OMG Newsletter #2

Happy New Year! You know, I really do like writing these newsletters, it’s a chance to share more about myself, my life, and my work (obvs) and not having to condense it in a caption or IG story.

Life was pretty busy the last few weeks of the year. Many holiday dinners and hangouts with friends and family. It’s great to take a pause after what felt like non-stop work since the summer. It’s been a good time to reflect on some things I’ve done.

Working with youth

A part from slinging prints and working on commissions, I was hired by a local org to teach students at Highline High School about how to plan, design, and install murals. I was there only three days a week and I finished that up in early November. I’m excited to have had this opportunity to work with youth. I get to learn all the new slang. Here’s the mural they worked on.

The students wanted to incorporate ocean imagery which I thought was very cool. It will be hung somewhere in their school this school year.

I took a painting course

I’m always trying to improve my skills, especially when it comes to painting the figure. My work has mainly centered around animals and objects but I definitely want to shift it more to focus on people. So I thought it would be best to take some lessons. It was a 5 week course at the Gage Academy of Art and was a really intense experience. I definitely feel I learned a lot. It was what you would think a painting course would look like. Our easels were in a semi circle with the live models posed at the other end. It was cool to get a deep dive into how to portray lights and shadows more accurately. Our instructor, Nicholas Enevoldsen, was very good at explaining how to work in different techniques without sounding overly academic. His work is phenomenal and I hope to be able to capture a person’s essence like he does at some point.

I used to start stare off into space and daydream in school but when It comes to taking art courses I definitely am more focused and invested.

My view.

We worked on this model and pose for the first four weeks, learning and applying a new skill every week. I wish I could have finished this one - I found I was hyper focusing on some areas for too long.

This was made in our final week. A new model and pose. Our challenge was to apply all that we learned into this one final piece. I’m happy with how it came out for a 3 hour painting session.

Even though I wasn’t able to complete any of the paintings during the course, I still learned so much. I’m already starting to see a major improvement in my portrait painting skills.

I painted this in about 4 sittings. This would have taken me months this time last year.

My first limited edition prints sold out. Thank you.

I started this painting as a way to make up for the fact that I didn’t have time to create an altar for Día de Muertos. I still wanted to honor my ancestors and loved ones, so I decided to paint cempasuchiles (marigolds) coming out of my heart - a symbol that my loved ones that have passed will always be with me. It was received really well on my instagram and folks were asking for prints. I felt a bit a bit weird sharing this about myself on instagram and putting the painting up for sale. But then I remembered that I paint for a living so I got over it pretty quickly :D The original sold within minutes and I’m happy and beyond grateful it went to a collector that has a few on my works in their home (including their family portrait). Thank you thank you if you bought a print!

Am I in my pet portrait era? No, but they’re still fun to paint

I was commissioned to paint these two dogs portraits almost at the same time. These are totally different styles and themes from one another.

This portrait is in the style of an alebrije. The owners of this dog (her name is Noie) wanted to honor her due to her passing.

This second portrait was commissioned for a friend’s birthday of his dog (Niebla). I went for an aquatic, cosmic theme.

I did a live painting session at the Burke Museum

A few weeks ago I was approached by the Burke Museum at the University of Washington to do a demonstration of me painting. This is part of a program to have artists work in their studio, share about their culture, and interact with the community. I did it on Dec 29th and It was a really cool experience.

The director of the museum, Dr. Gabriela Chavarria, stopped by to say hello. It was great to meet her. Gabriela is also from Mexico!

They pulled items I had selected from their archives that came from my family's part of Mexico (Oaxaca and Guerrero) to be on display. It was really cool to see this up close and have access to the workspace of the museum.

It was especially surreal to see this huipil. The bird motif is so specific to the region of Oaxaca that my dad is from. To see it held in regard at a museum was really cool.

This is a shirt I have at home. Notice the similarities?

I included the little birdie from the huipil in the portrait I was working on that day.

To get to see these items that art a part of my family’s everyday life back in Mexico was inspiring. I had asked for how these were acquired, obvs. Seems that they were bought or gifted.

My partner was there with me, as well as my sisters, It’s always better to have the ones you love with you when experiencing cool things :)

First dibs on this painting.

I finished this 12 x 9 inch painting of a goldfish on archival paper last night. This is my first painting of the year and I couldn’t be more happy with how it came out. If you’d like to be its owner, send me an email at carlos@carlosmartinezart.com. The price is $120 plus shipping. If you’re in the greater Seattle area we can arrange for a pick up.

I’m taking on commissions for 2025!

I’m currently taking commissions. If you’d like an original artwork from me for yourself or a loved one please reach out. Email me directly at carlos@carlosmartinezart.com or click the button below to request an artwork.

Commission Info

Thank You Promo Code

As a thank you for being a part of my Art Collectors Newsletter, I’m offering 20% off all prints in my shop. All you have to do is use the code ‘COLLECTOR’ at checkout <3

My Online Shop

Thank you for the constant support throughout the last few years. I’m only able to do what I love because of you. 2024 was really one for the books and I’m so looking forward to this new year and what it has in store. Here’s to 2025!