Happy New Year

It's almost 2016 and this week I have felt like painting. The joy of drawing, and thin washes of bright color and animals. So here are all of the above. How I enjoy seeing the pencil lines, the artist's hand. The thought and process visible on the surface. Might put these on the Etsy shop. Definitely in Artisans on the Ave in Lake Worth (Betty's Gallery).

Abstract Painting

I've gone mad and pained our living room again, (the 4th time in one year but who's counting) this time it's white.  I grabbed an old canvas,  headed out to the back garden,  threw down a drop cloth, grabbed some paint, and asked Jody to join me and together we labored on Labor Day and made an abstract painting. He'd make a mark on the canvas and then I would, taking turns and I really like what we did. Now I just have to decide on a frame. The living room isn't 100% finished but at least I've got myself a painting.

Today I am posting a book cover I painted for a lovely client named Dorothy Littlefield. The book is her life long vision and I am honored to be a part of it. The artwork has been approved and is on its way to the publisher.

Without my ceramic studio I've been jonesing a little for making art. So, this book cover was just what I needed.

It is a digital painting and was created totally in Adobe photoshop using my wacom graphic tablet. The stars, the owl, the moon everything is digitally painted. It was really great fun to do. When the painting was finished it was brought into Indesign were I set the text.

I can't wait to see the book on the shelf of my local bookstore. Thank you to Dorothy and her sweet daughter Sharon. Hope you guys like it.

The Rain in Spain

There actually is no rain in southern Spain, which is why it is so lovely and brown. We started out there but with 40 degrees (that is about 104 to my fellow Americans) and no a/c we high tailed it out of there. While we were there we mainly hid out from the sun. Here is where I spent a lot of my time, the balcony. I did a lot of painting. And reading. I read Eat, Love Pray by Elizabeth Gilbert. A very sweet book about traveling and finding oneself.
We are in England where it is much cooler (in more ways than one). Yesterday I spent the entire day in central London painting the architecture. Tower Bridge, The Tower of London, and of course Big Ben. Who knows what adventures today will bring.

New Paintings

With the new year comes a new concept. I have started creating a series of paintings based on my sculpture. The image which accompanies this post is titled Kind. It is acrylic on canvas and measures 16"x20".

For the past two days I have gone painting mad! From sun up to sundown... nothing but painting. I bought 5 canvases two days ago and now I need more. A good complaint!

A goal for the new year is to submit work for solo exhibitions. It makes sense to work on a body of 2D and 3D work. I hope you like them.

Victoria Rose Martin's Blog

Don't quit your day job? Too Late! I did. Prior to leaving the 9-5 routine I was so worried with logical thoughts such as "how will I eat?" Then my goofy artistic side would rear its head to reply "yeah, but you will be nice and skinny if you don't eat." Now after all of the worry and stress, I still can't believe how great it feels being a full time artist again.

Upon earning two separate Masters Degrees in Fine Art I happily accepted a job in the corporate world as a Graphic Designer. Don't get me wrong, I loved the actual work, and I still work as a freelance Graphic Designer as well as an Artist. However, I began wishing away weekdays, praying for Friday so I could have time to make art. Being confined to a tiny office day in and day out began to kill my spirit.

A die hard optimist, I heard Joseph Campbell's words to "follow your bliss" ringing in my head. So, I did. My message is to follow your heart. Enjoy life and most importantly; be happy. This is my journey.