For Mariah McDaniel, art has always been more than just an act of creation. It is a deeply personal dialogue between memory, nature and meaning. Her journey as an artist began in the warmth of her grandmother’s home, where paints and fabric scraps lived side by side with patience and love. From painting oyster shells to designing handpainted tote bags for family vacations, those formative years instilled in her a sense of wonder and care that now echoes throughout her intricate resin and botanical preservation work.
“My maternal grandmother was incredibly creative,” Mariah shares. “She gave me the kind of gentle encouragement that made me feel like anything I made had value.” Whether they were painting velvet fabric sheets or sewing together, creativity was a shared ritual, a kind of sacred inheritance that would later shape Mariah’s artistic path in unexpected ways.
Though her early years were filled with craft and color, it was not until a ukulele-building collaboration with a luthier friend that her fascination with resin truly took root. Wanting to embed real flowers and four-leaf clovers into the instrument’s rosette, Mariah began experimenting with epoxy resin, a process that sparked an entirely new direction in her work. “That project got me so inspired that I paused work on the ukulele altogether,” she laughs. “My mind was spinning with all the ways I could use preserved plants in my art.”
Since late 2019, Mariah has immersed herself in resin work, blending pressed botanicals, natural elements like semi-precious stones and metal findings into one-of-a-kind jewelry, accessories and keepsakes. Her studio, a calm and meticulous space, is lined with shallow bins of flowers in various stages of preservation, stacks of thrifted books hiding pressed blooms between parchment and all the tools of the trade from jeweler’s saws to PPE gear. “Safety is a big part of my routine,” she explains, noting the care needed to work with resin and silica.
Each day in the studio begins with checking on pieces left to cure and setting up for the day’s tasks, whether that is crafting new resin blocks for bouquet preservation, shaping embellishments or drying a client’s fresh flowers. Podcasts and audiobooks on psychology, astrology and spirituality often fill the air, offering inspiration as she works.
Mariah’s pieces are deeply intuitive. While commissioned work follows a more structured plan, her personal creations often evolve in the moment. “There’s a lot of unpredictability when working with resin and botanicals,” she says. “No two flowers behave exactly the same which can be frustrating but also magical. Nature always has the final word.”
Themes of memory, emotion and connection run through all of Mariah’s work. Whether preserving a wedding bouquet or crafting a unique piece of jewelry, she approaches each project with reverence. “It’s a privilege to be trusted with something so meaningful,” she reflects. Her love for timeless fashion and interest in human stories, how people live, love and find meaning, find quiet expression in the work she creates.
Mariah’s personal history also deeply informs her work. That early connection to handmade keepsakes explains her passion for preserving meaningful objects in resin. “It’s a way of honoring memory and emotion through art which makes the process feel very personal.” She often finds inspiration in everything from the shape of Victorian-era jewelry to abstract combinations of colors that simply resonate with her spirit.
Right now, Mariah is especially excited about her “spills” – organically shaped resin sheets that serve as coasters, wall hangings or table runners. “They take on a life of their own,” she says, noting how she has them placed throughout her home. She is also looking forward to some upcoming pop-up shops this summer and is currently crafting a special necklace for a friend, something she calls “one of my favorite ways to create.”
When asked about success, Mariah speaks not of accolades or sales, though those matter, too, but of flow. “When I’m really in it, completely focused and centered, that’s when I feel successful,” she says. “It feeds my well being and keeps me grounded.”
To young artists, she offers a piece of hard won wisdom: “Try everything that excites you. Don’t let your inner critic or anyone else limit what you explore. Inspiration is part of a bigger exchange. We’re always borrowing and giving back to the creative energy around us.”
It’s that deep connection to nature, to people and to the creative process that makes Mariah’s work not just beautiful but soulfully resonant, as well. In every preserved petal and shimmering resin curve, there is memory, intention and the quiet artistry of someone who sees and honors the small, sacred details of life.
Discover more by visiting gemineyeofthetiger.com or by following on Instagram and Facebook at @gemineyeofthetiger.
Looking ahead: This August, we’re thrilled to spotlight another remarkable young artist who’s making a lasting impact in our community. Nadia Meadows brings a powerful, fresh voice to the local art scene with work that challenges perceptions, inspires hearts and fosters connection. She’ll be featured in next month’s Art in Motion column – an artist you definitely won’t want to miss.
