Biography

Carolina Martinez
Artist and Elementary Educator

email: 68.carolina@gmail.com

What's new in my life....

Since a scary car accident in 2010, I have concentrated on creating art for fun:
depicting animals from all over the world, teaching children how to draw without fear in weekly art classes since Fall 2010, trying out acrylic painting, painting with collaged illustrations, family tree art, printing lines of Jewish Holiday cards, and mixing acrylic painting with photographs. I have also created a king size quilt with a complex appliqued tree and birds.

and art for meaningful social justice topics:
environmental protection for polar animals, and in the last 9 months, it has been about creating Portland Japanese Internment Project and the illustrated children's book that started it all.
Top

New paintings

School Victory Garden, Portland Japanese Internment Project series

Top

Past Gallery showings

2009 DART school auction

I contributed a painting to the auction, and it sold!

Closeness

Top

December 2008 Showing at DaVinci Arts Fair, Portland, Oregon

I sold many cards. My artist number was 139. The art fair ran Saturday December 6, 2008 and Sunday December 7, 2008. it was held at 10am - 4pm Saturday and noon - 6pm and Sunday, at DaVinci Arts Middle School, 2508 NE Everett, Portland Oregon 97232. Their website is: http://www.davinci.pps.k12.or.us/.docs/pg/10686

show postcard, with my painting on it

Top

Onda Gallery Tango Show #2, Lake Oswego, Oregon

The show ran November 7 - November 30, 2008 at Onda Gallery, 220 A Street, Lake Oswego, OR 97035. Their phone number is (503)496-3922. The show was advertised in the Portland Monthly magazine, November 2008 issue. The opening was filled with tango dancers, live tango music, and a delightful ambience throughout the gallery, which showcases many mediums of artwork, as well as hand-crafted work from Latin American artisans.

show postcard, with my painting on it	Partners in Milonga
Closeness	Connection
Me with my three paintings	Onda Gallery

Top

Do North Show 2008

I was in the 2008 Do North group show at Interstate Firehouse Cultural Center May 1 -24, 2008.
I exhibited these two paintings.

Japanese Garden #2 in show

Abstract Tree in show

Top

Onda Gallery Tango Show #1, Alberta Arts District, Portland, Oregon

I was in a group show January 31, 2008 - February 26, 2008. My painting Red Embrace, was sold. This was a great joy to me! The show was entitled Passion and Romance of Tango. It was at Onda Gallery World Art, 2215 NE Alberta Street, Portland OR 97211.
Here are some photos of the opening night:

http://travel.sundancer.us/usa/oregon/portland/2008-01-30-onda/index.html Top

Do North Show 2007

In March and April 2007, I exhibited in a group show, at Interstate Firehouse Cultural Center in North Portland, called "Do North."

Top

Here's a little bit about me:

My first thought in composing a picture is:
What is the topic or theme? What colors will I use?
I love animals, especially cats,
and they play a part in many of my pictures.
I am bilingual (Spanish and English),
I read and write basic Hebrew, and know basic words and phrases in Russian.
I'm always learning from gallery showings, Meetup group art friends, workshops, public television, Netflix art documentaries, library books,
magazines, art exhibits, movies, the internet, and discussions with friends.
My movie favorites are British comedies ad dramas, documentaries and foreign films.
I dance Argentine tango. As a child I danced tap and ballet.
Bike riding, Jazzercise, Reiki and yoga/pilates are my relaxation.
I appreciate music from all cultures.
I teach public elementary school.

Top

As a child, I was deeply interested in the visual images around me. I used my visual memories to know where I was, like a virtual map, in my neighborhood. I also took in every image I could, observing everywhere I went. When we lived in San Francisco, and it was time for me to go to kindergarten, my parents sent me to bilingual school in the Mission neighborhood. Every day in the car to school, and on the walk to the babysitter's afterward, I paid close attention to the huge murals that were on buildings on and off of 24th Street. The color, warmth, and passion of the Chicano murals filled me. I think my experiences with the art in that neighborhood influenced the emphasis on color I use today.

Top

As long as I can remember, I could spend hours drawing and painting. My parents supported this love by finding me the art supplies I asked for, and even presenting me with a drafting table when I was eleven or twelve years old. I also could spend hours every weekend looking through the books my parents had in their collection, of art history and mythology. Several artists influenced the style I use today--Frida Kahlo, Monet, Gaughin, Matisse, and Van Gogh. My Influences Page

Top

Today many sources of inspiration help me create artwork. It could be the stuff of daily life or of emotional life that fills a painting. I take classes, to deepen my skill level, and often those classes in skill, media, or creative approach cause me to try something new. And my spiritual or religious focus also is a wellspring of ideas. My artistic expression takes many forms--paintings, prints, quilts, jewelry (including memory jewelry), and collage.

Top