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Mary Martin Art Collections

Shop for artwork from Mary Martin based on themed collections. Each image may be purchased as a canvas print, framed print, metal print, and more! Every purchase comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Artwork by Mary Martin

Each image may be purchased as a canvas print, framed print, metal print, and more! Every purchase comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

About Mary Martin

Mary Martin Strong colors and layers of texture, which seem to capture levels of emotion, are the first things that strike you when viewing Mary Martin’s art. It is not uncommon to find people returning many times to gaze at Martin’s colorful, faith-based work. While her subjects are easily identified, the depth of meaning continues to appear with each viewing. Even the artist herself finds images and emotions in her works she didn’t notice until she took a second or third look at them. Each piece of Martin’s work highlights her view of the world as if through the eyes of God. There are obvious objects, but a closer look shows many more layers beyond the obvious. Martin is pleased that others often see more than she planned when her completed works are viewed. With one work, she created a collage with randomly arranged pieces of hand painted papers. When it was finished, a family member said he saw the face of Jesus on the cross. Once he pointed it out, it was obvious to Martin, but she had not consciously put that image into the piece. This happens repeatedly with her works. “I often begin a painting without a specific image in mind,” Martin explained. “I start by applying washes of fluid acrylic paint over watercolor paper and build texture using plastic wrap, wax paper, rice paper and cotton gauze. Later, after many layers of color and texture are applied, I see objects that I didn’t plan take form. After finding those objects, I work to bring them to the attention of the viewer by painting around the object to highlight it instead of painting the object itself, or by adding collage elements.” Martin is a native of St. Louis, currently living about 20 miles from the home where she grew up. Creating things was a regular part of her family life. Her mom’s media was fiber (sewing, quilting and knitting), while her dad used pen and paper, and glass. Going to museums and art shows throughout the St. Louis area were regular family activities. Another strong family influence in her work is nature. Her father was a vegetable gardener, while her mom raised roses. Throughout her childhood, the family took weekend trips to state parks to experience the beauty of nature beyond their backyard. Growing up in such an artistic environment gave Martin the courage to pursue her artistic interests. “I was never afraid to just try it,” she said. “There were other things that if I wasn't good at right away, I'd not do it anymore. Art was never that way. I guess I never thought I wasn't good at it...I'd just go for it.” Art has been a life-long passion of Martin’s, but she felt a call to serve others in the healing arts so she obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Therapy. “I've always looked at my therapy as ministry, and I look at my artwork as ministry, too,” she reflected. While art has always been a part of her life, Martin’s introduction to abstract collage work sparked her creative mind in a special way. Taking an image from a book, nature or a photograph, and transforming it into an abstract representation that shows more than what is obvious is something that pushes Martin to do more. For a while, art was put on the back burner as she raised two boys with her husband Craig, and pursued her healing arts career. In 2005, Martin decided to begin making art a major part of her life again. It began with weekly private lessons Martin and her friend took with Shirley Nachtrieb. One day while journaling, Martin realized her doodling was taking the shape of angels. Nachtrieb decided it should be fleshed out with color and Martin’s original series of angels began. She started selling the pieces as prints, cards, journals and necklaces at local craft fairs. With strong positive feedback from family, friends and strangers who purchased her work, Martin began attending classes, seminars and art workshops to enhance her skills. Shirley Nachtrieb introduced her to color and design theory and influenced her love of collage. Martin learned about negative shape painting from Mary Todd Beam, as well as the importance of telling a story with symbolism. Elizabeth St. Hilaire Nelson instructed her on a collage technique that suggests the shape and volume of an object by using directional ripping of the collage papers. While Pattie Ann Hale gave Martin insight into modern art history, she also stressed the importance of showing up and doing the work every day, and not waiting for inspiration to strike. A favorite quote of Martin’s about doing the work is from artist Chuck Close, “I always thought that inspiration is for amateurs. The rest of us just show up and get to work.” “It’s in the process of creating art on a regular basis where ideas for the next piece are born. One idea leads to another. If I just wait for inspiration to come, I might be waiting for a long time,” Martin admitted. While art and religion have a centuries old relationship, Martin takes this relationship on a new journey. Collaging and the ability to capture the emotions behind a piece of Scripture led her to her current medium. “What draws me to the abstract is that it doesn't have to look like a photograph or be realistic for you to know what it is,” she said. “It’s ministering to others when it touches them by what shapes and images I put down on a piece of paper. It's a privilege to be able to affect people’s lives.” With a few exceptions, each piece of work begins with its own inspirational piece of Scripture serving as the foundation. Writing the quote out by hand and praying about it leads to the initial outlines. “When people stop and look and appreciate a piece of work, and keep going back and looking at it, the piece is obviously doing something for them. It makes me happy when people feel something or are moved by it.” At one workshop, she was working on a piece and another artist stopped to look at it. What the other artist saw in Martin’s work immediately brought her to tears. This is just one example of how powerfully God speaks through her work. From her studio in suburban St. Louis, Martin has a close-up view of nature. She has a small collection of feeders, which attract squirrels and a variety of birds throughout the year. The wide windows allow as much of God’s outside world in as possible. This environment is important since much of Martin’s work is based on nature. What connects each piece is its foundation in God and faith. Martin’s connection to God and faith has lead to several of her works being featured in a series of books entitled “Who is God.” Her work can be found in volumes III, IV and V, as well as in the anthology of I-IV. After completing a commission for a family who had experienced a critical loss and seeing their strong reaction of joy to the work, she reflected, “Knowing that my creation is doing that for this family makes my heart sing.” Five exhibits have featured Martin’s work since 2012, including: “What Makes Your Soul Sing?” at the Union Avenue Christian Church, St. Louis; “Who is God” International Exhibit at the Museum Contempo in Olympia, WA (2013 and 2014); and, “The Word Made Flesh: Reflections on the Human Form” at the Gateway House of Prayer in St. Louis (2015). Her first solo exhibit was “Pathways of Peace: A Visual Journey Through Scriptures of Peace” at the Gateway House of Prayer (2014). Andrea Mastrangelo, owner and curator of Museum Contempo, was so impressed with one of Martin’s submissions for the “Who Is God” exhibit, she purchased it for the museum. “I purchased the piece ‘God is Everlasting’ because it was beautiful, textured, and glowed with a presence unexplainable. Viewers reacted the same way as I did at our museum!” Martin’s work is finding its way into homes and businesses because of the emotional connections it makes with collectors. Jill Von Gruben said, “Dave and I can affirm the peace, blessings and happiness her art brings into a home.” “Mary's work brings me a sense of joy to see the power of God, and His greatness, in the beauty of nature,” said Karen Andrus. “With ‘Pathway of Peace: Micah 4:2,’ I feel a sense of God's love flowing through the valleys and into my heart.” Many owners also find connections with the pieces because of the Scripture which inspired the work. “It looks beautiful, and knowing Mary painted it to reflect the spiritual meaning from Micah 4:2 makes it the center point of my room,” said Katy Cushing. When not in her studio or caring for patients, Martin enjoys spending time with family and friends, or singing at church. She is also sharing her passion in the same manner other artists have shared with her. She has begun teaching art classes to help children and adults find their artistic voice. Her topics have included collage, creating visual texture, and producing hand-painted papers. Whether it is a simple card, a reflection on Scripture or a commissioned piece, Martin’s style draws the viewer in to look deeper at the color, texture and hidden messages of the Spirit which guides her.