Today we’d like to introduce you to Martha Lubbers.
Hi Martha, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I’m not formally educated in the arts, but creativity has always been a part of my life.
In 2018, I decided to become a full-time artist and have been dedicating as much of my time as possible to these pursuits. When you interviewed me last, in 2022, I was still undecided about which way my path would go, but right now I would say that my two passions are painting and analog film photography.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
In some regards it has been a smooth road, and in others very bumpy and disheartening. I love learning new skills, I love putting paint to the canvas, I find composition and lighting easy to understand. But there are many paintings that are scrapped when my vision and the reality don’t match up. It’s also hard to keep putting yourself out there knowing that others are judging your work, which often feels like a piece of my soul!
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I primarily work in oil painting. There is just something about the way that medium holds and reflects the light. It’s the same with film photography. I strive to catch ephemeral moments, and these two mediums seem to have a magical quality around them that allows us to step into those moments and lose time while exploring the feelings they bring up. I find that painting abstracts allows for more emotional release and exploration, while the landscapes I am drawn to paint and photograph, are all about shadow and light.
Currently I am really pleased to have one of my landscapes paintings, Dune iii, selected to be in the permanent collection of the local Ottawa County Art Trust. I’m also excited to exhibit in Art Prize in Grand Rapids for the first time this fall. I’ll have an abstract piece on display at Popnotch Goods throughout September and early October. This piece is so special to me. It was created after a time this spring when I stood under an apple tree completely lost in it’s blossoms and I wondered what it would feel like to be a bee flitting in and out of the blossoms, surrounded in pink and white light. I knew I had to recreate that feeling.
And just today I learned that one of my photographs will be in an exhibition at the Oliver Art Center in Frankfort through August 22. Frankfort is a place near and dear to my heart, so I am very happy to be participating in that show.
Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
To trust yourself and your art. To not change what you’re doing based on what sells or gets the most likes on instagram. It’s wonderful to have the validation, but art is about creating what truly speaks to yourself, to your soul. It can be hard going continuing to trust yourself, but it is so worth the journey.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.marthalubbers.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marthalubbersfineart/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marthalubbersfineart
