This is Marybel

Feel Like Doing Some Shopping?

2011-11-04T18:06:00.000-07:00

Screaming Sky Gallery has put the Sugar And Spice Show Artwork online, if you're curious, take a peek, if you're loaded, buy yourself something nice... (copy and paste the link)

http://screamingskygallery.myshopify.com/collections/sugar-and-spice-an-all-girls-group-show?page=1

The Show! The Show!

2011-10-31T14:31:00.000-07:00

It was a lovely October evening in Portland. The Halloween spirit was in the air. There was a slight chill in the air. Want to see shots of the show? It was such a fun experience.

Sugar And Spice and Everything Nice

2011-10-25T20:08:00.000-07:00

You are cordially invited to attend my next art show on October 27th, Sugar And Spice And Everything Nice, from 5pm-9pm at Screaming Sky Gallery, 1416 NE Alberta Street Portland, OR 97211.

Celebrate a stellar line up of female artists and join us for the opening of Sugar & Spice and Everything Nice!

DJ Tommy Tank will provide the music and Jenelle will keep the refreshments flowing!

Show runs October 27th through November 20th

Commission for Charity

2011-05-31T14:58:00.000-07:00

Started working on this very pink and girly piece. There will be so many parts to this puzzle, words, a dog, birds, hearts, and love! All proceeds of this piece go to St. Jude's Children's hospital. This is just the beginning.

Art Show to Benefit Los Angeles Children's Hospital

2011-05-20T15:30:00.000-07:00

I am excited and honored to participate in this show in Los Angeles to raise funds for the Los Angeles Children's Hospital.

Art Show in Venice Beach

2011-03-31T20:58:00.001-07:00

This weekend, I am participating in this great Art Show in Venice Beach, California! If you're close by, go check it out, it's for a great cause!

Strawberry Surprise, Here she is!

2011-03-14T18:03:00.000-07:00

My sister, Stella, was such a huge Strawberry Shortcake fan growing up, she had the dolls, sheets, pj's, everything! I bet she never thought Strawberry Shortcake could get herself into so much trouble! I loved painting her, it was such a fun painting!

Work in Progress

2011-02-20T23:12:00.000-08:00

Here's a shot of my work in progress. There is still a lot to do until this little lady is finished. Maybe a couple more days work and she'll be ready to go.

Once Upon A Time...

2011-02-03T13:10:00.000-08:00

There was a little girl who wanted to be an artist. She drew and painted everyday, she did it with joy and love.

MY WEBSITE IS LIVE!

2011-01-24T13:58:00.000-08:00

Dear Friends,

I am excited to share with you that my website is live! I am so excited to have a proper place for all of my work. Please visit and tell me what you think.

Please click on link or copy and paste:

http://www.marybelmartin.com

xoxo,

Marybel

I Can't Stop

2011-01-22T23:00:00.000-08:00

I am obsessed with this pregnant girl in my head. I drew her before. I drew her again, then again. Tonight I'm painting her. HUGE canvas, she's trying to tell me something so I want to really see her. The painting will be called LIFEBOAT an ode to a time when I thought I was dying and I survived and lived. Really lived.

Strawberry Surprise

2011-01-04T15:05:00.000-08:00

I have had this drawing in mind since I completed the Hello Titty painting. I don't know if she will ever make it to a painting but she was fun to draw. What a surprise for Strawberry Shortcake when she gives birth to her cat, Custard!

The Original

2010-12-30T16:05:00.000-08:00

I have drawn these big headed, pregnant dolls for as long as I can remember. Last night as I was looking through old letters and photos I came across one of the originals. Thank goodness my Mom kept everything! This was drawn when I was four years old. If you look closely, the baby, in the womb, is wearing heels!

Lifeboat

2010-12-21T15:10:00.000-08:00

I am very inspired. I feel like a new creative channel has opened up for me. I am excited and energized. This is a sketch that I worked on today. This will be part of a bigger picture. She is pregnant and scared. In her belly there is a squid. She needs to save herself.

Little Winter

2010-11-03T14:24:00.001-07:00

Come visit Tokketok this weekend!

Let's Collaborate!

2010-10-28T18:47:00.000-07:00

The wonderful people over at Tokketok have asked me to do a collaboration with them! I am so excited since I am a big fan of their hand printed letterpress cards. Click on the link to take a peek!
http://tokketok.com/2010/10/cards-for-tots/

Happy Halloween!

2010-10-26T20:52:00.000-07:00

I have been exhausted and super busy. I have had visitors from out of town and have been away myself. Just wanted to check in and tell you that I have tons of ideas that have been brewing in my head, just must get past this holiday first. I hope your halloween is wicked! I am going to dress up as Princess Peach and my two boys will be Mario and Luigi, my husband, Toad.

The Bird Bowl

2010-08-31T13:07:00.000-07:00

These birds perched themselves on an off white bowl I had. Someone built these cute little birdhouses for them too. Blues and neon green work perfectly together. All glazed and shiny. Take a look!

Thanks Tokketok!

2010-07-27T15:43:00.000-07:00

Thank you Tokketok for featuring me on your blog today! I am a huge fan of yours. This is a great honor. Please check out their lovely letterpress cards and blog.

http://www.tokketok.com/

Hello, Titty!

2010-07-25T01:19:00.000-07:00

I haven't done anything in a very long time. I've had visitors for weeks now and I find it hard to paint. I finally got around to starting and finishing Hello Titty. Here she is!

Hello Titty

2010-06-06T21:17:00.000-07:00

I've loved Hello Kitty since I can remember. I am always inspired by anything Sanrio. I wanted to do something erotic and I came up with this sketch.

Done! Done! Done?

2010-05-12T17:30:00.000-07:00

Okay, so I feel like it's done, but maybe not. I'll post it even though I'm not totally sure. I have a ton of new ideas for new paintings. I need to move on from this and get on with it.

The Outcasts

2010-05-04T13:13:00.000-07:00

I started this a while ago, and I can't get myself to finish it. It's about being different, acceptance and wanting to belong. It brought back a lot of painful memories. I went to eleven schools in twelve years. I was always the "new kid". It was hard to try to fit in when you didn't even know who you were yourself. My sisters and I became masters of transformation and observation. We would come into a new school and bam, we transformed our clothing, language, accent, whatever it took. Maybe I'll complete this soon, maybe not.

I Told You So

2010-03-27T21:01:00.000-07:00

New painting, no girls this time. I've been wanting to paint a fawn for a while, I was going to add one to my previous painting, "So So Tired", but in the end I didn't feel it needed it. This one is all about the fawn. The bird told the fawn something a long time ago, the fawn didn't listen, it happened. The bird came back to tell the fawn, "I told you so". You should always listen when a little bird tells you something, really.

New Items!

2010-03-23T00:53:00.000-07:00

Prints have officially arrived at my Etsy shop. I am so excited. They look great! Why don't you take a look? http://marybelm.etsy.com

Take a Peek

2010-03-15T17:37:00.000-07:00

If you were to wander around a solitary forest you may run into this sleeping beauty. She was so tired that she laid down and took a snooze. She's laying on a bed of her own hair only to be bothered by a fluttering butterfly. She's done! "So, So Tired". It took me a while but I like the end result. Take a peek.

Forest

2010-02-08T15:06:00.000-08:00

I thought a good backdrop for my tired girl would be a forest. I like the look of birch trees, they're so clean and graphic. I also darkened the sky, as if night were falling. I was thinking of adding some creatures, I'll see how it goes.

So So Tired

2010-02-05T17:34:00.000-08:00

My newest will be called "So So Tired". It's kind of where I'm at right now both physically and mentally. The girl will be outside about to doze off into a peaceful nap. Exactly what I need.

She Made It

2010-01-25T08:00:00.000-08:00

Bun-ny In The Oven has been in my head for a long time. I wasn't ready to paint. I didn't feel like it for a long time. You have to be in a very specific place to do so. Tonight I got there, all in one go and she's done. I love her. She's so beautiful and sad. It's raining, she's naked, and she's expecting a bunny.

Bun-ny In The Oven

2009-11-10T08:00:00.000-08:00

I want to paint a redhead next. She will have long ginger strands cascading down her shoulders. She will have flowers in her hair and maybe a lei. Will she be sad? Maybe. Here's a preview.

Another Baby

2009-11-09T08:00:00.000-08:00

I've completed Ave Maria. I love painting these pregnant girls. I love that they're tiny. I love that they have animals in their bellies. There will be one more in this series, I wanted four, but couldn't find another canvas just like the other three. Oh well, maybe they're three sisters, like my sisters and I.

Work In Progress

2009-10-30T19:34:00.000-07:00

I've been working on these little 4x5 paintings. I like working this small, it's fun and intense. I will be doing two more little ones after this. Just wanted to show you what I was up to. I told my sister, Adriana, that I was going to make some prints to sell and she said, "Prince?". That gave me an idea, maybe I will paint Prince, who knows, maybe I won't.

Ave Maria

2009-10-19T08:00:00.000-07:00

My next little piece is in the works. Here is a sketch. Like the one before, it is of a woman with an animal fetus. We are all interlaced, animal, people, plants and earth. It also comes from me calling my boys "pollitos" or little chicks.

The End Of Me, The Beginning Of We

2009-10-13T08:00:00.000-07:00

I'm pleased with how this turned out. I went back to my own memories of pregnancy and the moment when it hit me that from then on, it wasn't all about me anymore. After I had my first child, I stopped talking in singular and started referring to myself as "we". What a shock.

I'm Back

2009-10-12T08:00:00.000-07:00

After a break from painting, I'm back with a load of new ideas. When I was a very small child I drew a lot of pregnant women who's bellies you could see through. You could see the baby. I must have been fascinated by my mom being pregnant that I drew this a lot. When I find the old drawings, I'll post them. This memory inspired me to start a new series of pregnant women paintings. They will be very small, like tiny baby paintings. The first piece will be called: "The End Of Me, The Beginning Of We". Here's a sketch, and, yes, that is a lamb fetus.

Mary(bel) Had A Little Lamb

2009-09-14T22:06:00.000-07:00

I found this little lamb wandering in my backyard... Looks like she's made out of chocolate. She has inspired me to paint her, as my friend Joke would say: "I see a painting"...

The Show

2009-09-04T10:05:00.000-07:00

Here are some images from the show last night. It was great to have this wonderful experience. I wanted to thank everyone for their support, it meant a lot to me.

C'est Fini

2009-09-03T08:00:00.000-07:00

Whew! And double whew! I am so done with this painting. It ended up being more work than I had anticipated. How many kinds of mouths and eyebrows did I paint? I lost count. I gave her a kind of 60's shag hairdo, a little fun with anachronisms. I have no idea what I'm doing next...

Today is my art show and I will be posting some photos of the event. I'm happy that the day is finally here.

Ready for the world

2009-09-02T19:46:00.001-07:00

Ok, I'm ready for the show tomorrow. Have all my pieces ready to go. Wish me luck!

Art Show

2009-08-28T19:06:00.000-07:00

Art Show!

EXTRA CURICULAR ACTIVITIES

Special Event: Opening reception September 3, 2009 from 5pm- 7pm

Running Dates: September 3^rd through September 23rd, 2009

Gallery Hours: Tuesday- Friday 12pm- 4pm and Saturday 10am- 2pm

Location: Littman Gallery 2835 SW Broadway, Smith Building Room 250, Portland, Oregon

So excited!

ps. See the small button on the lower left hand side? I painted that!

It's coming along

2009-08-26T08:00:00.000-07:00

I'm feeling better about this gal because I have added some of the regulars (the birds) to the painting. There is still a lot of work to do in regards to details but I'm getting there. I may still change her expression, but I'm not sure yet.

She's Mean

2009-08-20T08:00:00.000-07:00

I don't think she likes me. Who cares. She's mean and bitchy. It's weird painting someone like her. This is new for me, it's been a struggle. I'm just going to finish her off - literally, and get on with another painting.

Love This

2009-08-19T08:00:00.000-07:00

I just bought this book, it's so cute! I saw it a long time ago, and when I came back for it, it was gone. Yay! It's mine now.

Look Who's Here

2009-08-18T08:00:00.000-07:00

I put the Marie Antoinette painting aside for a bit and started what I was originally going to do. It just flowed like music. It was meant to be. Here it is: Leave It All Behind II". Do you like it?

I f#@%ing Hate Cake

2009-08-17T08:00:00.000-07:00

This cake is giving me so much trouble, I hate it. I made this "draping" and it came out horribly wrong. Take a look. So then after a few hours of messing with it, I ended up covering it up with a solid color... stupid cake.

Macaroons anyone?

2009-08-11T08:00:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite things in the Sofia Coppola version of Marie Antoinette's life is the focus on elaborate, beautiful, delectable food. I read somewhere they used macaroons from a place called Laduree in Paris. I have had these heavenly treats, and let me tell you, they are out of this world. I worked on a tower of these treats and they came out just as beautiful and delicious as the real thing. Enjoy! P.S. I'm adding a photo of the ones I had in Laduree, London... yummy!

Art Show Entry

2009-08-10T08:00:00.000-07:00

I am going to participate in an art show next month. I am submitting just one entry and that piece is Blame It On The Rain. I've been iffy about this piece since I completed it. There was something about it that just wasn't working. Today I put it back on the easel and got to work. I can't believe that I had missed so many key things here! Grass, butterflies, oh my! Now, it's ready, it's perfect. I love it. Ready for the show!

Let Them Eat Cupcake!

2009-08-04T08:00:00.000-07:00

I started the background before I left to Europe, when the painting was going to be something else. I'm changing it by adding to it. In Versailles there is so much blue (my favorite color) that I've decided to make the background look like wallpaper. Take a look.

A Girl Can Change Her Mind...

2009-08-03T08:00:00.000-07:00

I went to England and Ireland. Being surrounded by so much history really truly inspired me in a completely unexpected way. All the old made me feel new. Is that weird? I left with a picture of a painting in my head and came back with another one. I know, I know, it's been done, but, I've never done it. Marie Antoinette is my muse. Yeah, she never lived in England or Ireland, but close enough. Here's a rough sketch of my idea, "Let Them Eat Cupcake!". Nice to be back.

See You Soon

2009-07-15T08:00:00.000-07:00

I will be going on a trip to a far away place. I will bring back a mind full of new ideas and inspiration. I will miss painting, but absence makes the heart grow fonder.

Super Sick

2009-07-10T08:00:00.000-07:00

I'm so sick, haven't painted, so I'll post something old. This is Alice in Wonderland's bunny and a potion. Have a great Friday!

Creating a Background

2009-07-09T08:00:00.000-07:00

I started Leave it All Behind II today. The original painting was done when I was coming out of a severe depression. When it was finished, I felt like a new person. Art is magical. I started the background process, take a look:

Up Next

2009-07-08T08:00:00.000-07:00

I want to paint another version of a previous work, "Leave It All Behind". I want to do it in the style I'm painting in now to give it more depth. Here's a rough drawing of what it'll look like. You can also take a look at the original in one of my older posts.

Here Goes Another...

2009-07-07T08:00:00.000-07:00

Purple Rain is complete. There are purple drops all over the place and the girl is just sitting around waiting for something or someone. The birdies are sending lots of love, or did the girl set them up to it? I had fun doing this one, the bold colors and the reference to one of my favorite songs.

Jet Black

2009-07-06T08:00:00.000-07:00

Keeping with the idea of Liz Taylor, I've given her jet black shiny tresses. Love her, I really do! Check out her slick wellies, she's ready for all that purple rain that's about to come down on her. Bring it!

Oh, Elizabeth Taylor!

2009-07-03T08:00:00.000-07:00

I chose violet eyes. All this news about Michael Jackson and his admiration for Elizabeth Taylor has given me the perfect color for this lovely girl's eyes. Oh, they're stunning! Happy Friday. Have a great sunny weekend.

La Chica

2009-07-02T08:00:00.000-07:00

She looks kind of scary and ghastly but this is only temporary. I have to decide what color eyes and hair she's going to have. Her skin is darker than my last girl's, not as yellow as it looks in the photo.

Umbrella, ella, ella, ella, eh, eh, eh...

2009-07-01T08:00:00.000-07:00

I was uninspired for an entire week. Today I finally felt like I was ready to go back to all the rain. I started working on the umbrella. I chose pink, why? I have no idea since the background is pink too. I guess I can take it as a challenge.

Les Champignons

2009-06-24T08:00:00.000-07:00

These red and white mushrooms remind me of 80's Hello Kitty stuff. It was bold and solid, no "angel Hello Kitties" then. They're huge kinda like Alice in Wonderland mushrooms.

Sending All My Love

2009-06-23T08:00:00.000-07:00

The birds are carrying little hearts. They are being sent to someone somewhere. They're shiny and new. Whoever gets them will be so happy.

It All Starts Again

2009-06-22T08:00:00.000-07:00

A pink summer evening sky is the perfect backdrop for a purple rain shower. The clouds are very dark, so, looks like we're in for a storm. The rainbow looks like hard candy in pinks and purples.

BMX Art

2009-06-17T08:41:00.000-07:00

I did this last year. Nike BMX Lightning Bolts Art Show entry. This was auctioned off to benefit The Land of Plenty skateboard foundation.

Purple Rain

2009-06-16T08:00:00.000-07:00

First of all, I'd like to thank Prince. Thanks for your beautiful lyrics and melodies. Here is my rough Purple Rain sketch. I have some new elements like the mushrooms and the butterflies, but I also have some of the things from my other paintings like the birds and the clouds. I can't wait to get started on this one.

All Done!

2009-06-15T08:00:00.000-07:00

Today is a great day. I have finally completed "Blame it on the Rain". As I was painting this I listened to all kinds of music. I listened to a lot of Prince. One of my favorite songs is Purple Rain, so to continue with the rain series, my next painting will be called just that. I can't wait to get started. I am very excited and have millions of ideas. I do have to go to the art store and buy a new canvas and some red paint.

It Just Happened...

2009-06-12T08:00:00.000-07:00

The decision was made for me. More bitchy flowers grew in the empty space and I was not about to tell them to leave. Have a wonderful weekend!

Dilemma

2009-06-11T08:00:00.000-07:00

So I've painted everything my original sketch had. Happy with everything, thing is, I feel something is missing. The middle of the painting "needs" something else. I have no idea what I could add. A tree? More flowers? Lower clouds? Hmmmm, I've got to think about it for a minute. I'll let you know.

My Friend the Owl

2009-06-10T08:00:00.000-07:00

This is a baby owl, it's still wise, but it's a baby. It's so wide-eyed and curious. It's feathers are a snowy white. There's a street where my friend, Maria, used to live called Snowy Owl. Love that. It came out exactly the way I wanted it to.

Squirrely

2009-06-09T08:00:00.000-07:00

Grey and tiny, the squirrel is cuddly, and oddly enough - not sad. I wanted the squirrel to be grey since the girl's hair is brown, otherwise it would be too much brown. I see squirrels and chipmunks scurry across my backyard everyday, most of them brown. One day I saw a grey-silver fox type squirrel that caught my attention. That is what this one is based on, only smaller and cuter.

Monday, Monday

2009-06-08T08:00:00.000-07:00

Not too long ago, I did another painting of a girl with long brown wind blown hair. I love the effect, so natural and carefree. I wanted to identify with her, that's why I gave her brown hair and brown eyes. The two little guys that will be with her are still to come. I gave her skin an extra pale color since the sun hasn't come out in ages and I love the contrast with the dark hair. More to come soon! Brrrr! She must be cold!

Have you seen my studio?

2009-06-05T08:00:00.001-07:00

I love to see where people create their art, it says a lot about them. I finally got a room in my house just for this. I love this room. I have old toys, new toys and music. I will be painting this weekend so I'll have some new stuff to show on Monday. Have a super nice weekend!

"Eye" See You

2009-06-04T08:00:00.000-07:00

Love the look on our girl's face. She's stricken by grief and doesn't know that it's the rain - yet.

Just a Little Bit

2009-06-03T08:00:00.000-07:00

Painting this girl is going to take more than one night (I paint at night when my kids are asleep). I'm giving you a tiny itty bitty peek. This is the hand that will be holding the fluffy owl. Ta dah!

And Here She Is

2009-06-02T21:51:00.000-07:00

I don't know her name. I do know that she decided to bring both her pet owl and squirrel. Odd pets to own, but to each his own. For some reason I thought she'd be wearing a beautiful gown, something like a vintage Vivienne Westwood, but she is completely naked!

The Pet

2009-06-01T08:00:00.000-07:00

So, this girl I was talking about, will be holding her pet. Thing is, I haven't decided what her pet is going to be. I thought a squirrel would be a super cute pet, they're small and have the best faces. Then an owl was another option, if he's white, or even a light pink, he would be fabulous!

The Big Picture

2009-05-29T23:44:00.001-07:00

I like this place, I like it very much. I need to call in the lonely girl and her pet. I'll reveal the pet as it comes along.

Enjoy your weekend!

Surprise!

2009-05-28T23:42:00.001-07:00

These flowers blossomed overnight. They are so rare and precious. They don't seem to mind all the rain and seem a little bitchy. I wanted these to stand out with a cotton candy-like color. I could not get their little faces right, I knew I didn't want happy flowers, I wanted them dark and gloomy. I think the vines coming out of the stems gave them the final touch.

It's getting sad...

2009-05-27T19:41:00.000-07:00

Some very sad clouds have moved in and they look like they've been hand stitched! I wanted some black crows to darken the mood, but crows aren't very cute. I decided to go with my very own version of black cute crows. The sky is coming together. Tomorrow will be another day.

Monkey Business

2009-05-27T08:38:00.001-07:00

Monkey Business
Originally uploaded by marybelm

Leave It All Behind

2009-05-26T19:42:00.001-07:00

Leave It All Behind
Originally uploaded by marybelm

Happy Dogs

2009-05-26T19:41:00.003-07:00

Happy Dogs
Originally uploaded by marybelm

Candy Parade

2009-05-26T19:41:00.001-07:00

Candy Parade
Originally uploaded by marybelm

Milli Vanilli

2009-05-26T15:29:00.000-07:00

So I'm sitting there listening to Milli Vanilli's Blame it on the Rain when inspiration hits me. Bam! What about a painting about just that- blaming it on the rain. My mind starts racing and I start the sketch.

I can see the entire thing in living color in my mind. As an ode to Camille Rose Garcia, whom I admire, I want to do it in a drippy, gloomy style. My favorite color is blue, so obviously, I choose that as my main color. I'm getting excited but I've got to go pick up Liam from the bus.

First Day

2009-05-26T12:43:00.000-07:00

So excited to finally have my blog up. My name is Marybel Martin and I am an artist. I have been drawing and painting for as long as I can remember. I will post work in progress on my blog so that you can see how my art comes to life. Enjoy!