“Beach Fresco” by Martha Lee. Oil impasto on canvas, framed in basswood.
Q: What is impasto painting, you ask?
A: Impasto is an art term used to describe thickly textured paint that is almost three-dimensional in appearance. Using an impasto technique often leaves visible brush strokes in the finished painting. Impasto is a type of sculpture—but for painters it is on a canvas.
Q: What is basswood, you ask?
A: A premier hardwood, basswood is a preferred species among high-end shutter manufacturers and framers. Basswood can be creamy white in color or pale to reddish-brown.
Martha Lee’s paintings are inspired by her passion for the natural world. She set up her first studio in Seattle in 1982 and has been creating in oil, pastel and mixed-media ever since.
Her work consists of textured surfaces, and her goal is the let the mysteries emerge, infusing each work with a sense of timelessness, universality and infinity.
She continually attempts to capture the changing light effects of dawn, dusk and twilight and the mysteries of nature.
Lee has studied in Seattle with several Northwest masters at the Factory of Visual Art. She has traveled to Italy several times, and much of her fresco work is influenced by those trips.
MARTHA LEE ARTIST STATEMENT
Ancient secret gardens, places and frescos, these are things of
antiquity that have inspired my paintings.
Organic forms, patterns, textures, changing light effects and rich,
luminous color of sea and bay are the subjects of my work.
Currently I am working on the “Bay Vistas”, surrounded by wild
beauty and spectacular sunrises that gild all with glowing gold.
“Thank you for agreeing to show my work in your lovely gallery. I’m excited to have my paintings exhibited on your walls.” — Martha Lee
Fairweather Gallery display featuring the golden sunset kissed art of Martha Lee.
In the background, art by Agnes Field, Carmela Newstead, Diane Copenhaver and Barbara Martin.
“Thank you for so graciously welcoming me into your elegant gallery. I feel privileged to be a part of it. And how thoughtful your thank you notes are and deeply appreciated. Peace to you and those you love.” Martha Lee