Maran studied together with Peeter Ulas [et], Herald Eelma [et], Heldur Laretei [et] and Silvia Liiberg [et], who later become his wife.
He was then inspired by Herbert Read’s book „Modern Art“, that had been published before World War II and an article by Ilmar Laaban in the journal „Estonian Youth“.
His motifs have been taken from the less representative areas, especially these from the beginning of 1960s, when he lived close to Paper Mill and painted the factory itself and the surrounding neighborhood.
These “Severe Style” paintings express the characteristics of that time period: the gloominess and bleakness,[4] propensity to avoid capturing the beautiful and idyllic (“Autumn Sun” 1961, “Winter Townscape” 1962).
From that period he has mainly depicted realistic landscapes, flowers - amaryllises, lilies, peonies and still lifes in the style of old old masters.
In his ascetic nature paintings, artist is realizing his philosophical aspiration to show the great through small and complexed through ordinary.