Martha Lay 9/12/24 Martha Lay 9/12/24

Art and Scavenger Hunts

Read about collecting items from nature each day while walking the dog and creating art from them. Art can be made from the tiniest of treasures and reminds us to pay attention to the natural world

Martha Lay 9/5/24 Martha Lay 9/5/24

Painting through Pain and Hope

Art inspires and heals us. Read about how painting a series of birds, listening to music, and laughter help soothe and give hope during a difficult time.

Martha Lay 8/29/24 Martha Lay 8/29/24

5 Reasons to Make Self-Portraits

You don’t have to be an artist to have fun sketching self-portraits. Here are five reasons to make self-portraits and some suggestions to have fun as a beginner. Being creative is a process of learning and self-portraits are like a visual diary of yourself.

Martha Lay 8/22/24 Martha Lay 8/22/24

Learning by Repetition

Take a peek at my process of repeatedly painting blackbirds. Learn from painting the same subject multiple times.

Martha Lay 8/15/24 Martha Lay 8/15/24

How Art Transforms Loneliness

Balancing solitude and community is part of the discovery of a an artist’s life and daily practice. In this blog I examine the difference between loneliness and solitude and how art-making transforms our feelings.

Martha Lay 8/8/24 Martha Lay 8/8/24

Painting Flower Portraits

Learn about my inspiration and reflections of painting flowers. I see the process as creating portraits in nature and honoring the change of seasons.

Martha Lay 6/30/24 Martha Lay 6/30/24

The Color Of Nature

I’m so excited and grateful to Jardin Botanico in Valencia for exhibiting some of my watercolor paintings that feature florals, animals, and landscapes…

Martha Lay 5/12/24 Martha Lay 5/12/24

Journey through the Inner Landscape

As a recent survivor of cancer have painted these small watercolors which show colorful healthy cells in the body. These little works have turned into painting meditations for me where I can focus on gratitude and attention to health.