"Stages of the Heart", Original Mixed Media Painting by Colorado Artist, Donna L. Martin

Stages of the Heart

This is an original mixed media piece I created after going through alot of grieving, feelings of loss, and healing after the death of a dear friend. It is titled "Stages of the Heart". The first Heart is "Hopeful", in thinking about the beginning of a relationship and wondering what the future might hold. It is a red heart made of Tyvek and burlap, painted red. The second heart is "Broken", and represents what I was feeling about death and loss. It is a purple heart made of broken windshield glass. It expresses alot of emotion. The third Heart is "Healing", signifying the healing that can happen after loss. It is made of some of the broken windshield glass and bandages. The piece was finished with a resin, which gave it alot of depth and made the colors "pop".  This is a very personal piece to me and helped me to express all the various emotions that I was feeling.

The original piece is sold.  Commissions are welcome. 

For questions or comments, please feel free to contact me at: saltlightwatercolors@yahoo.com

Follow me on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/donnamartinfineart

“Beyond Words, Original Mixed Media/Assemblage Painting by Colorado Artist, Donna L. Martin

"Beyond Words"

The photo above shows the finished piece, titled "Beyond Words".  The photos below show how it started out and the progression of this piece.  I got a wild hair and decided I needed to move out of my comfort zone and use some different colors.  To tell you the truth, I almost scrapped the whole painting.  It was REALLY out of my comfort zone!

I painted with grays, burgundy, and threw in a little Van Dyke brown for good measure.  I added tissue paper, collage papers, and modeling paste with a stencil.

I began to tone it down and soften it up by adding white.  I like how the other colors and patterns still show through.  There are alot of layers going on here!  At this point, I still don't know what is happening with this piece and I'm still not real happy with it, but I'm forging on.

I used a wing stencil with some modeling paste over the top of these layers.  I painted the wings iridescent pearl.  I also collect vintage/antique pieces to use in my work, although the turquoise piece on this one is new.  I really love combining old and new.  The rusty/patina piece is an antique door plate.  I also added a skeleton key.

I'm so glad I kept pushing forward and didn't give up on this piece.  I love how it turned out.  It's symbolic for me.  It seems I can never find the words to express my emotion and how I feel.  My art seems to speak for me.  This is symbolic of all the layers and how feelings and emotions can get ugly and uncomfortable at times, especially when they are raw and unfamiliar.  There are layers of change and then the courage to take risks...exploring something new and different.  If you have the courage to push on through the pain, ugliness, and raw emotion, you may find the the beauty in the mess and find your wings!

This painting is sold, but commissions are welcome.  Please feel free to contact me at

saltlightwatercolors@yahoo.com

donnamartinfineart.com

https://www.facebook.com/donnamartinfineart/

“Transformation”, Original Mixed Media Painting by Colorado Artist, Donna L. Martin

"Transformation"

Throughout this year, there have been alot of changes and "transformations" in my life.  This painting symbolizes the changes and the beauty that can eventually come from the "mess" of life.

I started this painting, probably a good 3 years ago.  I threw paint on the canvas very randomly and then got "stuck".  I didn't know where to go with the brush strokes or what to do next.  This is how I felt also in my life.  I began to make some much needed changes and my life and this painting began to transform.  

I feel like the light is coming back into my soul. I feel like there are "possibilities" again.  I've stopped saying "NO" and have become my old gypsy soul.  So, this painting titled "Transformation" was born.

I think all of us become lost at times or stuck.  The trick is to keep on plowing through the mess and realize there is beauty at the end of the storm.

This painting is sold, but commissions are possible.  I always welcome messages with comments or questions!

saltlightwatercolors@yahoo.com

www.donnamartinfineart.com

Follow me on Facebook at

www.facebook.com/donnamartinfineart

"Beauty from the Brokenness", Original Mixed Media Painting by Colorado Artist, Donna L. Martin

"Beauty from the Brokenness"

This little painting is the newest one to be completed.  It is an original mixed media piece done with acrylics, inks, painted papers, and broken windshield glass.  

I know so many people who are having such difficulty and loss in their lives right now. This was my attempt at expressing how beauty can come after our brokenness and loss.

The size on this piee is 12 X 12.  It will be finished with resin and will be available during an online Handmade Holiday Auction I am participating in. Check it out to see the amazing artwork that will be available!

www.donnamartinfineart.com

https://www.facebook.com/donnamartinfineart/

"Colorado Autumn Aspen", Original Mixed Media Painting by Colorado Artist, Donna L. Martin

"Colorado Autumn Aspen"

This was a commissioned mixed media piece that I recently completed.  My client lives in Arizona but grew up in Monte Vista, CO.  On the bottom portion of the piece, I added pieces of a 1964 Colorado Road Map.  I placed the town of Monte Vista in the upper center portion of the map .  This made it unique and very special to my client.  The trees were constructed of paper, paint, ink, and modeling paste. The leaves were done with hand-painted paper - each one torn individually from the paper.  I loved working on this piece and the client told me she will always treasure this piece.  There is nothing more rewarding!

For questions, comments, or to commission your original piece of artwork, please contact me at:

saltlightwatercolors@yahoo.com

Follow me on Facebook at:  

facebook.com/donnamartinfineart/

www.donnamartinfineart.com

“Dreaming of a Blue Moon”, Original Mixed Media Painting by Colorado Artist, Donna L. Martin

"Dreaming of a Blue Moon"

This little piece started as a demo piece for a mixed media class I was teaching/leading (I think the students teach me as much as I do them).  I started out using acrylic paint in blues and golds.  I added stencils and texture paste to create the flowers in the background.  I still wasn't sure what my subject was going to be, but that is becoming the norm for me!

Pretty soon, I noticed some of the patterning on the piece and thought it looked like feathering and wings.  I decided to take a chance and see if an owl would come to life in this piece.  (This was the patterning I brought forward in her chest and wings)

I decided to make her look very fluffy and sleepy.  I accented her shape with a sharpie paint pen and made the branch out of painted vintage sheet music.  The leaves were made with painted rice paper.  

She is peacefully sleeping, dreaming of the blue moon!

This piece measures 12 X 12 X 1.5.  It is finished with a shiny resin coat, which really brings the colors to life.  This little owl is available and comes ready to hang.

Feel free to send me an email with any comments, questions, or if you are interested in purchasing.

saltlightwatercolors@yahoo.com

donnamartinfineart.com

Follow me on Facebook:  www.facebook.com/donnamartinfineart

"Humble Beginnings", Original Mixed Media Painting by Colorado Artist, Donna L. Martin

"Humble Beginnings"

This piece was created because of my Brother.  He's followed me along on this "journey".  He told me that I should paint "BIG".  This painting is a result of that effort!  It seemed like it took me forever.  I stressed over it, then enjoyed it, then questioned everything about it.  This is the end result. 

I thought about this painting as a "beginning" of sorts.  By that I thought about symbolizing a young couple starting their own family.  In another new beginning of sorts, It could  symbolize a new beginning as an "empty nester".  Both of those scenarios are big, huge, sometimes scary, unknown adventures.  Both are humbling, full of learning and experiencing a new season in life.  For a new family, it's full of anticipation and expectation.  For a family with children leaving home, it could be grieving and figuring out how to parent in a different way.  It's hard to watch your babies leave the nest and make a new life on their own.  The couple expecting a new baby has to learn how to remain a couple when times are hard and their focus is no longer solely on each other.  The couple letting go of grown children have to relearn how to be a couple, yet still find their own individual paths.  Needless to say, it's complicated.

Close up of Leaves and Texture Detail

Close up of Nest

The nest is made from Pine Needles and a stencil.  It was not easy gluing all of these tiny little needles on to the canvas, but I sure do like how it turned out. 

Detail of the Aspen Trees

Even though life is complicated and there are different seasons, we can always look forward to new beginnings.  I've learned that even when things come to an end, it signifies the beginning of something else.  We just have to be open to whatever is next. Life is always an adventure, so let's learn to enjoy the journey and see where it takes us!

This painting was created with painted papers, stencils, pine needles, vintage sheet music, and of course, layers and layers of paint!  It measures 36X36 and is on gallery wrapped canvas.  It is finished with a resin coating, which makes the colors "pop" and eliminates the need for framing.  This piece comes ready to hang.

For comments, questions, or if you are interested in purchasing, please email me at:
saltlightwatercolors@yahoo.com.

www.donnamartinfineart.com

https://www.facebook.com/#!/donnamartinfineart