July Artist Spotlight – Meet Martha Marson

Born and raised in RI, a beautiful state (“the Ocean state”), I spent many days on the water with my father, and later my step father, both passionate sailors. The open water and sky, along with every summer spent up island on Martha’s  Vineyard, gave me my love for water, sand, dunes and boats. This is the primary reason why my work centers on these elements. My happy place has always been the Vineyard; and the places that ground me and reach my soul are being on a boat in the open ocean; and on the beach with majestic dunes. Most of my paintings are of the Vineyard, since it brings me such a sense of peace and beauty, and connectedness of childhood memories with family and friends, though Ive been known to also paint winding forest paths as well as open fields! 

 

 

My artistic side comes from several members of my family, and my daughter (I have two daughters) went to art school and now has a successful career in graphic design. While it was always fun to dabble in different mediums along this journey, like watercolor, ceramics, drawing and clay, I went to University of Vermont  and majored in psychology and writing. After many years in advertising as a copywriter and then in publishing, I jumped into grad school and received my MSW from Boston University. It wasn’t until many years later, when my kids were much older, that I was invited into a workshop by a close friend and artist that I started in pastel painting. I believe it was the medium that chose me. Just felt right!  (I also believe every single human has an expressive outlet waiting to emerge) I’ve been working in pastel studying under my fabulous teacher for over 15 years, and haven’t looked back!

 

I now have a thriving private practice with clients, and I paint one day a week. My painting is my therapy, as the world drops away when I’m in the zone in the studio. It’s important for everyone to have places to find their peace, and it’s painting the beauty of the natural landscapes of my life, that I’ve found mine. I have so much more to learn, because I did not have a formal art education, so I still get the names of the various blues, reds or yellows mixed up; but I paint more intuitively, and as my teacher says, “paint what you see with your eyes, not your brain”. My goal is to cut back on my practice and paint more. Life is short! 

 

I currently live with my wonderfully supportive husband and our Norwich Terrier Milo in Needham, and we have two amazing daughters that are my pride and joy.