Martha's Story
Sometimes, things get really bad before they get really good.
Years back, Martha was trapped in an administrative job in Portland, Oregon, helping maintain an ugly building for rich people to play in. She got a new boss. She decided to tell this new boss about how she'd like more schedule flexibility, to pursue her art. Months later, she was "encouraged" to leave due to lack of enthusiasm. She did.
She met a maker selling his art at a year-round art market, Portland Saturday Market. With a borrowed tent and a brand new artwork style, fusing hand-lettered words and pictures for the first time, Martha learned how to sell her art from a pop-up booth. She continues in this "cute and deadly" art style to this day, making paintings that are both personal, yet speak to many people.
The secret: humor. Also painting skills, an unwillingness to go back to a day job, and observational skills about how hard it can be to be human.
Made in Vermont interview, 5-21-23