“Forever Changed”, by Colorado Artist, Donna L. Martin

 

Forever Changed

Sometimes people come into our lives unexpectedly.  They end up doing life with us, the good and the bad.  They see us through the most trying times and the offer us unwavering friendship and love.  They are “our person”.  Sometimes, they are gone way too soon.  But because of them, we are forever changed.  This piece has layers of papers, paints, inks, and is heavily textured.

This piece is sold, but commissions are welcomed.  Feel free to contact me via email at saltlightwatercolors@yahoo.com.  You can also follow me on Facebook and Instagram.  

https://dmartinfineart.com/

"Daydreams", Original Batik Painting by Colorado Artist, Donna L. Martin

 Daydreams

This piece is fresh off the easel!  It will be part of an online art show coming up in May.  There will be several artists showing work over the course of two weeks and my particular day is May 11th.  There will be so many great pieces of work!

Here is the link for this show.  I hope you can make it! You can also reach me through email and social media.

https://dmartinfineart.com/

https://www.facebook.com/donnamartinfineart

https://www.instagram.com/donnamartinfineart/

 

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

Beautifully Broken

21.5 X 10.5 (at highest point in the middle)

Original art

Mixed Media/Assemblage on cradle boards

In our journeys, there are usually broken pieces.  People we’ve loved and lost, friends who have been in our lives for a season, families torn apart.  These are our stories.  These are the layers of our lives.  These broken pieces make us who we are, who we become.  What we do with those broken pieces is up to us.  We have the choice to create new stories, to try again.  Our wings may be tattered and worn, but they are ours and they can still fly.  We are all beautifully broken.  The doorknob in this piece represents old doors closing and new ones opening.  The background was created using pieces of a vintage world atlas, representing the layers of our lives and our journeys.  The wings were bathed in resin to finish this piece.

This piece is sold, but commissions are welcome.  Feel free to contact me with any questions or comments!

Contact me via email or follow me on Social Media.  You can also check out my website, https://dmartinfineart.com/.

https://www.facebook.com/donnamartinfineart

https://www.instagram.com/donnamartinfineart/

“Grace” by Colorado Artist, Donna L. Martin

 Grace

“Grace” by Donna L. Martin

 18” X 18” X 1.5”

Original Art

Mixed Media on deep, gallery wrapped canvas, ready to hang.

Happiness cannot be traveled to, owned, earned, worn or consumed. Happiness is the spiritual experience of living every minute with love, grace, and gratitude. ~ Denis Waitley

This painting was created with many, many layers of papers, inks, and acrylic ink.  I created this during the time my dad was dealing with terminal cancer.  I felt the true healing powers of this painting for the grief I was experiencing.  I felt and experienced grace.

This painting is sold, but commissions are welcome.  Contact me via email or follow me on Social Media.  You can also check out my website, https://dmartinfineart.com/.

https://www.facebook.com/donnamartinfineart

https://www.instagram.com/donnamartinfineart/

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

 Wild One

This is a little mini that came together using painted papers, inks, and a ton of mark making!  It was pure joy to create it, not knowing where it might end up.  This painting is offered as part of an online event that is going on March 3rd and 4th on Facebook.  You can find the link to this event here:  https://www.facebook.com/events/254982562850757

There are so many wonderful pieces of work by several different artists.  We would love for you to come and check it out!  And maybe, just maybe, this Wild One was made just for you!

https://dmartinfineart.com/

https://www.instagram.com/donnamartinfineart

"Daphne", Original Painting by Colorado Artist, Donna L. Martin

 

Daphne

12”x12”

Original Art

Watercolor Batik and Acrylic Ink collaged on to a gallery depth canvas. 

Daphne realized she wasn’t like the others.  She tried to fit in, but she was quieter than the others and her colors were just a little “off”.   She never quite felt accepted, even though she had big dreams and she was smart.  Then Daphne met Theo.  Theo was an elephant whose colors were also a little “off”.  The other elephants teased Theo and nicknamed him “Psychadelepant”, which hurt Theo terribly.  Daphne and Theo became lifelong friends and the best part, is that they accepted each other unconditionally.  Through each other’s eyes, they also learned to accept themselves, just as they were.  Perfectly imperfect.

Daphne now lives in Canada with her new owner, but commissions are welcome.  Feel free to contact me and I would love to hear from you!

https://dmartinfineart.com/

https://saltlightwatercolors@yahoo.com

https://www.instagram.com/donnamartinfineart/

https://www.facebook.com/donnamartinfineart

"Make a Wish", Original Painting by Colorado Artist, Donna L. Martin

 Make a Wish

8”x 8”

Original Art

Watercolor Batik and Acrylic Ink on gallery depth canvas 

I keep remembering my childhood when the days of summer were coming to an end.  Wandering through a field of dandelions that were about to give up their “clocks” for another year.  I had to find the “perfect one” and make the wish.  A wish and a dream from the heart.  Finally, I would spot it.  The Perfect One.  Inhale in, a deep breath, the wish.  Exhale out, with hope and child-like faith.  The wish.  This painting is a symbolic reminder to never give up.  Deep breaths in, deep breaths out.

This painting is sold, but commissions are welcome.  Please feel free to reach out to me via email my website, or on social media.  I would love to hear from you!

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

Bluebird

12” X 12” X 1.5”

Original art

Mixed Media on thick, Gallery Wrapped Canvas

This painting was inspired by song lyrics from Miranda Lambert. Part of the chorus says, “And if the whole wide world stops singing and all the stars go dark I'll keep a light on in my soul, keep a bluebird in my heart.”

 

This painting is available!  Feel free to contact me. 

Follow me on my website, Facebook, or Instagram.

https://dmartinfineart.com/

https://www.instagram.com/donnamartinfineart/

https://www.facebook.com/donnamartinfineart

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

 Wild Heart

This was a painting that I thought I had finished. It had been sitting up against the wall for months. When I walked past it not too long ago, I realized it was nowhere near finished. It lacked light and life. I picked it up and began to add to it. I added colors and shapes and tiny details. It came to life in full bloom. Created with abandon and a wild heart!

12 X 12

Mixed Media

This painting is sold, but commissions are welcome.  Please feel free to contact me...I would love to hear from you!

https://www.facebook.com/donnamartinfineart

https://www.saltlightwatercolors@yahoo.com

https://www.instagram.com/donnamartinfineart

https://dmartinfineart.com/

"The Guardian", Original Mixed Media/Encaustic by Colorado Artist, Donna L. Martin and Stockholm Artist, Jenny Grant

The Guardian

I've said this before, but honestly, I can't say it enough. I am so absolutely blown away that I get to participate in a group where the artists have the biggest hearts on the face of the planet. They work so hard to produce work that will touch lives and make a positive difference in our world. I'm always honored that I get to work alongside them and I never want to take this opportunity for granted.

This month, our group, the Creative Kind, has chosen a very special charity called Saving Innocence. Here is a little bit about what this organization does:
Saving Innocence provides escape from trafficking for child victims of sex trafficking 24 hours a day – 7 days a week. Using a highly relational and collaborative approach, we give children on-the-ground help exclusively in the U.S. by utilizing strategic partnerships with law enforcement, social service providers and schools, while mobilizing communities to prevent abuse and increase neighborhood safety.
"I raise up my voice—not so I can shout, but so that those without a voice can be heard...we cannot succeed when half of us are held back."

This is a very special piece that will be available next week for our Creative Kind Auction on FB. My dear friend, Jenny Grant and I collaborated on this piece when she was visiting from Stockholm, Sweden. Since we are donating to such a special charity this month, Jenny and I are excited to share this piece and make it available. The title is “The Guardian”. It is mixed media with a thin layer of encaustic. I hope you take the time to join us this month on the 28th and 29th...let’s raise some money to donate and raise awareness for this worthy cause. 

Here is the link to our group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/541216752946993/

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

In the Silence, Original Mixed Media Painting by Colorado Artist, Donna L. Martin

In the Silence

In the Silence began with a stark, white, canvas.  As I began thinking about this painting and what I wanted to "say" with it, I added vintage text and vintage musical notes.  I added glazes and layers of paint so that just a portion of the text shows through.  I added more layers of ink with stencils and then wiped it away.  I used inks to create the many layers and branches of the trees, as well as the moody atmosphere in this piece.

As I was creating, I thought about how we all start out as a "blank canvas".  We begin to add rich layers to our lives, with words, with music, with emotions.  Sometimes, there are things we can't say and feelings we can't express.  These words, feelings, emotions begin to tell our stories.  And sometimes, we cover up those layers, those feelings, those words, much like I covered up part of this canvas with paint.  We stay silent.  We have no words to express how we feel.  Even so, we are rooted and we grow.  Our branches seek the light through the darkness.  Through experiences in our lives, we branch out, we grow, we learn., We add layers of color, richness, and texture to our lives.  Sometimes, the messiness turns into unexpected beauty, much like this painting did.

This painting is the first in a new series I am working on.  This painting was created on an 18 X 24 gallery wrapped canvas.  It is sold, but I'm open to commissions.

Please send me an email if you have any questions or comments...I would love to hear from you!

www.donnamartinfineart.com

https://www.instagram.com/donnamartinfineart/

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

saltlightwatercolors@yahoo.com

"Beautifully Broken", Original Mixed Media/Assemblage Painting by Colorado Artist, Donna L. Martin

Beautifully Broken

In our journeys, there are usually broken pieces.  People we’ve loved and lost, friends who have been in our lives for a season, families torn apart.  These are our stories.  These are the layers of our lives.  These broken pieces make us who we are, who we become.  What we do with those broken pieces is up to us.  We have the choice to create new stories, to try again.  Our wings may be tattered and worn, but they are ours and they can still fly.  We are all beautifully broken.  The doorknob in this piece represents old doors closing and new ones opening.  The background was created using pieces of a vintage world atlas, representing the layers of our lives and our journeys.  The wings were bathed in resin to finish this piece, so there is no need for framing.

This piece will be available in an online Facebook Event beginning Sunday and running through Monday.  These events are fun and easy...to place a bid, all you have to do is comment!  This is a great way to own an original piece of art for a great price.

You can also check out my website.

Or, follow me on Facebook and Instagram.

Gratitude Exhibit in Colorado Springs, Colorado

Gratitude Exhibit

Winter Solstice

 

I'm so excited and humbled to have this piece, Winter Solstice, in the Gratitude exhibit at the Kreuser Gallery in Colorado Springs.  The formal opening reception is on February 1st, from 5:00-0:00 pm.  I would love to see you there!

www.donnamartinfineart.com

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"Winter Solstice", by Colorado Artist, Donna L. Martin

Winter Solstice

Happy, Happy New Year!  

I am so excited and honored to announce that this painting will be exhibited and available at the Kreuser Gallery in Colorado Springs CO.  It will be part of an exhibit entitled "Gratitude".  The Opening Reception will be held on Friday, February 1st from 5:00-9:00 pm.  There will be music by Phosphene Eyes with a special performance at 7:00 pm by Artist Jasmine Dillavou.  The Gallery is located at 125 E. Boulder Street, Colorado Springs, CO.  I would love to see you there!

www.abigailkreusergallery.com    

www.donnamartinfineart.com

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

"Surrender"

This is an original mixed media painting, just completed.  I had started with the background and had no idea what to do for the focal point.  I sat with this piece for a few days before I added the hummingbird.  At the time, it was just a few days before the hummingbirds in our yard were gone for the season and I wanted to remember them this year.  I was also contemplating how so many of my family and friends are in the midst of quite a few challenges this year.  I wanted this painting to symbolize love, joy, truth, and resilience.  A spirit of surrendering to the moment, not giving up, but accepting the challenges and facing them with grace and fortitude. 

This painting will be available in an upcoming Facebook auction I am participating in.  Each month, our group donates 20% of our sales to a worthwhile charity or cause.  I would love it if you would check it out!  It's a great way to own a piece of original artwork while at the same time "paying it forward" and making a positive difference.  The link to our group is:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/541216752946993/

You can also find more of my work at:

www.donnamartinfineart.com

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

https://www.instagram.com/donnamartinfineart/

“The Road Less Traveled”, Original Mixed Media Painting by Colorado Artist, Donna L. Martin

"The Road Less Traveled"

The finished piece!

I had been wanting to create an elephant in mixed media for quite a while.  I have been admiring Tracy Verdugo's work and I love the elephants that she creates, so that was the inspiration for this piece.  I was actually fortunate enough to be attend one of her workshops a couple of years ago...it was magical!  

This is how it started.  I gessoed a piece of 20 X 20 cradle board.  Then I added texture with molding paste and stencils.  I also added some molding paste to the elephant's trunk and head.  I had some textured paper that I love and decided to add some of that to her ears.  I then gessoed over the molding paste and the paper on her ears.

Here you can see I started adding some paint.  I used Golden's Quinacridone Nickel Azo Gold and Burnt Orange.  I'm all about the Turquoise lately, so I threw that in too.

Now for the scary part...starting on the elephant.  I had her sketched out and I started adding some paint.  I mixed Paynes Gray, White, and Anthraquinone Blue, and a little of the Turquoise to get a blue-gray color.  I wanted her to tie in with my background.  It needed more darks, so I added some Van Dyke Brown.

Here I started adding some of the Van Dyke Brown to the textured area in the middle.  I didn't want it to be one solid brown color, so I added some water to fade out some of the brown tones in the middle of the texture.

This part of the piece had me stumped for days and days.  I could not figure out what color to do the bottom of this piece.  It had such nice, nice texture from using the stencil and I didn't want to mess it up.  Finally, I gave in and told myself "who cares if I mess it up, I'm just doing what I like".  So, there again, I used Turquoise and smudged in some of the Anthraquinone Blue.

I had some gorgeous, gorgeous paper that tied into the colors behind my little elephant.  I tore out a border and added it directly under the brown textured border for a pop of color and to tie in with my background.

I also felt like the bottom of this needed to be distressed and not so "in your face" with the blues.  I took some alcohol ink and some of the Van Dyke brown and punched it in under the paper border.  Then I hit it with a spray bottle of water to make it run into the blue.  Fun!!  

So just when I think I'm done, done, my husband, who is an Engineer by the way, takes a look at her.  He points out that her head is too much of a globe shape and that her tusk was going in the wrong direction.  As much as I hate to admit it, he was totally right.  Had to make some slight changes, but here she is.  She is all finished and I LOVE HER!  The only thing left to do is finish her off with resin.

I titled this piece "The Road Less Traveled" because that's how I want to live my life.  I never want to be afraid to take risks and take chances...sort of what I did with this piece.  It can be scary for sure, but let go and see where it takes you. You may totally surprise yourself!

This piece is sold, but please feel free to contact me with any questions, comments.  I would love to hear from you!

saltlightwatercolors@yahoo.com

www.donnamartinfineart.com

https://www.facebook.com/donnamartinfineart

"Make Memories", Original Encaustic/Mixed Media Painting by Colorado Artist, Donna L. Martin

Make Memories

This is my latest Encaustic/Mixed Media piece.  The background was done with layers of hand-painted papers and inks.  The trees were created with acrylic ink, as were the leaves around the trunks.  After the encaustic wax was added, I scraped in additional branches and marks.

I decided to add these words to it, "make memories".  I see so many people on their phones and just not making connections face to face anymore...truth be told, myself included.  Even at events, vacations, or something as simple as spending time with family, some moments, some memories, are lost because we are trying to capture it in a photo on our phones.  I wanted to remind myself not to take these moments for granted, to actually live it and cherish the memory of it.

This piece is available.  It is a small, 8 X 8, that I've framed in a simple, black floater frame.  Feel free to send me an email if you have any questions, comments, or are interested in purchasing.  

Today, I encourage you to live in the moment and make memories!

www.donnamartinfineart.com

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"Peace Among the Trees", Original Mixed Media/Encaustic Painting by Colorado Artist, Donna L. Martin

"Peace Among the Trees"

This is my newest piece.  It was created after learning about a dear friend who was recently diagnosed with a devastating form of cancer.  Sometimes, after news like that, there are no words.  There was and is so much emotion and so many stages of "grief" after getting the news.  My friend is strong and courageous.  Her roots are planted deep and she will fight this with all she has.  She is walking through this battle with grace and fortitude.  She is truly my hero and my inspiration.  

 

This piece was created with may layers of painted papers, paints, and inks.

It was finished with a layer of beautiful, dreamy, encaustic wax.

This is a small 8 X 8 piece, which I have finished with a simple black floater frame.  It is available.  You can send me an email here with any questions, comments, or if you are interested in purchasing.

You can check out more of my work at www.donnamartinfineart.com

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Contemporary Figurative Painting, Children, Whimsical Art,Balloon "Woosh" by Arizona Contemporary Artist Pat Stacy

  FRESH OFF THE EASEL

 This painting was created for a show about children.

 12"x12" Acrylic on Canvas/Available

 Click HERE for purchase info.

 Visit http://PatStacy.com to view more of my work.

 Visit my daily painting blog at http://PatStacyArt.blogspot.com

Singing a New Song, Original Mixed Media/Encaustic Painting by Colorado Artist, Donna L. Martin

Singing a New Song

One day it happened.  The seemingly never-ending fog began to clear.  The tiniest rays of crystal clear sunlight began to peak through the clouds.  Slow and uncertain, she decided to be brave and she began to allow the cracks in her heart to allow the light in, a little at a time.  It had been a long, cold season.  As she closed her eyes and breathed it in, she could feel her heart beginning to sing a new song.

This piece has a vintage hankie as the background.  Vintage French ledger paper was added, as well as a photo transfer that I embellished with paint and inks.  I added leaves to the branches and finished it with a layer of encaustic wax, which gives the entire piece a “vintage” feel.

This piece is sold, but commissions are welcome.  I would love to hear from you!  Feel free to email me.

Follow me on Facebook and Instagram!

www.donnamartinfineart.com