Daily Painters Abstract Gallery: Symbolic Art

Thursday, January 19, 2017

"Cherish This Life", Original Mixed Media Painting by Colorado Artist, Donna L. Martin

"Cherish This Life"

We recently lost someone very special to us. My Father-in-Law, Mikey, was Italian, to the core. He grew up in North Denver, in what was known as little Italy. He worked at an Italian Bakery for much of his life and he fought in WWII, in Normandy. He knew the Italian Mob Bosses in Denver, worked hard to raise his family, and he loved to gamble in Vegas. He was pretty good at it too. He also loved to go dancing. He went dancing almost every Saturday night up until about 4 months ago.

I know if we could talk to him again, he would tell us to live this life and appreciate it, because it is short. As I've said before, this life is just a whisper of time. So this is for you, Mikey, for a life well-lived and well-loved...we will cherish you and the life you lived forever.

This piece was created as a reminder to "Cherish This Life". It was done with many layers of paint, inks, and painted paper. The heart in the middle was cut from a vintage ceiling tile. When the light catches it, you can see the hints of iridescent gold paint sprinkled throughout the painting. The words, "Cherish This Life" are embedded into the painting. It is framed in a gold and black floater frame.

www.donnamartinfineart

www.facebook.com/donnamartinfineart/

Tuesday, November 22, 2016

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

Tree of Life

This is a new mixed media piece that I've done, using several different techniques that I've learned throughout the last couple of years. It was done with many layers of paint, papers, modeling paste, and acrylic inks.

This one symbolizes connection. All of our lives are entwined and connected, no matter what are differences may be.

This painting measures 24 X 24 on a thick, gallery wrapped canvas. The texture is kissed with iridescent copper paint that gives it the feeling of being antique. it will be available in an upcoming Facebook Auction that I will be participating in. If you'd like a chance to bid on it, here is the link to join the event:

https://www.facebook.com/events/1003365009793243/

You can also contact me at:

saltlightwatercolors@yahoo.com

I'd love to hear from you!

www.donnamartinfineart.com

Thursday, September 29, 2016

“Discover the Miracle of Forgiveness”, Original Mixed Media Painting by Colorado Artist, Donna L. Martin

"Discover the Miracle of Forgiveness

This was a very emotional process, working on this painting. It will be donated to an online auction, with all the proceeds going to a very worthy cause. This painting has a lot of symbolism and is very personal. Rather than tell you my story of what it means to me, I’d like to let you all begin to write your own story…maybe even through this painting.

This piece was very different from what I usually create. It was quite a process and was created with many layers of paint, papers, stencils, inks, charcoal, gesso, pearl mica flakes, and modeling paste. In the middle of the piece, it is embellished with an antique doorknob ~ again, another symbolism for me.

This piece will be available in an auction taking place in October. Here is the link:

https://www.facebook.com/events/493292807542902/

You can also find more of my work on my website at:

http://fineartamerica.com/featured/becoming-donna-martin.html?newartwork=true

I welcome your comments! Email me at: saltlightwatercolors@yahoo.com

Friday, August 26, 2016

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

"Becoming"

This little, chubby bird was created with painted papers, inks, stencils, and acrylic paint. It has multiple layers. On the first layer, I wrote words or "values", such as compassion, grace, and kindness. These values represent more of who I want to become, thus the name of the piece. I also hinted at some flowers just beginning to peak out from below the branches, blooming, if you will, but not yet full and complete. This also symbolizes blossoming and transformation into something beautiful.

This piece found a new home, but prints are available at:

www.donnamartinfineart.com

Tuesday, March 22, 2016

"Hope on the Horizon", Original Mixed Media/Encaustic Painting by Colorado Artist, Donna L. Martin

"Hope on the Horizon"

This is a little encaustic piece of work, fresh of the easel. I started out with paint, paper, and plaster. I added more layers of wax and more paper. I managed to achieve an accident, which it turns out is one of my favorite parts of this painting. Below, you can see how the paper lifted up from the wax. How cool is that?!?

These are an angled view of the paper that I added.

This is a view from the front - so you can see how the paper lifted.

I am loving the process of working with wax. The layers can be as simple or complex as you would like. It's totally like an adventure and there are many surprises, twists, and turns. Kind of like the journey we ourselves are on every single day. The tree symbolizes hope and new beginnings and the leaves, made out of plaster, symbolizes new growth. We also have hope, new beginnings, and the chance for growth. We just have to keep pushing on. We have to be vulnerable and keep open hearts.

This will be available for an online auction that I am participating in at the end of May. Stay tuned for details! In the meantime, I would love to hear from you.

Thursday, March 3, 2016

“Free to Dream”, Original Mixed Media/Assemblage Painting by Colorado Artist, Donna L. Martin

"Free to Dream"

This is a piece I completed for an art show that I did last year. The wings were made with molding paste and sea glass. I used an old antique wooded piece for the middle to tie the two wings together. Found a rusty old piece of hardware and added the butterfly to the middle. I also added the words "Free to Dream" on the lower portion of the wooden piece in the middle and an old antique chandelier teardrop to the bottom of the wooden piece.

This piece measures approximately 18" wide and about 13" at the highest point in the middle. The wings are finished with an epoxy resin coating, which really makes the colors "pop".

This one has a new home up in the mountains now, but I'm open to commissions.

I would love to hear your feedback, so please email me with any comments or if you are interested in a commissioned piece!

http://donnamartinfineart.com/

Thursday, January 28, 2016

“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

Friday, May 22, 2015

"Sweet Dreams", Original Mixed Media Painting by Colorado Artist, Donna L. Martin

"Sweet Dreams"

This painting is fresh off the easel! Mom and her baby are sleeping among the trees. It has many layers and was done with paint and acrylic inks. It was an intuitive painting inspired by the painting styles of Tracy Verdugo and Juliette Crane.

It is on a deep gallery wrapped canvas and measures 24 X 24. This painting is available. Please feel free to send me an email with any questions, comments, or if you are interested in purchasing. I really love to hear from you!

saltlightwatercolors@yahoo.com

donnamartinfineart.com

Friday, May 8, 2015

"It’s a Beautiful Day", Original Mixed Media Painting by Colorado Artist, Donna L. Martin

"It's a Beautiful Day"

This tree and little bird emerged as I was attempting to do some "intuitive" painting. I took a class a few months ago from the fabulous artist, Tracy Verdugo, to learn how to do this style and technique of painting. Boy, has is been challenging for me! I truly, truly love it though ~ you never know where you are going when you start out or where you will finish. Below are some pictures of the evolution of this piece.

To start out, I divided the canvas up into squares and chose some colors I wanted to use. Some squares were dark, some lighter. The images and marks I made are symbolic to me. I had just returned from a trip to the ocean and had never seen water that beautiful. It totally inspired me!

In this step, I added acrylic inks over the entire piece. Cool colors on one side, warmer colors on the opposite side. You can see how some of the marks still show through.

This is the tricky and most challenging part for me. I am trying to see what forms or what images may appear on the canvas. I turned it sideways and upside down to see if I could spot something. Low and behold, a faint image of the wings appeared and it seemed to be the perfect shape for a bird.

In this next step, I painted out some of the parts of the painting that weren't necessary to the composition, but still left a hint of the layers underneath. I just love this!

Low and behold, this is the completed piece.

This piece is fresh off the easel. It has vibrant, beautiful hues of turquoise, blues, and greens with pinches of orange, pink, yellow, and white. It measures 24 X 24 on a gallery wrapped canvas. It is available for purchase.

If you have questions, comments, or are interested in purchasing, please feel free to contact me at saltlightwatercolors@yahoo.com. You can also browse my website at donnamartinfineart.com and follow me on Facebook.

Friday, April 24, 2015

Original Mixed Media Painting, "Butterflies Are Free", by Colorado Artist, Donna L. Martin

"Butterflies Are Free"

This piece is a result of an online workshop called "Animalitos" by artist, Tracy Verdugo. These types of paintings are really a challenge for me. Usually I have an idea of where I'm going when I start a painting, but these are really intuitive paintings. It starts out with bright colors of inks and paints, using symbols and marks that have meaning. You can see below how this started out.

Then the idea is to pick out some shapes or forms in the piece....turn it upside down, sideways, etc. to "see" what might be there. When I was making my marks and symbols, I used a wing stencil. I began to think that it might make for a pretty butterfly wing. I honestly couldn't see anything else, which is a major challenge for me in doing this type of work!

So I began blocking out the form of the butterfly. As soon as I started that, I knew it needed some kind of flower to land on, so I added more beautiful inks in orange and red. When that dried, I started blocking out some shapes on the wings and flower with india ink and a tiny, tiny brush. Below is a close up of the finished piece.

The lesson I keep learning in doing these types of paintings is to enjoy the process without worrying about the outcome. Sort of goes with my intention of living in the moment and enjoying the adventure. It's crazy what happens when you have no expectations and just let it go!

I am contemplating pouring resin over it so the colors pop even more! I named the piece "Butterflies Are Free", but I'm not committed to that yet, since this is fresh off the easel. I may need to think about it a little more, but couldn't wait to share the process with you!

This little piece is done on an 8X8 gallery wrapped canvas. It is available. Please contact me with question, comments, or if you are interested in purchasing. I always love to hear from you!

www.facebook.com/donnamartinfineart

Wednesday, April 8, 2015

"Grace Transcendent", Original Mixed Media Painting, by Donna L. Martin

"Grace Transcendent"

This is an original mixed media painting that was a result of an online class by artist Kate Thompson called "Fractured Angels". I was so nervous, taking an online class, but I ended up loving it.

Below is a photo of the "work in progress".

This painting was done on a 1.5" deep cradle board and measures 20 X 20. It was created using acrylics, inks, paper, plaster, stencils, and molding paste. She is finished and available to purchase. Please send me a quick email if you have questions, comments, or are interested in purchasing. I would love to hear from you!

facebook.com/donnamartinfineart

Thursday, March 26, 2015

"Fly Free", Original Mixed Media Painting Assemblage by Colorado Artist, Donna L. Martin

Fly Free

I shared this last year, but thought it would be worth sharing again. I have always been one of those people who is naturally shy. It may have a little to do with the way we were raised, we were always told that children "are to be seen and not heard". Growing up in that culture, I've always had trouble expressing what I'm feeling or saying what I wanted to say. Why would I have anything worth saying? I always felt that when I finally was able to say something, was anyone really listening?

To add to this, I grew up feeling like I really didn't fit in anywhere, that I was usually the odd one out. I was the one who got picked last for the team, didn't stand up for myself...I didn't know how, didn't have "permission". I couldn't really find my place, or my voice.

I attended Columbine High School for one semester before we moved to a wonderful little small Texas town. When I first got there, the kids in my class thought I was "stuck up", because I didn't talk much. I didn't know I could, I didn't know I had anything to say. I was overwhelmed and I was a little sad at the beginning.

I didn't play sports - I am the world's biggest clutz - and I certainly wasn't cheerleader material, although I was friends with our cheerleaders. During our sophomore year, by some small miracle, our little school got an art program and an art teacher. I thought, maybe this is "IT", something I can do. And I was one of the first people to sign up for that class. My teacher really guided me and really believed in me. She even took a couple of pieces of my work to Ft. Worth for a student show and exhibition...on her own time. I couldn't believe it, it seemed she "got me" and I felt like I was flying.

I still have a hard time expressing myself through words. But, I just discovered that I've found my voice and a way to express my emotions and really fly. It's through my artwork. Even when I'm not sure exactly what I'm feeling or trying to say, it magically appears in a painting. That is how this was painting was born. It's titled "Fly Free". I found my voice and my wings through art. And the cool thing is, I think people are listening.

Below is a little bit on the process of creating this piece.

Beginning Stages

I added white paint to tone down the bright pink. I also stenciled some words on to the piece and started adding ripped up pieces of paper. I added more white to tone it down a bit more.

It's finally beginning to take shape! I added the wings with molding paste and a stencil. I painted dark, dark brown between the grooves in the wings and added some white and irridescent pearl paint to the wings - and the tiniest bit of pink, of course! I also stenciled the little pattern coming off of the wings with some molding paste.

Hmmm...this piece still needed something. I think I mentioned before that I've become quite a scavenger since discovering mixed media. I found these old chippy paint "posts" at a little antique store here in town. I white washed them with some white and turquoise paint and glued them together with industrial strength glue. Also glued on the embellishment at the top. Then they were attached to the two pieces of cradle board that make up the wings.

I added an old antique door knob that I found at the same little shop and an antique skeleton key to hang from the knob with some old wire. The words "Fly" "Free" are framed with two old, small antique frames that came from long- gone post office boxes. I think it's finally finished!

This piece measures approximately 12 X 27. It is finished with an archival matte coat, but it still has a tiny bit of gloss to the finish. This piece now has a home in New York. If you have comments or are interested in commissioning a similar piece, please contact me at: saltlightwatercolors@yahoo.com. Thanks for "listening"!