Opening Reception “Microcosms” Paintings by Lucy Martin

Lucy Martin’s botanical paintings in gouache focus on the mysterious beauty of mushrooms and lichens found in the forests in all seasons. Lucy paints from life whenever possible. A new painting begins with a walk in the forest. Lucy collects her subjects and their surroundings—fungi, lichen, moss, fir cones, bark, decaying leaves, twigs—and brings them to her studio. She uses reference photographs for backgrounds or for objects too large to bring home. Her paintings reflect her lifelong connection with nature and her devotion to close observation. They express her love of the beautiful and surprising life forms found in the forests she explores. Her hope is to awaken in the viewer a feeling that there are myriad tiny worlds to be discovered right at our feet, if we only stop and look. On display May 7 – August 29, 2018.

Biography: Lucy lives in Sonoma County, California. She is mainly self-taught, with some formal training including classes with Mary Jo Koch. She exhibits in Sebastopol Gallery and Calabi Gallery, as well as annually in Art Trails, the juried Sonoma County Open Studio art tour. Her work was purchased for the Permanent Collection of the Special Collections and Archives Department at the McHenry Library at UCSC. She has exhibited in international shows of the American Society of Botanical Artists and solo shows at the Library at the San Francisco Botanical Garden. Visit her website at www.lucymartinart.com

The Heron Hall Art Gallery at the Laguna Environmental Center exhibits multiple shows per year of nature-themed art, sales of which supports the educational and conservation efforts of the Foundation. Heron Hall is open Monday through Friday 9 am-5 pm. Because of the various uses of the hall, please call in advance to ensure it will be open for viewing the art, 707-527-9277, ext. 107.