Meet The Artist

“I say, there's only one rule in ART, to be Creative!" © ~MDR

Born on May 20, 1976, in Indianapolis, Indiana, Marvin D. Rouse first recognized his interest in colors and was inspired by his Uncle’s quick sketch of a race car to be creative, and he began drawing at the age of five. By twelve years old, he is excelling in art at his school, employing his skills as a young entrepreneur selling his art on t-shirts and jean jackets. In 1995, he started his business at eighteen years old, providing local Indianapolis homeowners and businesses with his artistic design services. He completed everything from album covers to large-scale murals, including his young clothing line, Rouse, which had become a real, local success.

In May of 1998, Rouse relocated from Indianapolis to Naples, FL, with a dream to further his career as an artist. An opportunity came about during spring break with his girlfriend, now wife, in the Spring of 1998, when they decided to move in 3 weeks from Indianapolis to Naples, FL. Upon moving, he established his business as Rouse Designs, LLC, providing the community with a creative service built mostly through word of mouth. Now, 25 years later, the artist has a growing presence and creative demand in Naples.

His art is about love and emotions expressed through color and thought-provoking images to encourage happiness and joy, expressing what we share above pain and sorrow. He is a gifted artist with raw talent, as shown in his signature style, which is present primarily in his abstract works. He is creatively prolific, commissioned to paint everything from pets to exotic cars. In 2018, he held successful exhibitions in downtown Naples with the NAA “Dinner with Artists”, selling several pieces during this live painting event.

Rouse also created and displayed several Large Works at the inaugural Naples Art Association’s “Scene to be Seen’’ show at Naples Volvo in November of 2017. In January of 2017, Rouse was one of the artists invited to paint a mural on Naples Developer Phil McCabe’s construction wall on 5th Ave that was up for 18 months for the visitors and community to enjoy! His large portion of the wall is now on display at his private studio, where you can book a private tour of his latest works.

Naples-based Rouse Designs, LLC has supported multiple local organizations of Collier County through his gift and inspiration for the arts. They include Greater Naples YMCA, Child’s Path, M.S.Centers of South West FL, Special Olympics, Naples Art, Naples Zoo, C’Mon Children’s Museum, and Legal Aid of South West Florida.

Rouse has been a part of Naples since 1998 and continues to provide creative support. His generosity with his time and creativity to the public has genuinely offered a positive presence and history.

He is genuinely earning the positive impact we have found recognizable in the community through his art and power to build purposeful and prosperous relationships. He says, “ It’s all we have. Relationships and how we see our community at large become our gifts to use to the fullest to share and enjoy!

Now Rouse lives his dream with his wife and three kids, loving his life and spreading his gifts, having his paintings collected, commissioned, and displayed in some of the most prestigious Law Firms, Doctors’ Offices, and homes in Naples. A large portion of his art is on display at a Private Studio where you view his large-scale works and sculptures. Feel free to contact us for a private tour of our state-of-the-art studio and experience some of his greatest works.

The Incredible Journey of Artist, Marvin D. Rouse

Art is a creative gift. It gives a person the chance to express what they feel – and then to transform that feeling – that vision – into reality through design. Some realize their gift from an early age. Such was the case with Marvin D. Rouse, a Southwest Florida artist, and entrepreneur who is making his mark worldwide through several mediums that all have one thing in common – Art. Marvin was born and raised in Indianapolis, Indiana, the second of five children. He and his brothers and sisters were brought up by a single parent – his mother – who worked extremely hard to provide for the family of six. But it was his mother's work ethic and determination to succeed that allowed Rouse not only to dream – but to imagine big. It was at the age of five that Rouse first realized his love for art. His Uncle inspired him as he showed his young nephew how to draw a car out of a stretched circle and a couple of wheels. From that experience, Marvin began coloring and doing abstracts with crayons. Since then, a drawing instrument has never left his hand. His dream of making a living from his artistic talent came very early in life. At the age of nine, Rouse told his siblings that he was going to own his own business one day – a business as an Artist that would allow him to support his own family and provide them with the things he could only dream of as a child.

That bold statement began to take root before Marvin even left his teenage years. It all started when through his 1st mentor company, Puffer PC would commission Marvin to create an underwater-themed mural on the campus of Indiana University. The success of that endeavor lead the owner of Planet Pizza to hire young Rouse to turn the bland walls inside his restaurant into a star-filled, planet-filled galaxy. When the same owner opened a second location, Marvin was hired once again. But this time, the planets would glow thanks to the use of special paint, fiber-optics, and black lights. Those three jobs became the foundation for Rouse Designs. In 1998, Marvin moved from Indianapolis to Naples, Florida, which was a part of his childhood dream to live on a beach with palm trees. He continued to focus on creating murals, many with a tropical flair. In May of 2000, the faux finish and mural work he did in a client's home was recognized in a feature story that appeared in the Sunday section of the Naples Daily News. The publicity helped propel Rouse Designs into the spotlight – and business boomed. Since that fateful Sunday, Marvin has completed hundreds of commercial and residential projects throughout Southwest Florida and in various cities up and down the Florida coast and out-of-state. As fulfilling as creating wall and ceiling murals, faux finishes, oil paintings, and trompe l'oeil designs were, Marvin had visions of people embracing his creative soul. Not only could he see their faces – he knew he had to draw them. And draw he did.

After bringing a number of these soulful images to life, Marvin decided to share them with others. He did just that by starting Rouse Wear – a clothing line, starting with T-shirts that had his artful facial images printed on them. Almost immediately, they began to fly off the proverbial "website" shelf and several boutique clothing stores throughout the states. He is ultimately working to open his retail storefront in Naples Fl, where the Artist is based. From his earliest memories, selling his first shirt with his art at 12, Marvin knew what he wanted to become – an artist of substance. And Marvin never had a doubt his dream would come true or that his passion for creativity would fail to find new channels. That's because his art-filled life's journey has been a blessing. Or, as he calls it, "A gift from God." This spiritual connection is evident in Marvin's first company logo. The design of the "R" in or near Rouse was created with what appears to be a small letter "i" with a capital "Z" immediately to its right. But, if one looks closely, one would see what appears to be a person kneeling and praying. As Marvin often says, "Art is just not seen – it's felt." Perhaps nowhere is that truer than in one's heart – and in one's soul.

Written By: Duane Sulk