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Work Samples

Dancing Fern

Watercolor painting of ferns in positive and negative shapes
A fern seems to dance in the breeze and in the positive and negative light.

Ghost in the Forest

Painting of figures and trees
Walking silently through the forest in all its ghostly wonder

Wistful

Watercolor loosely painted of a womans head
This lady seems of ancient times, Is she broken hearted? Will her ship come in at last? Or has it now departed?

Transmissions

watercolor painting of colorful ovelapping and emerging letters
Our air is filled with various transmissions both visible and invisible.

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About Martha

Baltimore County

Martha Hendrickson has exhibited watercolors and mixed media art  in juried and non juried shows in the Baltimore area since 2012. She completed her most recent education at CCBC, earning an AA Degree in Fine Arts in 2015 and a Certificate in Web Design in 2011. In prior years, Martha earned a B.A. degree in American Studies with a minor in art at UMBC concentrating on traditional photography, art and film history. Martha Hendrickson works part time as a fine arts instructor with CCBC Senior... more

Alphabet Compositions

I like to build compositions  by using letters as abstract shapes. As each painting develops, I find that I subjectively interpret my current experiences. This interpretation may or may not be evident.  The viewer can  bring his or own interpretations to the painting. The letters do not intentionally spell out words, but they can.
I start the painting with one letter in any color and I see what other letters I can make out of the first one or from the negative spaces in various colors. As I build, it often suggests a landscape to me and I add other elements to the work. I enjoy it as an intuitive process.

  • AlphabetFlood

    Watercolor painting with images of letters and buildings.
    As this painting deveolped, there was a massive flood in Ellicott City and in Cationsville which was sad. I was also working on a dollhouse miniature show. The two seemed to come together in this painting
  • Complicated Education

    Abstract watercolor painting of letters.
    The process of education- both formal and informal is almost never completely straightforward. These letters show a journey through terrirtory of country and city, near and far, sparse and dense information. ( note: painting has been sold)
  • Camera Crazy

    Abstract watercolor painting using letters
    As I finially gave up my photo darkroom at home, I mused over my camera collection (which I kept ) and my experience with photography. My twin lens reflex camera captured my attention and the memory of rolling film through sprockets. Then, I though of my first experince shooting and editing traditional movie film.
  • The OK Ranch

    Abstract watercolor painting using letters
    This painting developed using watercolor technique with value, color and transparency. As I worked left to right, a landscape opened up that reminded me of a western theme.

Pandemic 2020

This year of 2020 has been most unusual. The Pandemic has affected everything  in our daily life, including  how we create. My expression of my own experience emerged gradually from not being able to paint at all and ended with  finding a new way to begin compositions. This series starts with the first experiences of the pandemic with facts as science was teaching us,  and ending with   finding hope in the vaccine, symbolized in the Christmas Star Dec 21, 2020.

  • I'm Not Touching my Face

    Watercolor of face with pattern
    I'm Not Touching My Face -Watercolor on Paper 5x8 In the beginning we knew enough to wash our hands and not to touch our faces. This painting was started as an exercise. When I added the pattern with the stencil, it took on a different meaning.
  • It's Not Enough

    Watercolor of Woman in scarf
    Watercolor on Paper -12"x16" As we learned about importance of masks, the pretty scarf approach wouldn't do as protection. This painting was one started in 2019, I orginially thought of it as spring feel. I couldn't resist adding the mask and the pattern.
  • Pandemic in the Park

    Watercolors of figures wearing masks
    Watercolor on Paper - 6"x9" With the initial shutdown, everyone went to the park. Weather was fine. Park attendance doubled and a traffic jam ensued. Masks were needed in close proximity and worn some of the time.
  • 04.Division.jpg

    Watercolor of Face in colors in two halves
    Watercolor on Paper, 9"x12" We all went through division and indecision over everyday things. Mask wearing, visiting family, going to the store, eating out. Divisions were internal and external in families and nation.
  • Corona Cut

    Watercolor of figure with scissors and bubbles
    Watercolor on Paper 9"x12" One decision is whether to get a haircut and and take the risk. Each made his or her own decision. Mine was to let my hair grow.
  • Quarantine Bubbles

    Watercolor of Colorful Circluar shapes with figures in them
    Watercolor on Paper 12"x 9" Many found the solution to isolation by forming Quarantine Bubbles. Only those abiding to the bubble rules allowed to socialize and play. Parents with children found it beneficial.
  • Confined

    Watercolor of figure and tree
    Watercolor on Paper 9"x12" As the Pandemic rages on, our home roots deepen and we rely on technology to keep us connected. For this painting, I started usng a technique called shadow painting.
  • Looking for Hope

    Colorful painting
    Watercolor on Paper 14"x12" As the pandemic rages on we look for hope symbolized in the night sky of the winter equinox 2020 , and a vaccine

Mysterious Figures

 I  mixed  layered negative and positive space images of figures combined with natural subjects to explore the themes of man and woman in nature through time.

  • Ghost in the Forest

    watercolor painting of forest scene and images in greens with a figure
    Ghost in the Forest -Watercolor on paper size 12"x16" The fantastic experience of being in the forest
  • Hidden Figures

    Watercolorpainting of figures and natural shapes
    Women as important figures shadowy while a man reads a newspaper of days events in the backgound.
  • Surrender to nature.jpg

    Watercolor of ferns rocks and lake and figure outline
    "Surrender to Nature" Watercolor on Paper 9"x12" Lost in the beauty of nature, a hiker rests
  • Seasons Phases

    Watercolor Painting with overlapping layers of people and trees
    Spring, summer, autumn and winter, walking through phases of Life and Nature.
  • Spring Walk

    Painting of meadow and human shape
    Fields of flowers along my walk changes to summer as we talk. The sun glows on the earthly forms, And gathers together what makes them warm.
  • The Painter

    Watercolor painting of painter in layers
    The painter pauses in her work to reflect on her subjects

Natural Wonders

This project is an exploration of what I see and observe in nature and how it stirs the imagination.  My own backyard provides a lot of sources of nature in its infinite variety

  • Dancing Fern

    watercolor painting of a fern in shades of green
    A fern dances in the light. As I was sitting in my backyard, I saw this fern dancing in the breeze.
  • Butterfly Journey

    watercolor painting of butterflies and insects in layers
    A butterfly journeys to its destination among many others
  • Flower Fantasia

    Watercolor painting of orange and white flowers
    Imaginary flowers open with real ones
  • Backyard Pond Life

    Mixed media painting of pond with frogs and waterlilies
    I developed this painting with mixed media including watercolor, rice paper, acrylic paint and mica. It was awarded an honerable mention at the Baltimore County Arts Guild show" Between the layers".
  • Productive Flowers.jpg

    Watercolor of Yellow imaginary flowers
    Productive Flowers Watercolor on Paper 14"x18" The Flowing Flowers are Profuse
  • Pond Lily

    Watercolor Painting of Pond Life with Waterlily
    The pond Waterlily is shaded under a leaf while the frogs hide and fish dance
  • Water Hyacinth

    Purple flower on green leaves in water
    Rarely does the water hyacinth Bloom in our pond. Watercolor on Paper
  • Frog Frenzy

    Watercolor painting of frogs in different stages
    Many frogs make the life in the pond
  • GardenRoses.jpg

    watercolor on paper
  • RoseGardenDelight.jpg

    Rose Garden Delight
    Watercolor on paper

Face Fascination

I developed these paintings using high contrast images of faces and used various watercolor techniques and imagination to finish them.

  • Wistful

    Watercolor painting of lady's head and shoulders
    This lady seems of ancient times, Is she broken hearted? Will her ship come in at last? Or has it now departed?
  • The Swimmer

    Watercolor painting of head  in blue shades
    The swimmer wonders at visions true, Of the depths in oceans blue.
  • The Wood Nymph

    Painting of head and shoulders
    Metamorphosis has started, Becoming complete, The nymph of the wood is who we meet. She is mystery of natures good, and goddess to all earthly creatures.
  • Youth

    Watercolor of colorful face
    Watercolor on Paper 9"x12"
  • Concern

    Watercolor of Woman
    Watercolor on Paper 9"x12"

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Martha's Curated Collection

This artist has not yet created a curated collection.