Blog
Commissioned painting
Looking for a unique abstract painting that went with their decor, taste, and specific dimensions on their living room wall, an Austin couple commissioned me to paint this large 36" high x 60" wide acrylic painting on gallery-wrap canvas. They enjoyed seeing this painting progress at its different stages - viewing it in my studio, on their wall, and even out on my dock one evening!
Martha's painting in North Hills Gallery's Permanent Collection
My watercolor painting Guadalajara Mariachis was purchased as an award by the North Hills Gallery in Austin, Texas in 2007. See this painting and the exhibit which includes the seven Artists of the Permanent Collection Aug. 1 through Sept. 2, 2013.
Painting on location at Zilker Botanical Garden
July 18, 2013 I spent a delightful morning painting on location at the Zilker Botanical Garden near downtown Austin, Texas.
Above is the beginning of my acrylic painting of a gnarly rooted cypress tree with a Japanese pond in the background.
In this photo above you can see my building of color.
I like to glaze pigments on top of each other to create more exciting colors and depth.
I work on a very lightweight and portable Sun-Eden easel that has a nice shelf for holding my palette, brushes, water and paper towels. The adapter holding my canvas can be tilted if I want to work more flat or more upright.
Cypress Tree at Zilker Park, Austin, TX, Acrylic, 9"H x 12"W, $100
Signing Murals in Tucson, Arizona
I traveled to Tucson, Arizona to sign seven surviving murals out of nineteen that I painted in the Tanque Verde Elementary School Library in 1992 and 1993. They were cut out of the wall board when the old school was demolished two years ago. On May 9, 2013 I met with Doug Price, the Tanque Verde School District Superintendent, signed the murals, and visited the new school where I was able to see teachers and staff I knew. Originally I painted a large 6' x 6' mural for the story time area of the library. This mural was so well received that I continued painting a border around the room with smaller vignettes inspired by popular children's books and finished it with a "state" mural depicting the Arizona state flag, seal, bird, tree, flower, and the US flag and eagle. One thing led to another and soon I was re-designing the floor plan for the library, designed T-shirts with a lizard mascot design won by one of the students which we sold to raise money to pay for the materials for parent Ron Lowery to build from Martha's specifications all new book shelves and a circulation desk. Unfortunately in time it was decided the old school needed to be demolished and replaced for up-to-date buildings for the district. The location for the old school is now a new middle school, district office and Lew Sorensen Arts Center. The new Tanque Verde Elementary School is re-built further down the road.
My sincere gratitude goes out to all the students and staff at Tanque Verde Elementary School and district who helped me in the inspiration and production of these murals, and who supported their preservation. I want to thank Garv Larson, a former teacher who photographed all the murals and had two enlarged prints made and framed by the Gaslight Print Shop of the original 6' x 6' story time area mural and the state mural. I am very honored that these now grace the walls of the new library with a plaque with my name and Garv's. I hope someday that the surviving seven murals can be framed and hung somewhere appropriate in the district to continue to inspire the children with the love of books.
Painting Rain
In this photo I am finishing my acrylic abstract painting Rain, 30"H x 40"W on gallery-wrap canvas. It will be exhibited in Capitol Art Society's new venue beginning April 30 - July 28, 2013 at Beauty Store Salon & Spa in northwest Austin.
San Antonio, Texas Painting Trip
Welcome to my newly re-built Web Site and Blog! A huge thank you to my daughter Kate for building it and teaching me how to use it and get it launched! April 10 - 12, 2013 I enjoyed an inspirational painting trip with three art friends to San Antonio, Texas to paint the four historic missions and scenic, touristy RiverWalk on location. Below is a photo of me painting Mission Espada and four of my paintings from the trip!
Mission Espada, Acrylic on location, Image 8”H x 10”W Rear View of Mission Conception, Acrylic on location, Image & Frame 9”H x 12”W Bridge over the RiverWalk, San Antonio, Texas, Watercolor on location, Image 6”H x 9”W Umbrellas on the RiverWalk, San Antonio, Texas, Watercolor on location, Image 5 3/4”H x 9”W
Martha painting Mission Espada on location
Mission Espada
Rear View of Mission Conception
Bridge over RiverWalk San Antonio, Texas
Umbrellas at RiverWalk, San Antonio, Texas
Newspaper article about one-woman show
My still life paintings were featured in a one-woman show at the Lakeway, Texas City Hall. This is an article in the Lake Travis View newspaper on August 19, 2010.
Historical Montage commission for hotel lobby
I was commissioned to research and paint a montage of the history of Seguin, Texas for the new Holiday Inn Express lobby in Seguin, Texas in November 2008. It is located at 2801 Jay Road, Seguin, Texas 78155. The focal point is Colonel Juan N. Seguin who helped lead Texas's struggle for independence against Mexico. Seguin, Texas is rich in history and charm, with a blending of a multi-cultural past progressing towards the future. This painting travels the journey of the Texas Rangers founding of the community along the Guadalupe River, through the influx of new arrivals on popular stagecoach and train routes, to residents finding prosperity and home through the rich land and innovative ideas.