Viv & Paul Martin - 45 Years of Adventures in Art

About

Viv and Paul's art explorations have developed alongside their careers in adult learning, with their art demanding frequent fresh starts and new approaches which built flexibility in other aspects of life. Making art is often a slow process for both Viv and Paul. Initial tentative mark-making is followed by increased understanding of the growing image.

For Paul, the art process is a form of dialogue with the outside world, a way of exploring his relationship with it and distilling in visual form, tentative interpretations of things understood. It is a personal meaning making process, through which some of his work has meaning for others too.

Viv works from experience, drawing from what she sees, senses and feels in her surroundings, particularly in places that have been special to people over thousands of years and are rich with mysteries. Her work can include references to landscape, structures and objects, to other people and herself and to stories and words associated with a place.

Paul often works from drawings to develop large, richly coloured oil paintings, sometimes also making small works on paper or original prints. Viv's work also starts with drawing or watercolour, but develops into etchings, woodcuts or monotypes, sometimes emerging as mixed media. Their subject matter is often drawn from their travels, where a visit to explore prehistoric remains may inspire studies of ancient stones, rainbows and dolphins.

Paul and Viv have presented their art together as Martin Studios for 45 years. They were founder members of the Fiveways Artists Open Houses in Brighton in the 1980s, moved to Worthing in 2004 and have held Open Studio events almost every year.