"Sometimes with mystery and sometimes with quirkiness I enjoy painting my own personal take on the novelty of life's connections. My design skills and my interest in patterns and textures are reflected in my work. I like to layer different media to accomplish depth of tone and meaning."- MARTHA BROUWER
ARTIST BIO
Martha Brouwer got her bachelor's degree from Lawrence University and her masters degree from Harvard University. She was a weaver for 4 years before becoming a graphic artist. She was the Art Director of four publications including Spa, Simply Seafood and Seafood Leader magazines. During the past twenty four years she has devoted herself to painting – primarily acrylics but also mixed media using collage. She has studied under Alex Powers, Christopher Schink, Fran Larsen, Katherine Chang Liu and Mark Rediske.
In her recent work, Martha plays to her strengths of color and texture. The majority of each piece is a rich surface of textured paint that creates a background for the colorful much smaller main focus. The composition of “a lot” and “a little” works well to establish a mood for each piece.
JURIED
SHOWS
Unity, Art Fluent, On-line Juried Expositions, 2022
This is us: Regional Portraiture Today, D’Amour Museum of Fine Arts, Springfield, MA, 2020
Fifth Annual Juried Show, East End Arts Gallery, Riverhead, NY, 2016, Second Place
Alienation: The World As It Is Or Should Be , Loading Dock Gallery, Lowell, MA, 2016
Open Juried Show, Gallery A3, Amherst, MA, 2015, 2023
Amherst Historical Society, Scene in Amherst,
Amherst, MA, 2014, First Place
Women Painters of Washington, Member Show
Seattle, WA, 2014, Best of Show
Northwest Watercolor Society, 74th Annual Open Exhibition Tacoma, WA, 2014
National Watercolor Society, 92nd Open Annual Exhibition plus the Traveling Show San Pedro, CA, 2012
Seattle CoArts, The Joy of Art, 60th Annual Juried Show, 2011 First Place Award
American Watercolor Society, 144th Annual International Exhibition, New York City, 2011
Northwest Watercolor Society, 71st Annual Open ExhibitionSeattle, WA, 2011
Infinity Art Gallery, Figurative Show
Online Gallery, 2010
International Society of Acrylic Painters, 13th Annual ISAP International Exhibition, Santa Cruz, CA, 2010
Southwestern Watercolor Society, 47th Annual Member Exhibition Plano, TX, 2010, Cash Award
Manhattan Arts International, The Healing Power of Art Online Gallery, 2010
Women Painters of Washington, Spring Show
Kaewyn Gallery 2010, Merchandise Award
Northwest Watercolor Society, Waterworks
2009 Exhibition, Cash Award
Seattle CoArts, Expressions in Art, 59th Annual Juried Show 2009, First Place Award
Women Painters of Washington, American Art Company Tacoma, WA, 2009, Merchandise Award
Northwest Watercolor Society, 69th Annual Open Show Mercer Island, WA, 2009
SHOWS
Amherst Plein Air Society, Engaging Nature 2023, First Place People’s Choice Award
Howard/Mandville Gallery, Simple Pleasures and Fanciful Daydreams, two person show, Kirkland WA 2012
Pondera Winery, Natural Connections, solo show, Woodinville, 2011
RobyKing Galleries, Americana, group show, Winslow, 2011
RobyKing Galleries, Every Figure Tells a Story, two person show, Winslow, 2010
Arts West, Inexplicable Allusions, 4 person show, West Seattle, 2010
Women Painters of Washington Gallery, Summer Dreaming, Group show, Seattle, WA, 2009, Voted Favorite Artist by those attending the show
Phinney Association Gallery, Connections & Light, two person show, Seattle, WA 2009
Northwest Watercolor Society, Signature Members Exhibition, University House, Issaquah, WA, 2009
Source Salon, Come Together, Solo show, Ballard, WA, 2009
Ella Mon, Harmony, Solo show, Ballard, WA, 2008
Gallery North, Bird Art, Avian art show with two other artists, Edmonds, WA, 2008
Edmonds Art Gallery, From Crayons to Oils, Edmonds, WA, 2008, People's Choice Award
Participated in a show of collages painted in response to poetry by Cancer Lifeline members. Dorothy S. O'Brien Center, Seattle, WA, 2008.
Cozen O'Connor, Group Show in downtown Seattle, 2007
MEDIA
New England Public Radio, painting of the Pioneer Valley chosen for the Art Mug, 2014
An Article in A Walk Into Abstracts Vol 5 by Sue St John, 2012
Two page spread in The Best of Artists Worldwide, Abstract & Mixed Media Volume II, book published 2012
Cover of A cappella Zoo, a literary magazine, Fall 2010 issue
Full page story with images in an article in Palette Magazine, Dec/Jan 2010
Front page story with painting published in Ballard News-Tribune, September 24, 2008
Painting titled "Self Portrait" published in Palette Magazine, Dec 08/Jan 09
Painting titled "Tired" published in Palette Magazine, Sept/Oct 2005
AFFILIATIONS
National Watercolor Society (signature member)
Northwest Watercolor Society (signature member)
International Society of Acrylic Painters (signature member)
Women Painters of Washington