Marian Lester

Her nickname was Mriga. She studied art at the Theosophical Institute in Point Loma, California and was involved in Theosophy along with her father and brother. She worked for San Diego photographer, Carl O. Retsloff, retouching photographs.

Marian Plummer Lester*

b. Tacoma, Washington May 16, 1893

Marian Plummer arrived at Point Loma with her family in 1903. She showed an interest in art at an early age and worked in a variety of media. Her oil paintings exhibit a great vibrancy of color. She taught herself batik and produced some outstanding examples as well as teaching others the process. Other types of craft-work interested her including decorative gesso panels and small highly detailed paintings of Buddha on wooden and metal plaques. Her flair for drama produced some memorable performances according to those who were fortunate enough to witness them. When Leonard Lester settled on Point Loma in the late teens, they met and were eventually married on January 3, 1931. During the Depression, she helped make illustrations and dioramas for the W.P.A. She lived with her husband in the mountains near Alpine after their marriage and then moved with him to Grossmont where they had a studio in the 1940s. After his death she moved to Pacific Beach, continuing to paint.