Marín-Carle was born in New York City. He and his family subsequently moved to Puerto Rico where Marín-Carle studied art at t he Instituto de Cultura de Puerto Rico, Escuela de Artes Plasticas. During this period he was highly influenced by his father, Augusto Marín, who was also his teacher for a time at the above-mentioned school. His close relationship with his father also played an important role in the growth of his own love for art.
His young adulthood began with a tour of duty in the Army, serving in the Vietnam War. Upon return from the military, he earned his BFA at Wayne State University in Detroit, continuing on into graduate study at Notre Dame in South Bend.
After finishing his MFA (thesis titled Freedom Within Boundaries), Marín-Carle embarked on an artistic journey typical of a recently graduated student while also beginning his career as a professor at Ball State University. Influenced by artists such as Arshil Gorkey, Jackson Pollock, Mark Tobey and Augusto Marín (his father) his work turned in the direction of Abstract Expressionism.