My name is Katharine Erika Martinez and I am from Brownsville, Texas born and raised. I was born on March 16th, 1982 and raised by my mother whom is a skilled-trained artist and musician; I myself am a self-taught artist.
Everybody in my immediate family possesses a great level of creativity. I consider my artwork as extensions of my heart and my soul-prints. I grew up mainly sketching, writing poetry, and short stories. In 2011, during the attack of 9/11, I wrote a poem called United We Stand, and it was published in the magazine of Actress Rosie O’Donnell.
I began painting approximately six years ago and I have not put down the brush since. I find complete solace, serenity, and passion in the process and am never without paint on my skin. My main medium is acrylic. I sometimes use mixed media such as markers (specifically sharpies) along with map colors that I like to incorporate into my paintings.
I love creating all sorts of art. I focus a lot on the impressionistic style of art and I love creating abstract art. I basically create many different styles of art as I paint what and how I feel or see. I am inspired by colors, nature, music, and artists like Vincent Van Gogh, Henri Matisse, Claude Monet, Salvador Dali, and Frida Kahlo. I especially love the sky and believe the world we see around us to be God’s Palette and my greatest inspiration.
Painting has served as a way of incurring a peaceful mind and heart; I paint so I can breathe. I have sold my paintings straight from out of my home through Facebook since the first piece I posted to social media years ago.
I love networking and am really motivated to market my art so that they may find walls to call their own. I have close to 5000 followers and the most devoted clients turned friends. I participate annually in “Brownsville Living. Be part of it.” This social network, founded by Craig Grove, promotes Brownsville and reaches over 30,000 people.
My paintings are featured and raffled at this event at Cobbleheads annually. I also have clients all over the world that follow me and many who are now my friends. A lot of my art is spread far and wide and can be found in homes, clinics, and offices.
Currently, I am working on a few projects, such as refurbishing and adding my art to furniture. I am at a place in my life where I can feel that although I have been at this for years, I am really only just beginning. Just thinking of painting makes me smile. Art is always in my heart, always on my mind, and I am always inspired by my environment: even in something as simple as a beautiful color that catches my eye.
The unsealing of a canvas from its plastic always makes me smile because it is like opening a gift that smells so great. I will always continue to dance with the brush and expand my need to explore the depths of my soul through the magic and beauty of art.
