Merlyn feels fortunate to live and work in California's Monterey Bay area. She enjoys the endless opportunities for artistic expression, the richness of daily life in a temperate climate, and the variety of activities that living near the ocean offers. Over the years, she has expressed her art in various media - collage, mixed media and acrylics. Styles as well as media have evolved- from abstraction to expressionism and impressionism. For many years she signed her work "Merlyn Aronovici" until taking the name of her second husband - "Moreno."

The artist earned a degree in Fine Arts from Scripps College of the Claremont Colleges in Southern California, with additional courses at Chouinard Art Institute in Los Angeles (CAL ARTS) and the University of California, Santa Cruz. Her studies included work with prominent California artists Phil Dike, Jean Ames, David Scott, Phil Paradise and Richards Ruben.

Merlyn's paintings have been exhibited in solo and group shows statewide and in galleries throughout the Northwest. Among her awards is a listing in Outstanding Young Women of America as an artist/designer. At Scripps College, Merlyn received the Senior Design Award, an emphasis she has continued in her work as an artist. She was a designer of silk screened greeting cards with Running Studio of California for over twenty years. More recent design work includes "wearable art" - sportswear and accessories - by Merlyn Moreno Designs.

Monterey Bay area exhibitions include one-woman shows at local business venues, athletic clubs, and group shows at the Santa Cruz Art League. Included among her past solo shows are UCSC's Stevenson College, the Chaminade Artist's Series, Santa Cruz County Government Center and Michael's On Main. Recent Gallery affiliations include Graphic Traffic of Carmel and Stiles & Strong Gallery of Capitola.

Besides art, Merlyn's interests include music, photography and tennis. Her three grown children are all involved in the arts - teachers, musicians, performers. A love of the game of tennis (she was manager of a local tennis club for several years in the 'eighties, and designer of the first CAL OPEN tennis poster) is a perfect compliment to the more introspective activity of painting. Other interests which enhance the artist's affinity for the world of landscape, are traveling and photography.