Marianne Harlor is a painter who prefers to be immersed in the scene she's painting - so she paints on-site, outside.

Her work will be on display inside Federal Way City Hall through July 15 as part of a rotating art exhibit sponsored by the Federal Way Arts Commission.

Harlor, a Northeast Tacoma resident, paints with mostly oil and watercolor. She most often paints in the outdoors, a form of painting called, "plein-air," a French expression which means "in the open air." She's painted outdoors and captured scenes from all over the world, including Mexico, Guatemala and Europe.

When she can't paint on-site, she takes photos of scenes and paints them in her studio.

"After so many years of painting outdoors I visualize myself there," said Harlor about her art.

"Painting is something you can pursue at any age. It is forever exciting and makes one so much more aware of things around them, mainly light and color."

As a signature member of the Northwest Watercolor Society, Harlor has received many awards for her work.

She taught oil painting for 13 years at the Auburn Senior Center and held two terms on the Auburn Arts Commission.

Her artwork has been displayed at local art shows, street fairs and for at least the last five years, at the Federal Way Fusion Art and Gift Show.

Harlor graduated with a Bachelors of Arts from the University of Minnesota, Duluth.

She has since studied with many well-known artists. She's lived in Nebraska, Illinois, Oregon and Auburn before settling just over the border in Tacoma.

City Hall is located at 33325 8th Ave S. The gallery is open to the public 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays.