America is often a strange place and seems to just keep getting stranger. Los Angeles artist Deborah Martin captures the sad desolation found across our country in her poignant paintings.
Aces and Spades, oil on canvas, 36x36
Slab City Chairs, oil on canvas, 36x36
Her use of a limited, pastel neutral palette softens the sometimes oddly grim reality of many lives in America.
Keep Out, oil on canvas, 36x36
Yet somehow, these aren’t dark, depressing images of life in one of the richest countries in the world. They don’t feel critical or satirical, but rather reverent and dreamy.
Fifty-two, oil on canvas, 36x36
To see more of Deborah’s work, please visit her website. If you are in the Los Angeles area, she is currently showing at The Red Arrow Gallery in Joshua Tree, CA. I have a feeling these paintings are even more intriguing in person!
Featured image is Yellow Camper, oil on canvas, 36×36. All images are via the artist’s website.
patience
October 17, 2011 at 12:50 PMthe works definitely have a dream-like quality to them – in that they remind me of dreams where you feel as if the landscape surrounding you is on the precipice of change. trees start to swerve of the image and strange objects appear. of course all that makes sense when you are in the dream…
America The Surreal « Artsy Forager | creative photography | Scoop.it
October 19, 2011 at 4:32 AM[…] America The Surreal « Artsy Forager To see more of Deborah's work, please visit her website. If you are in the Los Angeles area, she is currently showing at The Red Arrow Gallery in Joshua Tree, CA. I have a feeling these paintings are even more intriguing in … Source: artsyforager.com […]
Melissa Brown
May 12, 2012 at 10:57 PMThis one painting, reminds me of a short story that I have half written. It makes me wanna finish it, the painting is exactly where one of my characters live. http://pinterest.com/pin/103442122661506788/
Melissa Brown
Lesley
May 13, 2012 at 9:01 AMOh, I love that, Melissa! I’m finding there is so much inspiration to be shared between the visual arts and the written word. Would love to read your story!
Cheers!
Lesley