Michele Martin

"Biggles & Howie" - 16" x 20" Oil painting, 2008 Biggles is our cat that is basically a rag doll, as Howie is shown here squishing his face. Again, from my style of painting the "Up Close and Personal" series, the intimacy is shifting into other areas of close compositions.

"Native Spirit" - 16" x 20" Acrylic painting, 2004 This was a gift for my step-father, Howie, as he is well-embraced by nature and the Native American spirituality. In the background is "The Man on the Mountain", which was for decades seen as an illusion on a cliff in New Hampshire, where Howie and my mother now live. Sadly, a few years ago, the cliff broke off, but I was glad to capture this trademark symbol of the North Country before it's collapse.

"Shanna & Her Mom" - 9" x 12" Oil painting, 2006 This painting, still utilizing my high school style of depicting people with animals and spiritual imagery, was given to my best friend Shanna for Christmas when we were living together senior year of college. The owl is shown on Shanna's shoulder as a guardian, also Shanna's favorite animal. The mice representing the home territory, also her mom's favorite animal... as they are decorated all over her house. ...yet these animals are predator and prey.

"Mom" - 16" x 20" Oil painting, 2008 My mother is just beautiful. I got the idea of incorporating the New Hampshire state bird, The Gold Finch, into this painting just by the design on Mom's blouse. The background is a blurry backdrop of the woods on their NH property. An overall feeling of peace, warmth and embrace holds true to the smile on my mother's face, as the picture from this composition was of my mom watching me open a birthday gift a few years ago.

"Grandpa Joe Martin" - 16" x 20" Oil painting, 2008 Grandpa Joe was known for his courageous service in the US Army in China during World War II. He holds his pipe, which he always had, as he smiles with his wonderful Italian eyes. I felt such a spiritual presence of my grandfather; although I never met him, I felt I got to know him very well as I painted his portrait.

"Patti & Billy" Wedding Portrait 16" x 20" Oil Painting, 2010 My best friend Patti married the man of her dreams. I worked from two separate photos of Patti and Billy and comprised them together in this composition. I did this simply because, to me, both photos expressed their individual personalities so well. The Celtic designs are surrounding them and joining them as one, as inspired by both of their Irish backgrounds. The "M" pendant at the top was an design idea I created from a life-sized ceramic coaster (set of 4) that I had gotten them as a small wedding gift [along with the portrait]; Billy's last name "McDermott" I added underneath. The flowers and colors I used were Patti's choices for the wedding. I love these two people very much, and was so excited to have given them this portrait as a gift at their rehearsal dinner.

"Garth" 9" x 12" Oil Painting, 2011 This was a Christmas gift to my best friend Emily of her cute little dog, Garth. I worked straight from a photo she took of him sleeping as a young puppy. The gift was also a trade for Emily's size 8 Dock Martin boots (hehe).