Issue 2 Artist Spotlight | Lydia Martin
C+B: Tell us about yourself, Lydia!
LM: Recently, I became a Professor Emeritus at Suffolk University, Boston. For 30 years, I taught in the Art & Design department and had retired in the spring of 2020. So these days if I am not painting, drawing or printmaking in my studio, I garden. For the past several springs/summers, I had a vegetable garden, an herb garden and 25 rose bushes to tend to. Eventually, I hope to incorporate more botanical imagery from my garden into my paintings. From seed to mature plant, I find it fascinating to watch trees, flowers, vegetables and even weeds grow. Then to harvest vegetables from my garden, is such a treat to share with family, friends, neighbors and models who come to pose for me.
Then, I must mention, that I enjoy observing all the incredible wildlife that passes through our yard, from squirrels to Cottontail rabbits to raccoons, skunks, ground hogs and mice. Also, all the beautiful birds that come to visit: Cardinals, Blue Jays, Mockingbirds, Sparrows, Minor Birds, Gold Finches, Herons and Sea Gulls, as we live near a beach. Which is another wonderful past time my husband and I enjoy doing- walking to the beach and collecting shells.
From sea to city, I am inspired by visiting nearby Boston and simply take in the town with all the people, shops, plazas and parks.
I also like to practice guitar and listen to music- classical, rock, blues, country, movie scores and old world traditional music. I listen to music all day into the evening while in studio or cooking/ baking in the kitchen. When models pose for me or I am setting up a still-life, I play music in my studio to build up my momentum to get me into that creative, imaginative ‘other’ world.
All these everyday experiences inspire me.
C+B: Describe your work in three words.
LM: sincere, observational, heartfelt
C+B: Describe your ideal creative retreat.
LM: A studio filled with all the essential art supplies, props and storage located within a suburb near a major city on the East or West coast of America. Where I can still hear birds sing, see the grass grow, have tea/ coffee with my models, catch up with neighbors. Yet, be able to travel into town and be among people and feel the hustle bustle of the city.
Find and support Lydia here:
(Lilac, oil on Belgian linen, 24”x18” ©Lydia Martin)
Ideal collaboration: To work with the amazing Spanish Contemporary Realist painters and collaborate on a large-scale figurative painting.
Currently inspired by: Guillermo Muñoz Vera @munozverapintor, Anne-Christine Roda @annechristineroda, Daniel Sprick @sprickdaniel, Arina Gordienko @arina_gordienko_art, Antonio López García, Odd Nerdrum, Irena Roman @irenaroman, David Kassan @davidkassan,Gregory Mortenson @gregorymortenson, Joaquin Morales Molero, @joaquin_morales_molero, Jordan Sokol @jordan.sokol
Lydia Martin
