Julia Martens: Strange Times Online Exhibition
Red-Winged Blackbird, 2020, Julia Martens, Watercolor on Paper, 5” x 7”
Price: $100
Isolation has led me to find new interests within myself, such as observing and documenting the nature around me. My entertainment is now found in watching the birds outside my bedroom window, and I recently discovered a beautiful bird native to our province: the Red-Winged Blackbird. I knew I had to capture its beauty on paper, as it filled my day with so much joy.
Austrian Briar Rose, 2020, Julia Martens, Watercolor on Paper, 8” x 10”
Price: $175
During self-isolation, I have found solace and peace among the nature near my home. I’ve found a new love in taking nature walks and sitting outdoors to enjoy the world around me. This piece expresses my favourite flower, the Austrian Briar Rose, and how it has comforted me while I am unable to do the other things I love.
Mary Blair, 2020, Julia Martens, Graphite and Watercolor on Paper, 11” x 11”
Price: $175
In a hunt for artistic inspiration, I discovered an amazing artist who worked alongside Walt Disney in his creation of early films and in the Disneyland Parks: Mary Blair. She was a revolutionary woman in an industry built around men, and played a huge role in the design of films such as Peter Pan and Cinderella, as well as the iconic Its a Small World ride. She embraced her unique art style, which I attempted to capture in her clothing, and painted with all her passion; she is someone I aspire to be as an artist.
Truly, these have been strange times. I, among everyone else, did not expect my 2020 to play out the way these past few months have been. My plans were to travel and live in England for a few months; these plans were, of course, flipped upside down as the borders closed and travel was banned. In quarantine I’ve found myself jobless and alone at home, stressing about the future of myself and the world. Despite all this, I have found peace in my over-abundance of free time. I can now create art at all parts of my day, and I have found a new passion for nature and the world around me. Instead of the people I usually draw, as I spend all my time among them normally, I now have a huge passion for drawing the flora and fauna in my own backyard. Nature has given me peace, and even in these strange times, it remains never changing and always present.
Artist Biography:
Julia Martens is a Canadian artist and illustrator. She works in all mediums, drawing inspiration from vintage illustrations and classical artwork. Martens finds beauty in the simple, and desires to express her feelings within her works by telling a visual story. Her works can be viewed on her website and Instagram: www.juliamartens.ca @juliafmartens
Artist Contact Information: