Friday, November 20, 2015

"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!

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Wednesday, November 4, 2015

"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!

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Tuesday, October 20, 2015

“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.



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Wednesday, September 23, 2015

"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

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Friday, August 28, 2015

"Wild and Precious Life", Original Mixed Media Painting by Colorado Artist, Donna L. Martin

"Wild and Precious Life"






This is an original mixed media painting I created, fresh off the easel.  The inspiration for this piece was to strive every day to live an authentic life and find joy in the chaos of a very ordinary life.  The quote on the piece is from one of my favorite poets, Mary Oliver, and reads, "Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?"  This piece was created with acrylics, inks, and painted papers.

This one is available.  Please feel free to email me with questions or comments.



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Tuesday, August 4, 2015

"Into the Mystic", Original Mixed Media Abstract Painting by Colorado Artist, Donna L. Martin

"Into the Mystic"


This is an original Mixed Media Abstract Painting, fresh off the easel.  It was inspired by the soothing, but powerful ocean waves.  I usually struggle with abstract painting, but this one just flowed.  

This piece was done with alcohol inks, acrylics, molding paste, and has textural elements of sea glass and broken windshield glass within the focal point.  I borrowed the title of this painting from Van Morrison's song, Into the Mystic.  It just seemed appropriate for this painting!

This piece is available.  It measures 36 X 24 X 1.5, done on a birch cradle board surface.  It is finished with resin, which makes the colors "pop".  It comes ready to hang.

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








Tuesday, July 28, 2015

"Circle of Life", Original Mixed Media Painting by Colorado Artist, Donna L. Martin

"Circle of Life"

"Circle of Life"
This is my latest painting, fresh off the easel.  Let me tell you, this one was difficult and I feel like there were some painting and life lessons learned with this one!

In Progress

I liked the way it started out, but I felt it needed more texture, something to make it "pop".  So I added some molding paste and let it dry.



Still....in Progress

Then I started adding paint and painted foil.  I still felt like the bird faded into the background.  Then, she began to evolve, patiently, and became more beautiful and interesting with each stroke of paint and each layer.  


Close up of Bird and Texture on Leaves

Close up of Bird

This little painting is 12X12 and 1.5" deep.  It is available and comes ready to hang.

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

saltlightwatercolors@yahoo.com

donnamartinfineart.com

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