—one that becomes part of their family’s story and is passed down through generations.”
Marlena favors painting portraits of children and their beloved animals and enjoys depicting the quiet connection between them. She also paints adults, couples and families, devoting the same attention to emotional authenticity for all of her work.
After completing a photography session, Marlena begins a full-size preliminary painting in brown and white. Using the traditional chiaroscuro method, she develops the composition, establishes the arrangement of the figures and determines the flow of light and shadow before eventually introducing color. This stage allows the client to review the composition and provide feedback before the final portrait begins.
Once she has the approval of the design, Marlena begins the finished painting on canvas and works to build it gradually, using layers of transparent glazes and opaque color. She aims to achieve a refined likeness, while also preserving vitality in the brushwork.
Marlena has spent years studying the Old Masters and other celebrated portrait painters, and she uses what she’s learned to shape her own technique. She attended the Cincinnati Academy of Design and the Art Academy of Cincinnati and has maintained a regular life-drawing practice throughout her career. Her work has been represented in galleries and exhibitions locally and nationally. Among her most meaningful accomplishments is a series of 12 portraits of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., created for the Museum of Spiritual Art, now Art Enclave.
Today, Marlena works from a studio surrounded by paintings that prioritize the preservation and essence of the people she depicts.
“A portrait should do more than show what someone looks like,” she says. “It should tell you something about who they are.”
View and commission Marlena’s stunning work online.
Marlena Hebenstreit Fine Art | 513.331.0421 | marlenapaints@icloud.com | MarlenaHebenstreit.com
"I want my clients to enjoy the process and ultimately receive a painting they love—one that becomes part of their family’s story and is passed down through generations.”